All Muck is Local: Careful What You Blog For
In the Arizona legislature, one DUI on your record is fine. But two is really pushing things.
State Rep. Trish Groe (R-AZ) is preparing for her arraignment this Monday on one count of aggravated DUI and another of false reporting, entered in a September 18th indictment.
Groe was pulled over last March, after an officer noticed her swerving at 70 mph in a 55 mph zone . At first she denied having been drinking, but then informed the officer that she was a “functional alcoholic." Two separate tests confirmed her blood-alcohol content was roughly twice the legal limit. Shortly after the arrest, Groe took a leave of absence from her legislative position and checked into a rehabilitation clinic.
But the woes have returned now that her arraignment date approaches. In Arizona, a DUI is generally treated as a misdemeanor and judges usually shorten the 30-day sentence down to 10 days. However, Groe’s case is compounded by the fact that she lied to the officer about having a valid driver’s license. In actuality, her license had been revoked due to an outstanding ticket in California. This bumps her charge up to a felony. In addition, it certainly won’t help her case that Groe had already been arrested for a DUI in 1999 (also in California).
Local Democrats began calling for her resignation immediately after the indictment. Republicans, always sensitive to the judicial process, have insisted that the system do its job before any rash decisions are made. Groe will be required to leave her position only if she is convicted of a felony. Since it is likely that her case will be argued down to a misdemeanor she may be able to keep her public position, but it is unlikely that she will entirely avoid jail time.
Only a month before, Groe wrote on her blog (in response to another representative’s legislation), “How about focusing on enforcement of the current law against reckless driving instead of passing new legislation?” Presumably, come Monday she’ll get her wish.
Comments (8)
Michael Lafferty wrote on September 30, 2007 7:57 PM:In the mid-1970s, as a military police officer assigned to Fort Huachuca AZ and for a time tasked as a traffic accident investigator, I sent a number of service personnel off to serve 5-year felony DUI sentences imposed under Arizona Revised Statutes, which were enforced on the military reservation. At the time, Arizona had some of the strictest DUI statutes in effect in the county:
• first offense: a $ 330.00 fine and mandatory 1 day in jail
• second offense: a $ 1000.00 fine and mandatory 30 days in jail
• third or greater offense within 2 years of a prior conviction for DUI: a $ 5000.00 fine and mandatory 5 year prison sentence.
Needless to say, these were effective deterents to those who would otherwise choose to drive under the influence of intoxicants. These seemingly draconian laws had the effect of discouraging such behavior, or removing the offenders from the roadway for long periods of time.
There were also mandatory traffic school, diversion, alcohol treatment and other innovative alternatives available - a virtual arsenal of approaches to reducing the DUI problem. And, they were effective.
While this legislator should not face an effective 'death sentence' for her behavior, she should be recognized as a serious danger to other occupants of the roadway, and removed from it until such a time as she can demonstrate that she has curbed and controlled the behavior.
And, her continued bad judgement should serve as a serious indication that she is not fit to continue to serve in the Arizona legislature.
1oldlady wrote on September 30, 2007 8:45 PM:The article shows her as a (R-AZ), but next to the photo shows her as (R-NV), which is the correct one?
Please clarify.
thank you...It's Sunday, and your week has just begun!
LLG
Spotty Dog wrote on September 30, 2007 8:53 PM:She has to do more time than Paris Hilton who did offer the defense that she didn't know what she had done because she's an idiot and pays people to think for her, and they forgot.
Steve5117 wrote on September 30, 2007 9:03 PM:1oldlady It's Arizona, click on link for her web page.
apeman wrote on October 1, 2007 7:54 AM:I's ok offficerrr I'm
a functioning alcoholic...
How many others?
apeman wrote on October 1, 2007 7:56 AM:I's ok offficerrr, I'm
a functional alcoholic...
I've been driving drunk for years
How many others?
Dr. Wu wrote on October 1, 2007 8:06 AM:Groe's wants tougher enforcement of reckless driving, Vitter impeached Clinton for infidelity, Craig fought against gay rights, Foley wanted tough laws against child molestation. See a pattern yet?
Dr. Wu wrote on October 1, 2007 8:06 AM:Groe pushed tougher enforcement of reckless driving, Vitter impeached Clinton for infidelity, Craig fought against gay rights, Foley wanted tough laws against child molestation. See a pattern yet?