(La Porte County, IN) - A trip to Michigan could be costly for a La Porte woman accused of driving while impaired on marijuana. Nicole Rodriguez, 37, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 felony operating while intoxicated.
An officer began following Rodriguez last week after clocking her speeding on Crescent Dr. in La Porte and witnessing her run a stop sign at U.S. 35, according to La Porte County Police. Police said Rodriguez seemed to accelerate rapidly after heading southbound on U.S. 35 where her estimated speed topped 70 miles per hour. During a traffic stop, the officer noticing signs of impairment was told by Rodriguez that she smoked marijuana about a half hour before leaving Michigan.
The sale and possession of dispensary marijuana is legal in that state but not in Indiana. According to police, the charge was elevated to a felony due to her having a prior OWI conviction from 2019. She could face anywhere from a six month to 30 month sentence.
