Texas Woman Arrested For DWI During Multiple Sclerosis Episode

Update 5/2/2017

“This is Christie Lietzau but that’s Not My Picture . Theirs A lot left out that I Feel the Public Needs to Know. I Wasn’t Pulled Over I was Arrested in my Drive way, No Ambulance was ever called yet I have two News Recordings Stating otherwise. My 13 yr old daughter was horrified they arrested me and left her alone with my vehicle running, They took my medicine for my ms and put it in evidence… I was arrested Dec 16 and agreed to Blood test as of now Two months ago 0 Alcohol present but from dec 16 th still No Drug test results in as of yet. They keep re setting my court dates. Everything about the way this was handeled was Disgraceful…. I don’t think Anyone in my family will Ever Call 911 Again …….I can’t even afford my Dr appts thanks to all the court Fees….”

Last month, a woman just outside of Houston in Rosenberg, Texas was arrested for a DWI during a multiple sclerosis episode. After driving her daughter to get food, Christie Lietzau began to have an MS flare, thus prompting her daughter to call 911 for help. Although the police were told that the mother was having an episode, police deemed her impaired and arrested her on suspicion of DWI. The Rosenberg Police Department then drew blood from her, saying that the results would arrive in a few weeks. Thereafter, she spent three days in jail and now faces felony charges.

What is MS?

Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable immune-mediated disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the central nervous system. The result is that the brain cannot send signals through the body properly, causing a wide range of symptoms including trouble walking, muscle weakness, spasms, blurred vision, problems focusing, poor bladder control, and numbness. Today, the cause of MS is still unknown, and an MS flare or attack cannot be prevented entirely even while on medication. Based on the symptoms above, it is reasonable to assume that an MS flare could resemble the actions of a drunk driver depending on the severity of the attack.

How Long Does a Blood Test take?

The length of time it takes to get the results of a blood test can vary based on the time and resources available to the county in which you were arrested. However, the general consensus seems to be between 4 and 6 weeks to get a result back. The arrest above occurred almost a month ago which fits within the time frame for results to be returned. That being said, if many months pass after an arrest without a test result, it could mean that the results were either negative or inconclusive and the case is being dropped.

When are Blood Tests ADMINISTERED in Texas?

In the state of Texas, if you are pulled over and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, implied consent laws dictate that you submit to either a breath or blood test to determine your BAC levels. In fact, by simply signing for a driver’s license in Texas, the fine print states that drivers tacitly agree to a sobriety test as part of the state extending driving privileges to them. If you are arrested and still refuse, your license will be suspended for at least 180 days with the option to have a hearing within the first 15 days to challenge the suspension. There is also something in Texas known as a “no refusal weekend” which occurs on certain holidays and allows police to draw blood from DWI suspects even without their consent or a warrant. The legality of these no refusal weekends have been the topic of much debate throughout the state.

Is a Blood Test 100% Accurate?

Even though blood tests are considered to be one of the more reliable methods of BAC testing, it may not be accurate for a number of reasons:

Delays in Analysis – If a sample sits too long, it may coagulate, ferment, or begin to decompose which can lead to a false reading.
Improper Collection or Storage – If the blood is drawn improperly by someone at the scene or the sample is not properly preserved and gets too warm, it can lead to a reading error.
Errors in Testing – The laboratories that run these tests are often underfunded and run numerous different samples each day. Any recording error or contamination during this process can lead to a false result.

For all of the damage caused by drunk drivers that we normally hear on the news, such as the man in Houston recently sentenced to life in after his ninth drunk driving offense, this case is especially concerning because of the ignorance on behalf of the police officers. Assuming that the test results come back negative except for her prescription medication, the 911 response for an MS flare should not be three days in prison and potential felony charges. Hopefully with the release of the test results she and her family will receive some closure, but it is concerning knowing that someone could be wrongfully accused of a crime when all they needed was medical attention.

This will be updated as the story develops.

Header image via wikimedia commons.

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Comments 5

Posted on March 21, 2017

David Lewis

Reply Author

There was a lawsuit filed recently in Bend, Oregon where elderly citizens were being pulled over for DWI and DUI based on their age. It has caused a large issue in Central Oregon.

It appears that they even administer Urine Testing on females without a female observer. Terrible abuse of authority and overstep by male officers.
Posted on May 2, 2017

Christie Lietzau

Reply Author

This is Christie Lietzau but that’s Not My Picture . Theirs A lot left out that I Feel the Public Needs to Know. I Wasn’t Pulled Over I was Arrested in my Drive way, No Ambulance was ever called yet I have two News Recordings Stating otherwise. My 13 yr old daughter was horrified they arrested me and left her alone with my vehicle running, They took my medicine for my ms and put it in evidence… I was arrested Dec 16 and agreed to Blood test as of now Two months ago 0 Alcohol present but from dec 16 th still No Drug test results in as of yet. They keep re setting my court dates. Everything about the way this was handeled was Disgraceful…. I don’t think Anyone in my family will Ever Call 911 Again …….I can’t even afford my
Dr appts thanks to all the court Fees….
- Posted on May 2, 2017
  
  Rob Tindula
  
  Reply Author
  
  Christie,
  
  I am so saddened to hear that you are still having issues with this. The reason I wrote this story was because I was shocked that something so simple could be mishandled so poorly. I did not have a picture of you and would not have used one anyway without your permission. I’m adding your comment to the top of the story as an update but please let me know if there are any other changes that need to be implemented.
Posted on May 3, 2017

Christie Lietzau

Reply Author

Sadly I don’t know what my Rights are I’ve Managed to make it to 50 years old without Ever Breaking the law which I’m hoping Speaks Highly of My Character….I was brought up to Respect My Elders and that The Police, Fire Fighters, First Responders and The Military are Considered Heroes….I Can’t even Imagine what My Daughter must have been Feeling watching them treat her Mother like a Criminal. After being able to finely be able to bond out I was Convinced they had Broken My Wrist it looked like a bone was piercing out of my wrist I begged for an Excedrin a Tylenol Anything to help the pain I was denied. I begged to go to the ER because my Muscles were locking up I was told to Shut up or just ignored. I went to ER when I got out and was told it was a type of Cyist caused by trauma and was referred to a hand surgeon.That was without a doubt the longest three days of my life. I Wouldn’t wish this on my worst Enemy… I Can’t Tell you how painful it was to watch my daughter crying and trying to tell the officers I had ms and I was having a FLARE UP and they told her to Shut Up… I Couldn’t Believe My Ears When I learned the officers were women. I was in desperate need for an Ambulance and Instead i Got Arrested.
Posted on June 14, 2017

Christie Lietzau

Reply Author

Let Me Start Out By Saying I Hope Nobody and I Mean Nobody Has To Go Through What Myself and My Family Have Been Forced To Endure.
After Countless Court Resets and So Many Questions I’ve Asked While Never Getting Any Answers From Anyone. I’ve Done Everything That I’ve Been Asked To Do Without Any Hesitation At All. I Gave Them My Ok For The Drug and Alcohol Blood Test. That Was On December The 16th. Roughly 3 Months Later My Attorney Informed Me The Alcohol Test Were Back and Their Was Zero Alcohol Present in My Blood. I Asked About the Drug Test Results and They Were Not in Yet…So Another Reset Because We Are Still Awaiting The Drug Test Results. I Received a Call From My Attorney Two Days Before My Court Date informing Me He Wasn’t Going To Be Able To Make it to Court Because He Had to Be Somewhere Else, However He Did Arrange For Someone Else to Meet Me For Yet Another Reset, The Judge Was Very Polite and Made a Remark About All the Resets I Told him we Are Still waiting for the Drug Test Results to Come in and that’s When I Was Told By The Man Filling in for My Attorney That The Test Were Finally in 7 Months Later… ofcourse I Asked Well?? and he Informed Me That My Attorney Will Get back with me. I’m Handing This One Over To GOD, The Stress Alone Has Made My MS Progress…