Police Officers-DUI-Firearms Thiughts?
By Gregory Kielma
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Can a Police Officer really give you a DUI for sleeping in your car while intoxicated?
Gregg Kielma
Says Gregg Kielma, "what would have happened had this individual had a firearm on him or her"? I know.
What do you think? Please don’t drink and drive and never have a firearm in your possession when intoxicated. Bad situation for you, family and friends. Be smart and stay safe. Use common sense. This persons story is not the rule it’s the exception. Read on friends of Tactical K Training and Firearms.
From one of our readers.
One night after a long evening out with friends, I found myself in a tricky situation. I had a bit too much to drink, and I knew better than to get behind the wheel. So, I did what I thought was the responsible thing—I decided to sleep it off in my car. Parked it in a quiet lot, reclined the seat, and figured I'd be fine by morning.
But of course, life has a way of throwing you curveballs.
Around 3 AM, I woke up to the sight of flashing red and blue lights in my rearview mirror. My heart dropped. A Police Officer was walking up to my window, and all I could think was, "Oh no, I’m about to get a DUI for just sleeping in my car!" I rolled down the window, still groggy, and tried to act as calm as possible.
The Police officer asked me what I was doing there, and I explained that I had been drinking earlier and didn’t feel safe driving, so I decided to sleep it off. I made sure to tell him that the car was off and the keys were stashed away in the glove compartment—not in the ignition or anywhere near me. I’d heard that keeping the keys out of your reach can sometimes make a difference in these situations, and luckily, it seemed to work in my favor.
The Police Officer gave me a long look, probably sizing up the situation, and then asked me to step out of the car. At this point, I’m thinking, this is it. I’m getting arrested. But instead of cuffing me or giving me a DUI, he said something I’ll never forget: “You did the right thing by not driving. But next time, find somewhere safer to sleep.”
Turns out, because I wasn’t actively driving and had no intention of doing so while intoxicated, the officer decided not to charge me with a DUI. I think what really helped was being honest, cooperative, and making sure the keys were out of sight. After a quick chat, he let me go, reminding me to be more careful about where I park next time, and to maybe look for a friend’s couch instead of my car.
So, yes, a Police Officer can technically charge you with a DUI even if you're just sleeping in your car while drunk. But in my case, taking a few extra precautions—like stashing the keys and not being behind the wheel—helped me avoid that fate. It was a close call, but a huge lesson in how to handle those moments when you’re trying to do the right thing.