Drunk Florida Man Tries to Use Taco as I.D.

Benny's Tacos: Gringo Taco

Ground beef is not a valid form of identification. Not in Martin County, not in Los Angeles, not anywhere. A Florida man learned this the hard way, when he handed a taco to police officers who asked for his I.D. This was after he had passed out in his car. While sitting in the drive-through lane of a Taco Bell. And his engine caught fire.

tacofalkner.jpg
Matthew Falkner
In the wee hours of October 1st after downing several beers, Matthew Falkner, 30, made a fourth meal run to a Jensen Beach Taco Bell. While sitting in his Chevy pickup, he placed his order, received his taco and promptly passed out. What happens next is Buster Keaton meets Cops.

The Miami New Times reports:

A deputy awoke Falkner and then asked for his ID. Falkner said no before reaching into his bag and presenting the officer with a taco. Another deputy clarified they were asking for an ID, not a taco. Falkner chuckled and began eating the taco.

To top it off, Falkner had fallen asleep with his foot on the accelerator while his truck was in park, causing the engine to catch fire. Falkner, whose blood alcohol content was between .227 and .225 (three times the legal limit), was booked on DUI charges.

So many hashtags for this one: #taco, #drunknstupid, ##slapstick, #firesafety, #florida.

[@elinashatkin / eshatkin@laweekly.com]

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47 comments
duvet covers
duvet covers

Please don't delete my comment.I am weak in english but I am trying my level best to understand your article.It is nice. duvet covers

deedee2die4
deedee2die4

Police have often asked to see my taco.

Drake
Drake

What an idiot.....dont drink and eat tacos... LMAO

Tommy2X4
Tommy2X4

Ugh! I coulda' had a V8!

Deanna Kizis
Deanna Kizis

makes me feel better about the nude #BoardwalkEmpire-inspired feather boa dance I did for Julian last night.

Deanna Kizis
Deanna Kizis

makes me feel better about the nude #BoardwalkEmpire-inspired feather boa dance I did for Julian last night.

Lauren Wszolek
Lauren Wszolek

I thought Real Steel was the story of my life, but actually, this is even closer.

Mike
Mike

Yes, if the keys are in the ignition, you still get DUId.  Also know people who've gotten DUIs on bicycles.

Jimmy
Jimmy

Love your "fourth meal" reference. It shows your professionalism and research.

Guest
Guest

I like your comments. It shows your attention to detail and shimmering fucking personality.

Bendanglin
Bendanglin

A taco? Wrong ethnic-identity... This fathead hillbilly should have presented a bag of pork rinds and a nude photo of his stepdaughter.

Nenabojena
Nenabojena

He should have handed them a donut!

Moose
Moose

Didn't Paris Hilton get away with this?

Oh, that wasn't a taco.....

El Sabor Asiático
El Sabor Asiático

In this gentleman's defense, being passed out drunk in your car in a Taco Bell drive-thru with your engine on fire does in fact qualify as valid proof of Florida residency.

peabody3000
peabody3000

legally speaking, how does he get booked on DUI when he wasnt even driving? being in a parking lot doesnt count, and being asleep and parked sure doesnt count either

Hunter
Hunter

Well hmm he didn't push the car to the drive through.

Jiggyfly319
Jiggyfly319

In Fla if ur keys are in the ignition, that's a dui, do not pass go, do not collect 200 bones, straight to jail..

peabody3000
peabody3000

hmm. if being in the back seat but with keys in ignition counts, that would be some major BS

Jackie Jones
Jackie Jones

He did drive to the Taco Bell befor he passed out, and I would assume he was drunk before he arrived...

peabody3000
peabody3000

i would totally assume that too, but i dont want anyone convicted on assumptions. if the state doesnt have to prove this case then why would they ever have to

Phcutie18
Phcutie18

Legally speaking the keys dont even have to be in the ignition to get booked for DUI. you could pass out in the backseat with the keys in your pocket and they can book you for DUI

peabody3000
peabody3000

i agree, i only root for legally proving ones case, and this guy has plenty counting against him. he also has some defense points going for him.. he was on private property and probably nobody witnessed him drive anywhere on public streets at that time. but, if he had been passed out in the back seat, keys in pocket? i say no way

peabody3000
peabody3000

Tj yeah im sure the police can get him on plenty of other stuff. but actual DUI seems less than solid

Tj
Tj

 The guy was in a drive-thru, the keys were in the ignition, and his foot was on the accelerator... technically, being asleep doesn't save him from a DUI charge, because the only thing that saved the trunk from rolling was the fact it was in park. The engine is still running, he is still behind the wheel, he is still drunk, and the car was "accelerating" (even if the wheels are not turning because it's in park.)  Legally speaking, he was "driving" at the time, without going anywhere. If the truck accidentally was bumped from park, he would have plowed into whatever or whoever was in front of him, causing a horrible accident. It is a DUI charge, because he is "driving" (aka accelerating) while under the influence. It's Taco Bell property, and if Taco Bell says they have a problem with it because he was drunk, they can sue him. Which is probably worse on his wallet than a DUI and some stupid articles on the internet that will haunt him for many, many years... Also, despite it being private property owned by Taco Bell, it is still considered public drunkenness, and even if they didn't get him for the DUI, they could have gotten him for public drunkenness. so it hardly matters. Besides, who cares?

peabody3000
peabody3000

youre repeating whats already been said, and besides i have big doubts thats the case, and besides again, if it is the case its highly unjust

Dunkelzahn
Dunkelzahn

It would be easier to argue if the car wasn't on....fire. ^_^

Yadda
Yadda

Duh, how do you think he got to the drive in?

peabody3000
peabody3000

yeah "duh" of course he drove there in all probability, but he wasnt driving or on public streets at that specific time so he wasnt caught red handed. either way he needs to have the book thrown at him, but if the law is so loose on this particular charge then other people can really get the short stick, like the other comment replies show. getting a DUI for sleeping in the back with keys in pocket would be total BS

Papabear
Papabear

being in a car with the keys while drunk is 'in control of the vehicle' - even parked legally and asleep in the back with the keys in your pocket! How do I know? Yeah - outside a party I slept in my car and ...

Arnold
Arnold

his truck was on, and he was "in control" of the motor vehicle. people have been charged with DUI for being passed out in a parked car with the engine off because the keys were in the ignition!

Guest
Guest

real crime here is that he lives in California and decided to go to taco bell

Mike
Mike

Fourthmeal is one word you guys.

Tim J
Tim J

OK, real story here, if you fall asleep with your foot on the accelerator in that truck, the engine catches fire rather than cutting out.  Oh ya, and stupid people drink beer and eat fast food.

NYC Tim
NYC Tim

I have a master's degree from Columbia. I also drink beer and occasionally eat fast food. You're an arrogant jerk and an embarrassment to the name.

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