18-Year-Old Girl Blames God for her DUI Arrest | Blue Patrol *Police Bodycam*

Around 12:26 AM on December 15, 2022, Officer Nicholas Windsor with the Delray Beach Police Department observed 2018 Volkswagen Passat traveling on the northbound entrance ramp of I-95 at the interchange of W Atlantic Avenue. He observed the vehicle change lanes across 2 lanes without using a turn signal, leaving very little space between the Volkswagen and the other vehicles. As a result of this violation, Officer Windsor initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle pulled over the east shoulder of the roadway. He made contact with the driver, who was later identified as 18-year-old Averie.

Upon making contact with Averie, Officer Windsor detected the odor of alcohol and noticed that Averie’s eyes were red and glassy. She initially denied consuming any alcohol in the hours prior, but she had trouble providing the officer with all of her documents. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Officer Windsor asked Averie to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises. Officer Windsor started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, followed the by the Walk and Turn test, One Leg Stand test, Modified Romberg Balance Test, and the recitation of the alphabet.

Based on Averie’s traffic infraction, the odor of alcohol, her eventual admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily perform the field sobriety exercises, Officer Windsor placed Averie under the arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest, she was first transported to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office DUI testing facility. At the facility, she agreed to submit breath samples. Averie ultimately submitted 3 breath samples, which revealed a BAC level of 0.124%, 0.152%, and 0.150%. All 3 samples were well above the legal limit of 0.02% for drivers under 21 years of age.

After submitting breath samples, Averie was charged with driving under the influence (316.193(14)), reckless driving (316.192(12A)), and turning without/improper signal (316.155(1)). Court records indicate that on April 3, 2023, the charge of driving under the influence was nolle prossed and the charge of turning without/improper signal was dismissed. However, Averie did plead guilty to reckless driving and she was assessed a total of $708.50 in fines between April 3, 2023 and July 27, 2023.