(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte man is facing charges of driving while impaired with a lifetime ban on his driver’s license.

 

Keith Watkins, 48, was arrested on Friday night after a driver behind him reported his vehicle crossing the center line multiple times on Pine Lake Avenue. Authorities say that the reporting driver kept in touch with a 911 dispatcher while following Watkins to give updates on his location. 

 

A few minutes later, a responding officer witnessed his vehicle veer over the center line on Monroe Street before making a traffic stop. There, Watkins reportedly exhibited classic signs of impairment before being taken into custody for refusing a certified blood alcohol test.

 

Watkins did take a portable breathalyzer test, which measured his blood alcohol level at .20 percent, but evidence from such devices cannot be used to determine guilt or innocence, per the police.

 

He could face as much as a six-year sentence for violating his lifetime driving ban and possibly another 30 months on the allegations of Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated.