On 2/17/2013, at approximately 0152 hours, I was on patrol in a marked Coalinga Police unit parked by the east curb of the north-bound lane on Third Street, south of East Elm Avenue, when I observed a silver Dodge pick-up truck (License plate 8S15552) exit the Fastrip convenience store south-bound onto Third Street. I observed the vehicle not have a front license plate as required per CVC 5200(a); When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear. I made a U-turn and conducted a traffic enforcement stop by activating my overhead lights on my patrol vehicle. The vehicle stopped along the southwest curb of S. Third, south of Forest Street.
SCENE
The roads Third and Forest Street are located in the east part of the city of Coalinga.
DETAILS
I exited my vehicle and conducted a driver's side approach. As I approached the driver, I cleared the bed of the truck and observed a thirty pack of Budweiser sitting in the bed of the truck. I contacted the driver who identified himself with a California identification card as Raul Andres Rocha. I advised Rocha of the violation and he pointed at his front license plate to be sitting on the passenger side of his dashboard in a horizontal position. I advised Rocha the plate had to be securely fastened and visible on the front bumper.
As I was speaking to Rocha, I observed the smell of alcoholic beverage coming from the inside of the vehicle. I asked Rocha if he had any alcoholic beverages prior to me contacting him and Rochas' friend on the passenger seat stated he had been drinking and advised me that it was him giving off the smell of alcoholic beverage. Additionally, I observed Rocha to have a slurred speech and to have red/watery eyes. Again, I asked Rocha how long ago was it since he had an alcoholic beverage's and he stated, "I don't drink alcohol sir, I...