70-year-old blows twice legal blood alcohol limit during traffic stop

A Leesburg woman was arrested for drunk driving after she blew twice the legal blood alcohol limit during a traffic stop in Clermont. 

Police observed the driver of a red Mazda, later identified as 70-year-old Pamsy Anne Booth, conduct a jerky U-turn at U.S. Hwy. 27 and Washington Street at 8:35 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.  

After the U-turn, the vehicle rapidly sped up to 60 mph in a 45-mph zone. It also appeared to be swerving in its own lane from line to line. The vehicle continued southbound through the intersection of US Hwy 27 and Citrus Tower Boulevard all the while tailgating the pickup truck in front of it until it was able to enter the left lane. It then sped up to 82 mph in a 50-mph zone, the report said. 

A traffic stop was conducted at Pitt Street and U.S. Hwy. 27, but the vehicle continued past U.S. Hwy. 27, State Road 50 and significant shoulder ways where it could pull over. Instead, it came to a complete stop in the middle of the junction travel lane from SR 50 to US Hwy 27. Booth had to be instructed over the officer’s PA system to pull out of the lane and to the farthest right-hand side of the road, the report said.  

The officer proceeded to speak with Booth, who appeared to be intoxicated, the report said. Her eyes were glossy, her speech was lethargic and she had difficulty following simple instructions. The officer had to request her license multiple times. She had difficulty recalling where she was coming from and where she was going, as well. 

Booth consented to field sobriety exercises, but her performance ultimately led to the officer concluding she was driving under the influence. Breath samples taken later resulted in 0.17 and 0.18, the report said. 

The California native was subsequently arrested on charge of DUI. She was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.