MIND-BENDING MAMA
GUINNESS NAMES WORLD’S MOST PRODUCTIVE MOTHER
You may have heard of Octomom, the California mother of 14 who gave birth to octuplets, or the woman in Morocco who gave birth to nonuplets in 2021, all nine of whom are alive and well. These record-breaking moms have nothing on Mrs. Feodor Vassilyev. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the 18th- century Russian woman gave birth to 69 children — including 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets! Even the Guinness editors admit the story seems unlikely, but they cite “numerous contemporaneous sources” to back the story. The first was a monastery in the town of
Nikolsk, northeast of Moscow, where monks recorded and reported the births to Moscow officials in 1782. The Lancet, a respected medical journal, recounted in 1878 an account by French researchers from the “Statistical Works of Russia,” showing that Mrs. Vassilyev’s husband had spawned 87 children by two wives. Separately, The Gentleman’s Magazine, an 18th and 19th-century English periodical, published a report by a writer claiming to have an original letter, dated 1782, saying that O.S. Feodor Wassilief (sic), age 75, had 69 children via 27 births by his first wife and 18 children via eight births by his second wife, for a total
of 87 offspring! Citing information from an English merchant in St. Petersburg, the writer said 84 of the children had survived, and the father had been invited to meet the empress, Catherine the Great. The first Mrs. Vassilyev’s remarkable record suggests that she was pregnant for 243
months, or more than 20 years, of her life — more than half the average life expectancy of Russian women in that era! Think Before You Refuse The Risks of Refusing a Breathalyzer Test
Many drivers wonder whether they can legally refuse a
An officer must have grounds to suspect you have been drinking before requesting a breath test, however. But once they have asked for it, you are legally required to comply. Even if a driver is not convicted of DUI, the penalties for refusal still hold. Also, refusing a Breathalyzer test does not protect you from a DUI charge because an officer can cite other evidence, such as erratic driving or smelling alcohol on a driver’s breath.
Breathalyzer test when pulled over on a suspected DUI. The potential
consequences depend on the circumstances and the protocol the officer follows.
The bottom line: It may be better under some circumstances to submit to the Breathalyzer test and let your attorney challenge the results in court.
That doesn’t mean drivers stopped on suspicion of DUI don’t have any rights. Officers must follow protocols, informing you of the implied consent law and explaining the reason they pulled you over. The Breathalyzer device must be properly calibrated and the officer must be trained to use it. Also, drivers aren’t required to answer incriminating questions. Remaining polite and cooperative and recording interactions with the officer or taking notes afterward can be helpful for your defense. Beyond that, drivers accused of DUI need a skilled, experienced DUI lawyer to navigate the potential consequences of DUI charges. With the benefit of 39 years of experience, we can assist you by mounting the strongest possible defense, negotiating with prosecutors, and taking your case to trial if necessary. Call us today for a free consultation.
Drivers in New Jersey are required under the state’s “implied consent” law to
agree to a Breathalyzer test if they are suspected of DUI. States have passed tough laws like this one for a reason: One person dies every 45 minutes from a crash related to drunk driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The potential consequences of refusing include hefty fines and suspension of your license for up to a year. Drivers who refuse can also be required to install an ignition interlock device that prevents their vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected when they blow into its mouthpiece. Their insurance premiums may rise sharply, too, piling financial penalties on top of the legal woes.
2 | StevenEllmanLaw.com
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