NINTH D U I MAY FINALLY BE THE CHARM

A SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTY ON PATROL ON MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD WAS CUT OFF BY A VEHICLE LEAVING A CONVENIENCE STORE TUESDAY NIGHT, BUT THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY.  ACCORDING TO THE HERALD TRIBUNE, THE DEPUTY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND WALKED UP TO THE DRIVER, 44 YEAR OLD DAVID BRACY, JR.  THE OFFICER ASKED BRACY IF HE HAD BEEN DRINKING, TO WHICH HE RESPONDED THAT HE HAD HAD THREE BEERS AND A GLASS OF WINE.  THE DEPUTY THEN LOOKED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SAW SEVEN OPEN BEER BOTTLES.  HE THEN RAN HIS LICENSE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD BEEN REVOKED PERMANENTLY IN 2005 AFTER BRACY SPENT A YEAR IN A REHAB FACILITY FOLLOWING HIS EIGHT D U I CONVICTION.  BRACY REFUSED A BREATH TEST CLAIMING HE WASN’T DRUNK, BUT THE DEPUTY REPORTED THAT HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED AND HE HAD TROUBLE STANDING.  HE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH D U I FOR THE NINTH TIME.  UNBELIEVABLY, HE POSTED AN $11,500 BOND AND WAS RELEASED HOURS LATER.  A D U I ATTORNEY TOLD THE PAPER BRACY COULD GET 5 YEARS IN JAIL IF HE’S CONVICTED ON THIS LATEST CHARGE.