“Drunk driving charges against a woman in New York have
been dismissed after it was revealed she suffers from auto-brewery
syndrome – a rare digestive condition that turns food into alcohol.”
The
35-year-old teacher stopped in New York this past October when the police
received reports her Toyota Corolla was “weaving all over” the road. When pulled over and tested, she
recorded a blood-alcohol level of more than four times the legal
limit at 0.33%. Police alleged that
she failed several field sobriety tests, including standing on one foot
and talking and turning heel-to-toe – but the woman, who has not been named,
insisted she had consumed no more than three drinks in the six hours before she
was pulled over.
Her
lawyer, Joseph Marusak arranged to have medical professionals monitor
his client for a day to ensure she did not consume alcohol and to
take several blood samples for testing.
She also bought a breath test kit and blew into it every night for
18 days, registering around 0.20% every time.
After several assessments, the woman was diagnosed with
auto-brewery syndrome, and was prescribed a low-carbohydrate diet that brought
her symptoms under control.
Her case was dismissed, leaving her free to
drive without restrictions, however prosecutors are seeking to have the
charges against the woman reinstated.
This is one of those bazaar stories that only could happen in the American Jurisprudence, Lawyers can find a way around almost anything. I guess it is more power to them for their creativeness. I wonder if they can tap that production and sell it for a profit? Great possibilities there.
