A Long Island man discovered an all-but-certain way to be charged with driving while intoxicated in the Internet Age: He posted a live-stream of his erratic driving.
Ahmed Almalki, 33, of Oyster Bay, used the video streaming app Periscope to broadcast himself driving his Lexus at 1 a.m. along the Ocean Parkway in Nassau County, state police said Sunday.
Police dispatchers in Farmingdale received several calls about the live-stream and took the initiative to log on and watch. Troopers were able to determine that Almalki was driving along Ocean Parkway using the video stream.
Troopers on patrol caught up with him on the Wantagh Parkway near Hempstead Turnpike. While interviewing him, troopers allegedly noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, they said.
Almalki was charged on felony DWI charges because he has a previous DWI conviction on his record, police said. He was also cited for failing to use signal lamps, unsafe lane change, unsafe speed and driving across hazard markers.
He was being held for arraignment. There was no indication he had retained a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
