KUT DJ Arrested for DWI New Year's Morning

We're truly sad to hear that our beloved Laurie Gallardo was arrested early Sunday morning for DWI. According to the Statesman's Blotter, Gallardo drove the wrong way on two one-way streets, and also had an open container in her car's center console. Her breathalyzer (never take one!) showed a .159 - nearly twice the legal limit. Here's hoping she's ok, and that she's secured a good attorney, and is safe at home. Another bleak reminder to be safe when you're out, to have a designated driver or at the very least, someone who knows when you need to call a cab on hand. KUT has declined to comment.

Update: We realize it was a No Refusal weekend in Austin. We are not in any way trying to tell Ms. Gallardo (or anyone else) what to do if stopped by police. We were simply (and perhaps too simply) reminding folks that typically, you have a choice as to take a breath test, and that in some cases, it could benefit you to refuse one. Obviously we aren't attorneys or police officers with any sort of guidance to give that you should carve into your arm.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Paige Maguire in News on January 2, 2012 2:09 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

JamesOnderak

The Austinist: We'll sell out anybody for a few web hits.

lime lime lemon lemon

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/i...

Jerry Milton

Brandon get a life...they are just blurting out what the STATESMAN already reported...it's not like it is hush hush news to anyone with a clue.

Adam Schragin

lime - are you talking about this girl? the police did come.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/c...

lime lime lemon lemon

You're right! They came, they just didn't do shit.

lime lime lemon lemon

A Body found in north austin dumpster. 29 year old female found murdered in central Austin, attacker on the loose. Yet these two stories are not important enough to show up in the Austinist banner at the top of the page? And this story has more comments than those two regarding lost lives?!

Before Esme was attacked, another young girl was physically attacked in that very spot but she got away, ran into the nearest house party and called the police, screaming. The police never came. One has to wonder if they did, if Esme would still be here, and where their priorities are... http://austinist.com/2012/01/0...

Delwingoss

Why would you advise some one in your article on Laurie's DWI to never take a breath test? Especially on a "No Refusal" weekend. A blood draw might have opened her up to additional charges (it's also illegal to drive under the influence of other things. Not saying Laurie use those other things just saying there is that risk) and a higher blood alcohol content.

Dan Solomon

Because breath tests aren't particularly reliable. "No refusal" means that a judge signs a warrant requiring you to provide evidence -- generally speaking, it's best to make sure that evidence be as accurate as possible.

Delwingoss

Do I understand that you are saying for our own protection we should all be insisting on a blood draw? To be honest I like the idea. I just wish in some cases they wold do addtional substance testing

Dan Solomon

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. During a No Refusal Weekend, anyway, or if you are certain that you're under the legal limit. If you're not sure you're under the limit and they haven't got a warrant, I'd suggest refusing all tests entirely. I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice, but it's an educated suggestion.

In any case, the science on breath tests suggests that no one should ever take one. The DA in Washington DC recently ordered that police not issue them anymore, and in Philly they threw out over a thousand results because they were inaccurate. Blood is much, much more reliable.

lorena l.

God forbid you make people aware of the fact that Gallardo was driving around the wrong way on one-way streets that intoxicated, putting other people's lives in danger. AND with an open container in her car. Also, it's kind of hard not to take a breathalyzer on a NO REFUSAL weekend, eh? She should consider herself lucky that she didn't kill anyone.