4 Times Legal Limit, Drunk Motorist May Lose BMW: Forfeiture

BRAIDWOOD, IL — Christine McArthur, a 58-year-old woman facing two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, may have to part ways with her 2008 BMW 3.0 SI. Thursday's Will County civil forfeiture complaint against the Braidwood resident states that McArthur's blood alcohol concentration was 0.321, which is four times the legal limit to be considered drunk in Illinois.

McArthur was arrested by Braidwood police officer Phil Tyree on the night of Sept. 14. She spent one day in the Will County Jail before regaining freedom by posting 10 percent of her $15,000 bail.

According to the civil forfeiture complaint, Tyree was patrolling Main Street in Braidwood when he saw the 2008 BMW make a right turn without using a turn signal as the driver hit the gas.

The officer pulled over the BMW at Main and Washington Streets and Tyree told McArthur that she failed to use her turn signal.

"Officer Tyree then observed in plain sight an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage near McArthur's right leg, to which McArthur attempted to hide when Officer Tyree mentioned it," the forfeiture complaint states.

"Christine McArthur stated that she had 'a couple of shots' of the Southern Comfort alcoholic beverage that was contained in the opened bottle," court documents show.

McArthur was asked to step outside her BMW, and she tried to do that, the forfeiture indicates.

"Christine McArthur was very erratic and unable to follow directions while Officer Tyree requested that McArthur stay near the rear of the ... vehicle," court records state.

Minutes later, Braidwood Police Sgt. Jack McCasland arrived at the traffic stop to assist.

McArthur agreed to perform a series of field sobriety tests, the forfeiture noted.

"While attempting to administer the one-leg stand, McArthur was unable to perform the test without losing balance," court documents state.

McArthur was put in handcuffs and brought to Braidwood's police station for booking.

After 20 minutes in the station, she agreed to take a breathalyzer, the forfeiture stated.

In the building, Police Sgt. Chris Altiery operated the Intoz II Intixmeter, and it registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.321 for McArthur, the forfeiture noted.

McArthur was then arrested on charges of DUI and driving while license revoked. She was delivered to the Will County Jail near Joliet's downtown.

Now, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow has asked that the judges make McArthur's BMW a forfeited police asset to be sold at a public auction, destroyed or given to a police department in Illinois.

A court hearing on the Braidwood police's forfeiture complaint is set for Nov. 10.

Court records indicate that McArthur uses two addresses: one in the 300 block of East Reed Street in Braidwood, and one on Lakeshore Drive in Wilmington.