Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I, Officer Morgan, was on water-based patrol when I observed a personal watercraft (PWC) violating a slow speed zone in the Intracoastal Waterway. Upon stopping the PWC, I noticed the operator, Lorena, had slightly slurred words, bloodshot, glassy eyes with droopy eyelids, and an odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage. She displayed confusion when I asked to see her fire extinguisher, attempting to show me her anchor instead. I asked her to perform seated Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks (SFSTs), to which she consented.
During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, she showed six clues of impairment and vertical nystagmus, indicating a high dose of alcohol. In the Finger to Nose task, she failed to follow instructions, opening her eyes, moving her head, and missing her nose multiple times, accumulating eleven clues. The Palm Pat test resulted in two clues due to her inability to follow instructions and increase speed. Finally, during the Hand Coordination task, she showed four clues, failing to maintain the starting position, improperly touching her fists, and incorrect counting.
Based on the totality of my observations—her slurred words, glassy eyes, alcohol odor, and poor performance on all SFSTs—I arrested her for operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired. She was advised that these were clues, not a pass or fail. I asked about the disposition of her vessel, and she opted to have it towed rather than released to her passenger. Later, after being transported to shore, she refused to provide a breath sample after implied consent was read and refused to answer questions after being read Miranda. She also became agitated, accusing officers of abusing power and being too 'grabby' with her handcuffs.
Charges:
* Operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired (Florida Statute 327.35(1)(a)) - Second Degree Misdemeanor
* Refusal to submit to blood/breath/urine to pursuant to FS 327.352 (Florida Statute 327.35215(1)) - Infraction
* Violation of Florida Administrative Code pertaining to boating restricted area for Palm Beach County [68D-24.017], specifically a Slow Speed Minimum Wake Violation (Florida Administrative Code 327.46(3))
I, Officer Morgan, was on water-based patrol when I observed a personal watercraft (PWC) violating a slow speed zone in the Intracoastal Waterway. Upon stopping the PWC, I noticed the operator, Lorena, had slightly slurred words, bloodshot, glassy eyes with droopy eyelids, and an odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage. She displayed confusion when I asked to see her fire extinguisher, attempting to show me her anchor instead. I asked her to perform seated Standardized Field Sobriety Tasks (SFSTs), to which she consented.
During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, she showed six clues of impairment and vertical nystagmus, indicating a high dose of alcohol. In the Finger to Nose task, she failed to follow instructions, opening her eyes, moving her head, and missing her nose multiple times, accumulating eleven clues. The Palm Pat test resulted in two clues due to her inability to follow instructions and increase speed. Finally, during the Hand Coordination task, she showed four clues, failing to maintain the starting position, improperly touching her fists, and incorrect counting.
Based on the totality of my observations—her slurred words, glassy eyes, alcohol odor, and poor performance on all SFSTs—I arrested her for operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired. She was advised that these were clues, not a pass or fail. I asked about the disposition of her vessel, and she opted to have it towed rather than released to her passenger. Later, after being transported to shore, she refused to provide a breath sample after implied consent was read and refused to answer questions after being read Miranda. She also became agitated, accusing officers of abusing power and being too 'grabby' with her handcuffs.
Charges:
* Operating a vessel while normal faculties impaired (Florida Statute 327.35(1)(a)) - Second Degree Misdemeanor
* Refusal to submit to blood/breath/urine to pursuant to FS 327.352 (Florida Statute 327.35215(1)) - Infraction
* Violation of Florida Administrative Code pertaining to boating restricted area for Palm Beach County [68D-24.017], specifically a Slow Speed Minimum Wake Violation (Florida Administrative Code 327.46(3))
