The Times West Virginian

Local News

July 3, 2011

DUI laws aggressively enforced

Marion County Sheriff’s Department ranks fourth in state for number of arrests

By J. Miles Layton Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT — Marion County Sheriff Joe Carpenter tells a tale familiar to many about a motorist who is driving home after a tour of local bars.

Carpenter said when a motorist is driving erratically, perhaps crossing the center line, a deputy moves into action.

Blue and red lights flash in the driver’s rearview mirror as he pulls to the side of the road.

Carpenter said when the deputy approaches the car, he shines a very bright flashlight into the driver’s eyes and asks for license, registration and proof of insurance. The deputy smells alcohol on the person’s breath and a beer bottle rolls out from under the passenger seat, so he asks the suspect to get out of the car.

The deputy then asks if the suspect has been drinking.

“The usual answer is, ‘A couple of beers,’ which really means a lot more,” Carpenter said. “Sometimes we ask, ‘How big were those beers?’”

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