California state senator in hot water for a DUI, but not for booze
Police arrest around one million American drivers every year for driving under the influence (DUI). But it’s not always alcohol like you might picture. Over 12 million motorists in the United States reported driving under the influence of marijuana in 2018 alone. It’s no surprise, then, that police arrest drivers for substances other than alcohol. It is a surprise, however, when one of those arrests is a California state senator.
Police cited a California state senator for a DUI crash involving ‘a central nervous system depressant’ instead of alcohol
California State Senator Sabrina Cervantes, 37, wasn’t at fault when an SUV rolled through a stop sign and crashed into her sedan. But police gave her a hard time for another concern: a drug-related DUI. According to Sacramento Police Department spokesperson Anthony Gamble, “Senator Cervantes was cited for suspicion of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of a central nervous system depressant,” Gamble said.
“Based on the objective signs, officers believed that Cervantes was under the influence of a central nervous system depressant,” Gamble said. “Blood was drawn, and it will take time for the results to come back,” per CalMatters.
Cervantes says Sacramento police ‘accosted’ her with the accusations
Cervantes, on the other hand, is adamant that the DUI allegations are false and destructive. “I was accosted by Sacramento Police Department officers, falsely accused of driving under the influence, and involuntarily detained for several hours at the hospital. This ordeal was deeply distressing and left me even more shaken,” Cervantes said.
According to CalMatters, authorities are waiting for the blood toxicology report before filing charges. “They [the tests] show conclusively that I had no alcohol or drugs in my system — and that my vital signs and behavior were ‘normal,’” Cervantes said. “The Sacramento Police Department’s accusations are unjust and hold no truth. Again, I expect this matter to be quickly and justly resolved.”
As for the rest of us, if it’s an impairing or sleep-inducing substance, don’t drive on it. Better yet, if you feel impaired, tired, or otherwise compromised, reconsider getting behind the wheel.
