A Villager who drank “14 to 15” beers prior to a golf cart accident has been ordered by a judge to stay away from alcohol.
Suzette Ruth Martin, 51, who lives on the Historic Side of The Villages, had been driving a golf cart on the night of June 3 when she ran into some landscaping, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. Martin then tried to move the golf cart forward and her passenger was thrown out. Lake EMS transported the passenger from the scene by ambulance.
Martin told police she had consumed 14 to 15 beers and admitted she was drunk, the report indicated. She declined to take part in field sobriety exercises, indicating she was certain she would fail them. She was unable to provide a breath sample and told police she has emphysema and lung cancer. Martin was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.
Last week in Lake County Court, Martin entered a plea of no contest in the case. She has been ordered to not consume or possess alcohol, take part in a victim awareness program and take part in advance DUI school. She has been placed on probation for one year and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. In addition, she was fined $787.50 and ordered to pay $506 in court costs, public defender fees and prosecution costs.
