In bodycam footage published in August 2025, a Dodge Charger reaches an Albuquerque sobriety checkpoint with its front bumper dragging. When asked whether she knew about the damage, the driver said she did.
The July 5, 2025, stop involved a 19-year-old driver, according to California Bodycam, which published the recording. Despite the channel’s name, this encounter took place in New Mexico.
She tells police she is heading home and has work at 8 a.m. When an officer asks whether she feels safe to drive, she says yes.
For the officer, though, the concern goes beyond the loose bumper. His questions turn to how she approached the checkpoint and whether she has used alcohol or drugs.
A Rough Arrival
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Early in the stop, officers discuss a gun and direct the passenger out of the car. Another officer takes the driver aside and asks about a white powdery substance under her nose.
He tells her he believes it is cocaine. She denies using drugs and disputes that there is any substance on her nose.
As the questioning continues, the officer describes her approach to the checkpoint. He says she passed warning signs, drove over speed bumps, and kept coming as officers shone flashlights and shouted for her to stop.
“No, I do hear you guys, and I do stop eventually,” she replies. He explains that officers working around moving cars need drivers to respond.
Her account of the bumper damage places it about a week before the stop. She says someone hit her car and that the bumper has been loose since then.
Nine Steps Back
Before the tests, the driver reports a recent crash and back pain. She tells the officer she went to a hospital and was told she needed physical therapy.
He asks about her work, including whether she stands, lifts boxes, and stocks shelves. She says those tasks are part of her job at a gas station.
During an eye test, he repeatedly tells her to keep her head still and follow his finger with her eyes. For the walking test, he explains nine heel-to-toe steps, a turn, and nine steps back.
Afterward, the officer counts 10 steps; she says she took nine. The next test calls for standing on one leg and counting upward, but she begins counting backward despite repeated instructions.
A Firm No
Once the tests end, the officer tells her she is under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The breath-test request comes later, inside a nearby testing vehicle.
There, he reads an implied-consent advisory and asks whether she will take the test. She refuses, then declines again after he warns her about losing her driving privileges and a possible greater sentence if convicted.
California Bodycam describes the arrest as aggravated DWI. A current court outcome, custody status, and bond have not been confirmed.
Before officers take her away, she again asks for an attorney. She also insists that her keys come with her.
All parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.