Woman Cops An Attitude After Picking Up Third DWI In 2011

GASTONIA, N.C.,None — A Gastonia woman picked up her third DWI charge this year after being stopped Tuesday by police.

Gastonia Police Officer F.A. Williams stopped Natalie Palencia, 22, of 1525 Quail Woods Road, at 11 p.m. Tuesday on the 700 block of Quinn Avenue, near Johnston Street, because she was driving without headlights.

Williams noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on Palencia's breath and an open container of Bud Light, according to a warrant affidavit. Palencia told the officer she had been drinking two beers and took a few shots of liquor before driving.

Palencia blew a 0.16 on the Intoxilyzer test, twice the legal limit. North Carolina law considers a driver impaired with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or above.

"Defendant had the attitude that this was a waste of her time," a magistrate judge wrote on the affidavit. "She stated she left her cell phone in her car and couldn't call anyone."

Palencia at first refused to sign some court papers, but later changed her mind.

She was booked into Gaston County Jail under a $10,000 bond. In addition to driving while impaired, Palencia faces charges of driving while license revoked, open container, no insurance and fictitious registration/license tag.

Palencia also was charged with on May 26 in Gaston County. In addition to her Sept. 22 court date for Tuesday's DWI, she also has court dates on Sept. 6 and Oct. 19 for her other two pending DWIs in Gaston County.

It was not immediately clear when Palencia was arrested for her first DWI in 2011.

WSOC