In Cloquet, Minnesota, a 61-year-old woman with a history of driving under the influence is back in legal trouble after being stopped by deputies. France Smith, who already has ten prior convictions for DWI-related offenses, was pulled over on December 20 and is now facing more serious charges.
It all began when deputies noticed Smith’s red F-150 truck hesitating at a four-way stop on 14th Street near Carlton Avenue in Cloquet. Despite no other cars being at the intersection, her truck lingered for a while before moving. The deputies also spotted that her truck’s rear license plate light wasn’t working. After running her license plate, they discovered her license was revoked, prompting the traffic stop.
When questioned, Smith couldn’t provide a driver’s license or proof of insurance. Deputies reported that she smelled strongly of alcohol, her eyes were bloodshot and glossy, and her speech was heavily slurred. When asked, she admitted to drinking beer and smoking marijuana earlier.
Smith was arrested on the spot and taken to the Carlton County Law Enforcement Center, but her troubles didn’t stop there. According to court documents, she became unruly, yelling profanities and even racial slurs at the deputies. At one point, she reportedly demanded to have her handcuffs removed, saying, “I’ll show you what I’m made of.” She also refused to take a breath test for alcohol, which added to her charges.
Now, Smith is facing up to seven years in jail. Her charges include DWI, refusing a breath test, driving without insurance, and not having a rear license plate light. Her bail has been set at $5,000, and she remains in custody as of now. Smith is due back in court on January 13.
This isn’t Smith’s first run-in with the law. Her history of DWI-related offenses stretches back to 1995, with her most recent conviction in 2021. Adding to her legal troubles, Smith had just pleaded guilty to a separate misdemeanor domestic assault case a few days earlier, on December 16. That case involved an incident in June where she reportedly slammed a door in a family member’s face during an argument, leaving the woman injured. The family member had been trying to stop Smith from driving while intoxicated.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced for the domestic assault case on January 31, adding another layer of complexity to her already lengthy legal record.
