Woman charged with DUI after allegedly hitting two other cars while her blood alcohol level was 3.5 times the legal limit

Updated at 7:10 p.m. with corrected description of DUI charge.

Updated on June 15 with statements from Ms. Smith.

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Jasmine Renay Smith, 27, of Gainesville, was arrested yesterday and charged with DUI with a blood alcohol level over .15, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia after allegedly hitting two other cars while impaired.

At 4:29 p.m. yesterday, an Alachua Police Department Officer responded to a crash at the intersection of NW 43rd Street and U.S. Hwy 441; his investigation of the crash found that Smith had been driving at an excessive speed, changing lanes abruptly, and failing to maintain her lane of travel before rear-ending a vehicle that was stopped at the traffic light. The officer reported that Smith’s vehicle was totaled and two other vehicles sustained minor damage.

Post Miranda, Smith reportedly admitted that she had purchased alcoholic beverages earlier in the day and had been drinking them in her car. The officer reported that Smith could be seen attempting to hide items in the car during the crash investigation.

Smith reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety exercises and was arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol level over .15. She was also cited for aggressive driving that resulted in a crash with $17,700 in property damage and injury to another person.

A search of Smith’s purse reportedly produced less than 20 grams of marijuana, and a scale typically used for weighing narcotics was found in her glove box. The officer reported that 44 empty alcoholic beverages were scattered throughout the vehicle.

Smith reportedly submitted to breath samples that measured .277 and .283 g/210L, about two hours after the crash. Those measurements are 3.5 times the legal limit for impairment.

Smith has no criminal history. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered that she be fitted with a Transdermal Alcohol Detector and then be screened for Drug Court; Smith was released on her own recognizance.

In a written comment, Ms. Smith told us the arrest report is inaccurate because she never tried to hide anything and she doesn’t recall a scale ever being in her car. She said it was incorrect to say her blood alcohol level was 3.5 times the legal limit because she was told at the police station that it was three times the limit. However, 3.5 times 0.8 is 2.8, which is the average of her two breath measurements.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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