On October 11, 2016, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Stafford County Deputy S.A. Fulford observed a Toyota Prius with an expired vehicle registration on Town and Country Drive in southern Stafford. He initiated a traffic stop along Ferry Road. The deputy made contact with the male driver and his female passenger and asked the driver for his operator’s license. During the encounter the deputy detected the odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle. The driver advised the deputy that he did not have his license with him and provided his social security number.

The driver was identified as Michael Wayne Puckett, age 27 of Stafford. Puckett’s driver’s license had been previously revoked. When Deputy Fulford asked why the driver was operating a vehicle with a revoked license, he explained that he was only driving his girlfriend because she was not feeling well enough to drive. The female passenger then asked if she could drive the vehicle. The deputy was concerned about her ability to drive safely and asked if she would consent to taking a Preliminary Breath Test. She obliged. Her test results were approximately twice the legal limit for driving.

The driver was arrested for Driving After Forfeiture of License and was incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on $1500 secured bond. The female passenger and owner of the vehicle was given a summons for an expired vehicle registration.