A woman in Kennewick, Washington was clearly trying to “live mas” when she drove her RV to a Taco Bell for some late-night food, but the situation did not turn out muy bueno. Fifty-six-year-old Anastacia Etzwiler was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police responded to a call that an RV was stuck in the drive-thru lane of a Taco Bell shortly after midnight on Friday, December 6, 2019.

Etzwiler's first mistake was that she tried to enter the drive-thru lane via its exit. The lane makes a sharp turn around the corner of the back of the building, which is where the RV became stuck. When officers arrived and asked to see her license and registration, Etzwiler went to look for them in the back of the RV but laid down and tried to take a nap.

Etzwiler was booked into Benton County Jail.

DUI in an RV

Washington law specifically states that it is illegal to drink alcoholic beverages in a vehicle, but passengers in an RV or motor home can have open containers as long as they remain in the living area of the camper while it is driving down the road.   

What led to Etzwiler's arrest was that she was in physical control of the RV as she was the only one in it and obviously drove it the wrong way into the drive-thru. RCW 46.61.504 somewhat defines what constitutes physical control of a vehicle and DUI.

(1) A person is guilty of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person has actual physical control of a vehicle within this state:

(a) And the person has, within two hours after being in actual physical control of the vehicle, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506

To simplify, physical control means when someone has the ability to control the movement of a vehicle. A person sitting in a parked vehicle with keys in the ignition would constitute having physical control, according to Washington law.

If Etzwiler had had her RV parked in a campground, she would have been free to imbibe and she could have just called an online delivery service to bring her some tacos rather than risk getting a DUI.

DUI Defense Attorney Steve Karimi

If you have been accused of DUI while in your RV, you need the experience of The Law Offices of Steve Karimi to defend your case. They can examine the legality of your stop and subsequent charge, and they may even argue that you did not have physical control of the vehicle at the time of your arrest, depending on the circumstances. Call them today at 206-621-8777 or fill out an online form to get started.