There are many signs of intoxication that police may look for. These can include erratic driving, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, alcohol-tinged breath, and other signs. Now authorities may also add barking at police dogs as a sure indication of being drunk.

James Paul Andrews, a 26-year-old man, was allegedly stopped at a drunk driving checkpoint in Western Pennsylvania. At the stop, Andrews literally invited trouble with Chaos, as he barked, hissed, and growled at a police dog named Chaos, reports the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Andrews was irritated at having been stopped and took out his frustration by barking at the canine. Not surprisingly, the police determined that Andrews was drunk and charged him with drunk driving and other charges. Interestingly, because he chose to bark at the police dog, Andrews was also charged with a felony. Apparently, it is a felony in Pennsylvania to menace a police animal and Andrews could face up to seven years in prison for that charge alone.

It's never a good idea to bark or hiss at a large dog that is not your own. Instead of being bit, Pennsylvania man James Paul Andrews received a felony charge along with DUI penalties. He could now face very serious penalties for a series of bad decisions.

Individuals who are charged with drunk driving should know that the surrounding circumstances of the arrest may aggravate the potential penalties. While not everyone will bark at a police dog, others may resist arrest or be generally uncooperative.

To learn about defending a drunk driving charge in the Seattle or King County area, you will want to contact an experienced DUI defense attorney. Contact an attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense by calling 425-284-2000 to discuss the details of your case.