Driving Instructor Accused of Being Drunk While Giving Lesson

IPSWICH, Mass. – A driving instructor accused of being drunk while teaching a lesson in Ipswich pleads not guilty.

Daniel Winsky of Salem was arraigned on a drunken driving charge today in district court.

Court documents say the 52-year-old had a blood alcohol level of .233 after he was stopped by police in December. That's nearly three times the legal limit.

Witnesses called police while Winsky was instructing a student because he allegedly appeared drunk. Winsky wasn't driving the car, but instructors have a brake on the passenger side.

His lawyer says police used a portable breathalyzer that isn't admissible in court and failed to arrest Winsky and take him to a police station where they could have used equipment that meets court standards.

Court documents say students in the car said he didn't appear to be intoxicated, but was sipping a bottle of cough medicine.