You know what they say – drunk words are sober thoughts.
That was the case for a man who mistakenly confessed to a police officer when he was pulled over in Southern California just after midnight on New Year’s Day.
A video shared to Instagram by the Murrieta Police Department on Thursday shows the exchange. At approximately 12:40 a.m. on January 1st, Officer Bridgewater pulled over a man who appeared to have swerved in the roadway.
A man incorrectly told a Murrieta police officer during a traffic stop on New Year’s that he had a DUI instead of a DD. (Murrieta Police Department)
When Bridgewater approached the vehicle, he immediately told the suspect he was suspended from driving due to an influence investigation. The suspect, whose face was covered and not identified in the video, reportedly told officers that he had just broken up with a friend before making the false confession.
The man told Bridgewater, “I was driving drunk tonight so I was just dropping off a friend.”
It took the man a minute to realize his mistake.
“You’re driving drunk tonight,” the officer asked for clarification.
“Yes, sir,” the man answered.
Bridgewater then corrected the man who had meant to say he was the designated driver. He admitted to drinking beer and champagne “a few hours ago.”
The video then cut to Bridgewater administering a field sobriety test to the man, who struggled to take a step without stumbling.
He was later arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.
According to Murrieta Police, approximately 37 people die each day in drunk driving accidents in the United States.
