Once Wasn’t Enough for Drunken Driving Suspect

(This feature is by Lakeville Police Chief Thomas Vonhof.)

Officer Rick Hakanson was working one night recently when he stopped by a fast food drive-thru to pick up a quick meal for a lunch break. The fast food employees at the drive-up window informed Officer Hakanson that they thought the driver in the vehicle ahead of his appeared intoxicated. Officer Hakanson subsequently followed the vehicle and observed traffic violations and he stopped the vehicle. The driver showed signs of intoxication and failed a field sobriety test and a portable breath test. Officer Hakanson arrested the driver for the DUI violation. The driver was jailed pending formal charges and the vehicle was impounded. The fast food employees also had mentioned to Officer Hakanson that they both had an opportunity to observe the impaired driver as the vehicle had been through the drive-thru lane twice in a few minute time span before Officer Hakanson stopped the car.