French Bistro Owner Arrested for DUI in Flagler County

A Daytona Beach restaurant owner was arrested for driving under the influence on February 8, 2026, after being stopped by Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies on US Highway 1. The woman, who owns 35 Bistro & Wine Bar in Daytona Beach, was initially pulled over for failing to move over for emergency lights.

During the traffic stop, the suspect told Deputies Tassy and Blake that she was "from France" and "didn't do all these things." She refused to look up during field sobriety testing, claiming she was cold. The arrest was complicated when deputies struggled to figure out how to start her Tesla vehicle and had to consult a YouTube tutorial.

The woman was charged with DUI and refusal to submit to a breath test. However, both charges were later dropped through a nolle prosequi filing. She ultimately pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving on April 29, 2026.

The case took another turn when the same woman was arrested again by the Florida Highway Patrol on April 8, 2026, approximately 60 days after the initial arrest. She was charged with DUI second offense and subsequently pleaded guilty to that charge as well.

Both arrests highlight the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces with impaired driving cases and repeat offenders in Florida.