So- not much surprises me in the DWI defense practice after 30 years, but today I had a new one. Did you know if you have multiple bee stings (my client was stung in the hundreds of times all at once) the venom confuses you like intoxication? The venom can cause dizziness and vertigo. It is cases like these, where a blood test can actually help. Cops can be quick to judge intoxication when often, there are other issues at play. Having bees is a great agricultural exemption in the State of Texas. Just remember, bee stings are part of the territory. Only about 5% of the population is allergic to bee sting venom (in these cases, it is dire to receive professional medical attention quickly). It is most common after a bee sting, to use rubbing alcohol after removing the stinger. What most people do not consider are the effects of combining alcohol with the after effects of bee venom. It is not recommended to drink alcohol after a bee sting as this spreads the venom throughout the body quicker. At the end of the day, Texas law is specific- have you lost your mental or physical faculties due to an impairing substance? I do not see the courts approving bee sting venom alone as an intoxicant. The key analysis is separating the intoxicating effects of bee venom in a DWI case.
