17-year-old in Bismarck ND calls 911 "to report herself for driving under the influence"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

'Hello 911? I'm driving drunk'
By JAMES MacPHERSON (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
January 03, 2009 12:55 AM EST

BISMARCK, N.D. - Police get calls about drunken drivers all the time, but rarely do they come from the alleged offender. A 17-year-old girl in Bismarck called 911 on New Year's Eve "to report herself driving under the influence," police Lt. Randy Ziegler said. "I've never heard of such a thing happening, and neither has anyone here."

The girl told authorities her location shortly before midnight Wednesday and officers found her in a parked car near downtown, Ziegler said. She failed a sobriety test and was arrested for failing to have control of her vehicle while intoxicated.

The girl, whose name was not released because of her age, was not cited for drunken driving, Ziegler said.

"Her keys were in her purse and she was parked," Ziegler said. "She did tell us that she had been driving around for hours."

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20090102/495ef0d0_3ca6_1552620090103944199684

[B o d i]

1. Stupid is still legal

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

2. My ex used to get coked up and turn himself into the IRS.

Time to get a new drug of choice.

lol

[Wetzelbill]

3. oh that's classic

:rofl:

[CatWoman]

11. LOL!!!

:)

[rpannier]

4. I thought maybe there was a reward for turning in any drunk drivers you see

And she was trying to get the reward money

[liberal N proud]

5. If her keys were in her purse and no one saw her driving...

can they charge her with anything?

She called for help and ultimately one drunk was kept from driving and endangering herself and others. I don't see any crime they can charge her with.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. They could in theory, in Britain

I remember a case where someone was charged with being in charge of a vehicle while drunk, although they were outside it (they said they were just going to get stuff out of it, I think; but the police's case was that it was their car, and they had the keys ready to open it, so they were in charge of it). But it sounds as if they decided not to - the arrest prevented her from driving away, but they seem to have used judgement and decided the best thing was to keep her overnight and then release her without charge. Which seems a reasonable approach.

[comtec]

10. The story says she was NOT cited

just processed.
strange... god I hope I can raise a daughter whose as responsible as that :)
Better yet.. I hope MY daughter would just call ME in the first place and leave out the middle men...

[LisaL]

13. I wonder what your idea of irresponsible is?

[fishwax]

12. actual physical control

You needn't be driving (or even have the keys in the ignition) to be charged with actual physical control, which can include simply being in the driver's seat with access to the keys.

[shadowknows69]

6. I have to applaud this girl. That took some serious guts

And some serious insight under the influence to realize that you were potentially such a danger to yourself or others. Most 17 year olds just think they're invincible.

[malaise]

9. Ditto

Sensible kid.

[NNN0LHI]

7. I used to do this all the time

I am joking.

Don