Drunk Driver Arrested for Fifth DUI Tells Puyallup Police, "I Have Nothing to Lose"

A driver who was just arrested for his fifth DUI told Puyallup Police, "I have nothing to lose."

James R. Door, 48, has been charged with felony DUI, driving with a suspended license in the first degree, and driving without a required ignition interlock device. The DUI charge is a felony because he has four prior DUI convictions in the last 10 years.

"This defendant is a poster child for the felony DUI law," said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. "A person who continues to put the public at risk by driving drunk after four previous DUI convictions needs to be held accountable at a felony level." 

Shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 29, 2013, a Puyallup Police Department officer observed a car pull well past the painted stop line at two traffic lights and make a turn without signaling on 5th St. SE. 

The officer signaled the car to stop and observed that Door, the driver, had a blank look on his face and his eyes were watery, bloodshot, and glassy. According to the police report, the officer "could smell the overwhelming odor of intoxicants coming from inside the car" and on the defendant's breath when he spoke. Door's speech was slurred and he had trouble enunciating words within sentences.

The officer asked the defendant if he had been drinking alcohol, and Door replied, "Probably too much."  When he tried to get out of the car to do the field sobriety tests, he had trouble opening the door and fell back into the car. Door's zipper was down and he was swaying while standing. He failed the field sobriety tests and stated, "I'm probably drunk."

He refused to take a breath test, so the officer obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. The results of the blood draw are pending.

The officer conducted a records check and learned that driving status was suspended in the first degree, and a judge had ordered him to have an ignition interlock device, to ensure the driver is not intoxicated, on his car after a prior DUI conviction. The car did not have an ignition interlock device installed.

Door has been convicted of DUI four times in the last 10 years and has more than 10 other felony convictions. He also was wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for his failure to appear for a court date on a 2012 theft of motor vehicle case.

Door told police he’d been to prison before for 29 months before for his last DUI and he had "nothing to lose."

He was arraigned today in Pierce County Superior Court. Door pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $150,000.