DUI Suspect Dances Naked After Crash; Hazmat Responds
What began as a minor DUI crash in Orlando, Florida, morphed into a bizarre scene à la "Footloose." Only the guy cutting loose was naked and allegedly high.
Upon entering Felix Lockett's vehicle, three law-enforcement officers fell sick from formaldehyde exposure. Lockett allegedly told investigators he'd been mixing formaldehyde with marijuana and smoking it, the Orlando Sentinel reports. After he crashed into a wall, Lockett proceeded to strip off his clothes and dance in the middle of the street.
Despite the amusing tale of the toe-tapping toker, Florida's drugged driving laws are no laughing matter.
Florida DUI Laws
Under Florida law, driving under the influence of any controlled substance can result in a DUI charge with stiff penalties, according to NORML. The general rule of thumb is that a person can be convicted of a DUI if the controlled substance impaired the driver's normal facilities.
Although Lockett has yet to be formally charged, given his allegedly peculiar behavior, prosecutors should have little difficulty in proving his normal facilities were impaired.
Proposed Changes to Florida DUI Laws
Florida Senate Bill 1810 was proposed last year to broaden Florida's laws on driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Although the bill failed, similar provisions are expected to be introduced in future legislative sessions.
Bills of this nature seek to expand the reach of law enforcement officials with regard to impaired drivers, by adding the phrase "other impairing substances" to existing DUI laws. Some legal experts note that "other impairing substances" is purposely vague, which could allow sweeping tests to be performed to search for faint traces of drugs or alcohol in a driver's system.
Some states like Washington, where state law allows the use of recreational marijuana, have enacted drugged driving laws that spell out specific thresholds for psychoactive chemicals in a driver's blood. Other states simply have a "zero tolerance" policy for any type of drugged driving, including prescription drugs.
As for naked DUI suspect Felix Lockett, he was taken to a hospital. It's not clear if he'll face any charges, the Sentinel reports.
Related Resources:
- Police: Man high on pot laced with formaldehyde crashes, strips naked (Orlando, Florida's WFTV)
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (FindLaw)
- Pantsless DWI Suspect Hops on Toy Truck to Escape (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- Nearly Naked Woman Gets DWI After Crashing Into Wall (FindLaw's Legally Weird)