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Woman Drinks Hand Sanitizer, Gets Arrested for DUI

By Deanne Katz, Esq. | Last updated on

Hand sanitizer isn't meant for human consumption but if you do drink it before getting behind the wheel you can expect to get pulled over for a DUI.

Jennifer Wilcox of Middletown, Connecticut may not have known this rule when she told officers that she hadn't been drinking. But after she failed a sobriety test the jig was up and she admitted that she had drunk half a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Even without her admission, police probably had enough evidence to arrest her. The first sign was when she almost crashed into the officers.

Police had pulled over another driver when Wilcox came speeding around the corner. Wilcoc spun out of control, and nearly collided with the stopped car, according to the Middletown Patch.

When they went to investigate, officers could smell alcohol in the car and asked Wilcox if she'd been drinking. She said no and submitted to a breathalyzer.

The result was a 0.17 blood alcohol level, more than twice the legal limit. After that Wilcox told officer about the hand sanitizer.

It bears repeating that a DUI doesn't depend on what kind of alcohol you've had. It doesn't matter if you knocked back too many beers, enjoyed too many cocktails, or downed a bottle of mouthwash or hand sanitizer. All that matters is whether you're intoxicated while driving.

Given Wilcox's confession, it's unlikely the breathalyzer was wrong. But like any mechanical device, they aren't perfect and can fail.

If you've been stopped or pulled over and charged with a DUI that you think is bogus, there are other options than just taking an undeserved punishment. Find an attorney who specializes in DUI defense and fight the charge.

Wilcox was released on a $500 bond after the charges were made but she's back in court Wednesday to face the judge.

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