Faded License Plate Leads to 6th OWI Arrest, Police Say

A 31-year-old Waukesha man is charged with his sixth drunken driving offense after being stopped by a Town of Brookfield police officer in a bar parking lot at 12:47 a.m. Friday.

Marques A. Bernier faces up to three years initial confinement in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted of the felony charge.

A Town of Brookfield police officer pulled Bernier over after seeing the vehicle traveling between 48 and 50 mph on Bluemound Road near Brookfield Road.  The license plate was faded and the officer couldn’t read the letters or the numbering. Additionally, the vehicle was driving onto the dashed lane markings and then changed lanes at the same time the signal light was activated, according to the criminal complaint filed against Bernier on Friday.

Bernier’s eyes were bloodshot, watery and glassy and his breath smelled like intoxicants, according to the complaint. Bernier’s speech was slurred as he first told the police officer he didn’t drink alcohol, later adding he had a few beers.

Bernier’s blood alcohol concentration level was .182 percent, according to the complaint. He also failed his field sobriety tests.

Bernier previously was convicted of drunken driving in 2001, 2002, 2004 and twice in 2009, the complaint states.