You can file this story under the stupid things done on social media category after a woman who decided to live stream herself drink-driving resulted in being arrested. The woman, identified as 23-year-old Whitney Beall, filmed an 11-minute live feed on Twitters Periscope app as she drove around Floridas North Lakeland area despite being so f**king drunk.
Beall, who titled the clip Drunk girl driving, broadcast herself to the public in an intoxicated state driving her Toyota and telling viewers things like: Im (expletive) drunk and this is horrible. I dont even know where the next gas station is. This is horrible guys.
Many viewers, who are able to post live comments on the platform, were telling Beall to pull over and stop driving but they were ignored. Beall told everyone she had a flat tyre and was driving around the North Lakeland area, which was used by concerned viewers to inform police and eventually led to her arrest.
One caller told a dispatcher: Shes really drunk. She just hit something. She might be driving with a flat tyre. Shes in a Toyota.
Drunk girl driving Periscope feed used by police officers
Lakeland Police doesnt allow officers access to Periscope and it has been reported that most didnt even know what it was, however, one tech-savvy officer did and decided to open a personal account in order to watch the video and identify landmarks to pinpoint Bealls location.
According to news site WTSP: Officers witnessed her hit the curb with the right front tyre just as they initiated a traffic stop. They said Beall didnt even brake after striking the curb... they smelled the odour of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Beall, her speech was slow; her eyes were bloodshot and glossy. She also appeared to be disoriented.
Unsurprisingly Beall failed a breathalyser test and was swiftly arrested.
While this was a reckless and stupid act that will have many tutting at social medias influence, if it wasnt for the use of Periscope police officers may not have caught Beall before something more serious happened, at all. It has also raised awareness among the Lakeland Police Department of the social media platform and emerging technology and is now training its officers to use the service to help prevent further criminal acts.
