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Subscribe to RSSNot only can Botox protect your face from the cruel march of time, it may also keep you out of the slammer.
When a Canadian woman named Paddi Anne Moore was pulled over by a police officer last spring and asked to blow into a breathalyzer, she huffed and she puffed, but she just couldn’t blow, according to a report in the Vancouver Sun.
The officer gave her four chances, and, finally, charged Moore, 51, with refusing to give a breath sample.
Moore admits, sure, she was drinking that night, but she says she simply couldn’t comply with the trooper because she’d recently received Botox injections and the wrinkle-freezer kept her from puckering her lips.
Last week, a Vancouver judge tossed out the charge when Moore provided a letter from a doctor in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, who had performed the Botox shots.
The doctor wrote it’s not uncommon for Botox patients to be unable "to wrap their lips around a straw or wide circumference such as a breathalyzer blow apparatus" for up to six months.
The police officer disputes Moore’s story, maintaining, “she made no attempt to blow.”
Before we digress into a he said/she said that’s starting to sound like the Clinton impeachment hearings, let’s ask a real expert: Is there any truth to this so-called “Botox defense” (or “defence” for you Canadians out there)?
“It’s definitely realistic that a person couldn’t blow into a breathalyzer because they couldn’t purse their lips after Botox,” says Dr. Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon from Troy, Mich. who runs the blog Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery, although he adds it would have to be a rather uncommon type of injection.
“Some people will inject Botox into the muscles around the mouth to get rid of smoker’s lines, those fine vertical lines that extend around the mouth,” he says. But result probably won’t look very natural. “If a person is unable to pucker their lips, it looks strange. You may have a mouth that doesn’t move naturally, like a wax figure type of mouth.”
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Youn says if the woman really did have Botox injections, her defense is conceivable. And if she didn’t have the shots, he says he’s still impressed.
“You’ve got to hand it to her,” he says. “I’ve tried excuses to get out of speeding tickets myself.”
Of course, the last laugh may be on Moore. According to Youn, Botox shots in the muscles around the mouth can sometimes cause other side effects.
“Typically, we inject Botox in the upper face – the forehead, the crow’s feet, the frown lines,” he says. “My concern in injecting somebody around the mouth is that they might come back and say my mouth isn’t working right. And if those muscles aren’t moving right, you could get a droop or a drool.”
And then people might really accuse her of drinking too much.
Ever had a Botox mishap? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Botox saved her from a DUI? I'll drink to that!
Give the old girl credit for originality though! But if I was the cop, I would start carrying duct tape to ensure a proper seal to the breathilizer. I don't think even she would be able to compromise the integrity of the Handyman's Secret Weapon, duct tape.
Classy- It seems her lips managed to curl around a bottle or glass well enough to get drunk and not dribble the alcohol all over her. And if you have the spare money for botox while on vacation in Mexico, spare some lives and pay for a flipping taxi ride home - there is no excuse for drinking and driving.
I'm seriously surprised the prosecution didn't think to point that out in court... if she can't wrap her mouth around a breathalyzer straw, then how is she drinking anything without making a slob of herself, let alone alcoholic drinks?
Who said she didn't make a slob of herself? Further, it's not like the bottle is the same circumference as a straw. It's not like the patrol officer sent her on her merry way, he arrested her and she was charged, so unless the judge was in an adjoining cell, she spent some time in the local slammer.
The judge should be under a serious look for integrity to uphold justice in a reasonable intelligent manner. She admitted she was drinking and was pulled over. End of story. Drinking a substance that affects the mind and alters its state and she admitted to driving while under the influence. This breathalyser is just a poor means of lobbyists selling useless tools especially when they have to equate to a certain amount that constitutes in someone breaking the law. One’s ability to retain substances that alter the mind has a variety of levels and affects on each individual. Such as how much food one ate, was it mixed with other drugs, water intake, and quality of air... many things. Simply put inhibiting one’s mind and then admitting it should have been enough. The judge is a failure of justice.
imo
90 hours of community service or a license suspension would of been a good wake up call. I personally have a 0 tolerance to anyone that takes an inhibiting substance and gets behind a tool that can cause harm.
Seems Americas bad influence is rubbing off too much.
Good point, Taylor -- how did she drink anything without dribbling if she can't close her mouth? You can tell how annoyed the officer was at the ruling. But as far as creative excuses go, it's a good one. Although don't people have to do sobriety field tests before being asked to blow the breathalyzer? Doesn't that carry any weight in the court?
I think it's just hilarious. So, if you have botox injections around that area you may not be able to wrap your lips around a straw or breathalizer for 6 months. So probably no kissing the husband she probably did it for in the first place.
Jane Weaver
I don't know what the law is in your jurisdiction but in Canada you don't have to administer a field sobriety test. She was charged with failing to take a breathalyzer , a different offence than driving while impaired under the Canadian Criminal Code. It wasn't a case of her not being able to close her mouth. She could't close her mouth around the device so as to blow enough to create the necessary volume to read. She couldn't purse her lips to blow. Further nowhere was it written that she didn't dribble. You've made some incorrect assumptions.
Jane is most likely (as am I) from the US where if pulled over by law enforcement because they believe you may be intoxicated, they are allowed to administer a series of tests on the side of the road to test your ability to walk heel-to-toe along a straight line, hold your arms out to your sides with your index fingers extended, eyes shut, and bring your right finger to the point of your nose, then put the arm back in place, then repeat with the left. If you cannot pass these coordination tests at the side of the road, it is presumed you're intoxicated and that is enough (according to US laws) to arrest someone for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. If they want to know what said intoxicant is prior to bringing the person to court, a good ol' fashioned blood test will tell them exactly what was impairing their driving abilities. If they were drunk, the blood test will also determine just how drunk they were, just like the breathalyzer. Unfortunately, the downside to only using a breathalyzer when you pull someone over when you suspect they're driving under the influence of an intoxicant is it won't tell you if they've just recently sparked a doobie, snorted coke, shot up heroin, took extacy, dropped acid, etc.
As for the "dribbling assumptions" you are correct in that the article said nothing about her dribbling, but not all journalists include every minute detail in their writings, nor are they always provided with them, so how are we to know she didn't dribble? You, yourself said you couldn't use straws properly after a similar procedure, so of course people are going to assume if the arresting officer had probable cause to pull her over to ask her to use the breathalyzer she likely was drinking before she got into the car, and if she can't use a breathalyzer straw, she couldn't use the bartender's/restaurant's/cafe's/establishment's (whatever-you-want-to-call-it) straw so its reasonable to assume she was drinking directly from the glass they poured it in. As someone who has been to a dentist a lot, and has a huge intolerance of pain, I've had numerous injections of Novocaine, and afterward, while my lips aren't frozen into a certain position like with botox, when I've gone to drink directly from a cup, I've dribbled, because my lips were numb and I couldn't control them well enough to seal them correctly around the lip of the cup - I would guess it's a similar challenge here.
I'm sorry but it seems to me like she's just a lush that just didn't want to get in trouble, so she used an excuse to get out of it, like a lot of people do.
I've had botox around my mouth and its true. One can't purse one's lips. I've had to drink from a straw using my closed teeth to suction. Haven't been able to blot lipstick. The idea of botox around the mouth is to soften the lines around the mouth. One does that by paralyzing the muscles around the mouth. Yes, if there's too much in there one does dribble. I can't use mouthwash and keep it in my mouth. I believe her.
If your trophy wife can't purse her lips and blow, then she is of no use to you anyway and it is time to upgrade to a younger version even if the old gal still has no forehead wrinkles.
Scott,
Scott,
You're a real charmer. And look up the definition of trophy wife.
I googled it, and it took me to a website for something called "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"?
Tongue in cheek for the above post, of course - which is something else that none of those women could likely manage to accomplish.
I assume your partner also has plans to upgrade to a younger model too? It's not like guys don't wrinkle and have issues with their bodies too, right?
Botox around the mouth is used therapeutically to treat facial paralysis. Especially in cases of congenital facial paralysis, Botox is used to restrict muscles that overcompensate for atrophied muscles at the end of dead or damaged nerve pathways. Without Botox, it is extremely difficult for patients to isolate and exercise fine atrophied facial muscles to create new nerve pathways. The overcompensating muscles just keep overcompensating. With Botox, it can be done.
So if you're unable/unwilling to take a breathalyzer test, how about right to the nearest ER for a blood test?
I recently had a botox treatment for Migraines, and it left me unable to swallow anything but liquids for over 7 weeks.
My husband would be so mad if I got botox and couldn't "purse my lips" for six months!
As a physician who injects Botox around the mouth, the amount we apply is so small that it shouldn't affect ones ability to talk, smile, or make expressions. Some patients do say they have some difficulty sucking out of a straw or whistling, but the gross mouth deformities suggested by the article as a consequence of Botulinum toxin is not anything I have seen in my patients. However, it is conceivable that botulinum toxin if injected in higher amounts or too deeply could result in undesired consequences.
Keeping in mind that this was done in Mexico so the quality assurance my not be up to our local standards. They might have used a little too much and now she can't smile or frown. If I was her husband and she couldn't purse her lips and make suction I would be seriously unimpressed. ^_^
Drinking and driving would happen far less if there was reasonably priced public transit available late at night in every community. Even if its just a bus 1/2 hour after closing time. Surprising how few communities have adequate transit available late at night. Cabs are not always a viable option for many people due to the cost. Cab fair can cost more then the rest of the evening cost you combined.
For many people, not driving means not going out ever due to lack of viable alternative transportation. So they risk driving. Give people options and they generally wont choose the path to trouble.
While I agree that more communities need low-cost public transit options later into the nights, for this, and other reasons, but I have a problem with the "cabs are too expensive" defense for people risking drunken driving.
You say cab fares can sometimes be equal to the bar tab, so people risk driving themselves home drunk. That's their own stupid fault - there's more options than that.
One's enjoyment of, or addiction to, alcoholic beverages is understandable. Hell, I partake myself every now and then. However, that being said: it is NEVER ok to drive after you've been drinking. Even if you have to pony up the dough for a cab because you can't get a ride from a pre-arranged designated driver, or get ahold of a buddy after the fact, isn't doing that much better than risking the possibility of ending not only your own life, but that of someone else's, possibly even a little child's?
Yeah, public transit should be available to accommodate the drinking public, as well as others out late at night (there are people who work in the middle of the night) but when it isn't, that doesn't mean people can just go around and drive drunk because cab's charge too much.
JD,
My sincerest of condolences for your loss. I have no sympathy toward anyone that thinks it's ok to get behind the wheel after they've been drinking, regardless of the amount. There are always alternative means of transportation after you've had a night out on the town.
As to your comments about botox: I'm sorry but as someone who just had botox themselves about 6-8 months ago, I have to ask you where you're getting this information? I am disabled - born with a birth defect that resulted in my permanent paralysis from the waist down, and I use a wheelchair for mobility, as I cannot walk. Because a lot of my time is spent in the wheelchair, I have contractures in my hips and knees. A doctor I know (a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist) told me that research shows that people with those types of contractures can go through a procedure where they inject botox and use electrical impulses in the nerves to release some of the tightness in the contractures.
Being young and naive I had the same botulism/botox will rot your flesh myth in my mind and I grilled the doctor. She assured me that it is untrue. Research claiming so is 10-15 years old, and updated studies show those claims to be false.
If she was arrested she must have submitted to another type of test at the jail to determine if she was legally drunk. I would hope so anyway. The ability to blow the device is just a cursory observation for blood alcohol. Another liberal friggin lawyer filing a frivolous claim. And getting away with it. Pretty amazing.
You misunderstand what happened. A claim was not filed. The Crown in Canada charged her with a Criminal Code offense -failure to take the breathalayzer. Her defense was that she was unable to blow as required because of a physical limitation. It's up to the attending police officer if he offers a blood test.
My wife had a necessary oral/facial surgery many years ago. Half of her face was partially paralyzed, as anticipated, for six months. During that time we were very concerned, because there is no guarantee that the nerves would recover. Anybody who undergoes any type of facial surgery is taking a substantial risk because facial nerves are extrememly close to the surface and very delicate and damage results in paralysis. I hope those of you who are administering or considering facial treatments such as botox are being responsible in your advice and decisions because the outcomes could be diasterous and irresversible.
Regarding this story: Has anybody ever had a friend or relative killed by a drunk driver? I have. It kind of puts this story in a different perspective.
I'm a little confused: How is facial surgery related to botox? I would think that facial surgeries would be a lot more in-depth, complicated, and risky to the nerves than the injection of chemicals. Surgery involves cutting, and possibly reconnecting cuts. Yeah, botox can be bad if they OD you on botox, but I don't see the comparison to surgery.
She may be laughing now because she got out of a ticket but give it 20 years. People obviously don't understand the origin of botox - it doesn't say botulinum toxin on the bottle just for show. It is a toxin from botulism. Over the years it's slowly eating away the nerves and eventually those areas will be paralyzed for good. Lets not forget that if the doctor messes up the dosage by even a few nanograms (billionth of a gram) the person is dead, and with a leathal dose of about 50ng you'd be better off driving down a bumpy road with nitroglycerin in the seat next to you.
Far be it from me to criticize some one for wanting to look good now but look like a stroke victim later, it's their choice. That doesn't mean you get to use stupidity as a reason to drive drunk and possibly kill others. I lost a close cousin because of rejects like this woman, the only good thing she can ever do is drive her drunk a$$ into a tree someday.
John,
I am sorry for your loss and I abhor drunk drivers.
Please note that this woman was not charged with impaired driving. She was charged with failure to give a sample, a very differnt offense in Canada. Had she been able to blow, analysis might have confirmed alcohol but within legal limits. If she was above the limit, she would have been charged with an impairment offense akin to DUIs. There is no law in Canada aagainst drinking and driving, only thresholds for alcohol in one's blood stream while in the care and control of a motor vehicle.
I don't know how my reply to JD got above JD's post, so I'll put it in the right place now (hopefully):
JD,
My sincerest of condolences for your loss. I have no sympathy toward anyone that thinks it's ok to get behind the wheel after they've been drinking, regardless of the amount. There are always alternative means of transportation after you've had a night out on the town.
As to your comments about botox: I'm sorry but as someone who just had botox themselves about 6-8 months ago, I have to ask you where you're getting this information? I am disabled - born with a birth defect that resulted in my permanent paralysis from the waist down, and I use a wheelchair for mobility, as I cannot walk. Because a lot of my time is spent in the wheelchair, I have contractures in my hips and knees. A doctor I know (a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist) told me that research shows that people with those types of contractures can go through a procedure where they inject botox and use electrical impulses in the nerves to release some of the tightness in the contractures.
Being young and naive I had the same botulism/botox will rot your flesh myth in my mind and I grilled the doctor. She assured me that it is untrue. Research claiming so is 10-15 years old, and updated studies show those claims to be false.
(I tried clearing out the text in the above erroneous post, but it wouldn't let me delete even one letter for some reason.)
<p>Yes, I once had Botox injections to reduce the puffy, over-stretched wrinkles around my ego.</p>
<p>It didn't work. However, when I stopped the Botox shots, after my ego radically deflated, everything seemed to be fine and I felt no need to be anything other than what I am.</p>
<p>It turned out that the Ego led to the Botox injections, and the injections caused the Ego to become even more bloated and swollen. Once the ego was flushed-out and unclogged, the perceived need for the Botox vanished.</p>
Though I have to give her credit for a creative excuse, I do wonder why they didn't ask for a blood test if she stated she was physically unable to give a Breathalyzer test. I'm guessing that the officer had some cause for why he pulled her over to administer a breath test, erratic driving possibly, so I'm guessing that her BAL was at least close to the limit, and probably shouldn't have been driving...she did admit to drinking.
Failure to submit to sobriety test is illegal in the US as well, so this isn't just a Canadian thing. Sunny, your comment "There is no law in Canada against drinking and driving, only thresholds for alcohol in ones blood stream while in the care and control of a motor vehicle" is the exact same thing that it is in the US, (maybe different workding), but Driving Under the Influence means that your BAL was over the limit, which varies by state, but around .08%
First, I do not administer Botox, not in the scope of my practice, but Botox is a highly lethal nerotoxin. While in Very small doses it can give desired effects, both medically and cosmetically, in small doses it can also kill, the LD50 of Botulinum toxin is around 50ng!