Drug Recognition Expert Deputy D.S. Jett located and stopped yet another driver who was under the influence while traveling on Stafford’s roads.

On March 24th at approximately 5:54 p.m. Deputy Jett responded to the area of Ferry Road and White Oak Road for a report of a reckless driver. The caller advised the vehicle was traveling in a reckless manner and the driver would occasionally stop to vomit. Knowing these to be signs of a possible intoxicated driver, Deputy Jett quickly located the vehicle.

When Deputy Jett made contact with the driver, he observed two children in the backseat. The driver advised she felt sick and knew she shouldn’t be driving in her state. Despite her knowing, she still made the choice to drive. After conducting field sobriety tests, she was placed into handcuffs while the children were turned over to a responsible adult.

The driver, Alyson Brinza, 33, of Stafford, was charged with driving under the influence and two counts of felony child neglect. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $2,000 secured bond.

As driving under the influence of substances other than alcohol continues to rise, it can be hard to detect. Certain tests, like a breath test, will only work for alcohol. That being said, Stafford County deputies have taken steps to go above and beyond to counteract this. Not only do we have Drug Recognition Experts, but deputies, like Deputy S.A. Fulford, have gone through training to be a nationally certified phlebotomist in order to collect and test the substances in someone’s blood.

Driver sober or get pulled over, no matter the substances used.