Lawmakers Busted for Drunk Driving

“Our nation's youth are tomorrow's leaders and we are investing in their future and ours.”
MADD website, rationalizing the imposition of unjust laws on innocent people. Note that today’s leaders are teaching them, by example, that it’s okay to drive drunk and it’s okay to accept bribes from Congress.

Gee, Sherlock, why do you suppose they'd rather impose a drinking age upon somebody else than impose tougher drunk driving laws upon themselves? Like, duh.

HOME PAGE

The webmaster regrets he hasn’t had time to update this page but refers visitors to this link:
http://www.pulledover.com/National-DWI-News-Links/labels/Politicians and Public Figures DWI__DUI News.html

Lawmakers includes the President of the United States, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, Governors and members of a State legislature who have been busted for drunk driving before or during their tenure in office. These people have an actual say in the process of making laws.

They're not all bad: State representative arrested for buying for a 20-year-old student.
WMUR-TV Channel 9 ...Cached

If you know of any other cases, and I’m sure there are many, please e-mail me, with the details, at
webmaster@stopthemaddness.org

Name: John Barnes
Date of episode: 1951 or 1952
Age then: 20 (born 21 August 1931).
Incumbent then: No
Crime: Crashed into parked police cruiser while drunk.
Office: New Hampshire State Senator (Member of the New Hampshire Senate)
Party: Republican
News links: Portsmouth Herald ...Cached

Name: Michael C. Gruitza
Date of episode: 25 April 2000
Age then:
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI reported by witness
Office: Pennsylvania State Representative (Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
Party: Democratic
News links:
Post-Gazette ...Cached
This drunk driver has been re-elected after his conviction, because most voters care about drunk driving only as a convenient excuse to impose unjust laws on people under 21.

Name: Lisa M. Boscola
Date of episode: 18 July 2000
Age then: 39
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI
Office: Pennsylvania State Representative (Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
Now a state senator
Party: Democratic
News links:
Eastern Poconos Community News ...Cached
This lawmaker was a state representative but has since been elected to a higher office, state senator, because most voters care about drunken driving only when it is a convenient excuse to violate the inherent natural rights of citizens under 21.

Name: Joey Pendleton
Date of episode: 8 February 2001
Age then: 54 (born 3 May 1946)
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving, 0.20%, crashed into parked car
Office: Kentucky State Senator (Member of the Kentucky State Senate)
Party: Democrat
News links: Cincinnati Enquirer ...Cached
Conviction: Kentucky New Era ...Cached
This drunk driver has been re-elected after his conviction, because most voters care about drunk driving only as a convenient excuse to impose unjust laws on people under 21.

Name: Gonzalo Barrientos
Date of episode: 21 November 2001
Age then: 60
Incumbent then: Yes (retiring)
Crime: DWI, Class B misdemeanor
Office: Texas State Senator (Member of the Texas Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links:
Austin Chronicle ...Cached
News 8 ...Cached
Re-elected in 2002 because most voters care about drunk driving only when it is a convenient excuse to forbid people under 21 to drink and not drive.

Name: Tom Burcham
Date of episode: 8 April 2002
Did it again 10 Sept. 2002
Age then: 34
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: Missouri State Representative (Member of the Missouri House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: Columbia Daily Tribune ...Cached
Repeat: Sotheast Missourian ...Cached
KSDK-TV Channel 5 ... Cached

Name: Johnny Nugent
Date of episode: Thursday 18 April 2002
Age then: 62
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: Indiana State Senator (Member of the Indiana State Senate)
Party: Republican
News links: Cincinnati Enquirer ...Cached

Name: Louis Blessing
Date of episode: December 2002
Age then:
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving, reported by concerned trucker
Office: Ohio State Senator (Member of the Ohio State Senate)
Party:
News links: WCPO-TV Channel 9 ...Cached

Name: Edward Pugh
Date of episode: 3 January 2003
Age then:
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving, non-injury crash
Office: Kansas State Senator (Member of the Kansas State Senate)
Party: Republican
News links: KKOY-FM ...Cached

Name: Lana Oleen
Date of episode: 25 February 2003
Age then: 53
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Weaving, DUI
Office: Kansas State Senator (Member of the Kansas State Senate)
Party: Republican
News links:
Lawrence Journal-World ...Cached

Name: Herb Snyder
Date of episode: 21 August 2003
Age then: 50
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI (0.260%)
Office: West Virginia State Senator (Member of the West Virginia Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links:
Hur Herald ...Cached
The Journal ...Cached

Name: Brian S. Dempsey
Date of episode: 12 December 2003
Age then: 37
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI
Office: Massachusetts State Representative (Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives)
Party: Democratic
News links:
...Cached
Re-elected in 2004 because most voters care about drunken driving only when it is a convenient excuse to violate the inherent natural rights of citizens under 21.

Name: Joe Thompson
Date of episode: Wednesday, 3 March 2004
Age then: 37
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: New Mexico State Representative (Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: USAToday ...Cached
KOB-TV Channel 4 ...Cached
PhillyBurbs.com ...Cached

Name: Lyman Hoffman
Date of episode: 1 May 2004
Age then: 54
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: Alaska State Senator (Member of the Alaska Senate)
Party: Democratic

“The high incidence of alcohol related traffic fatalities is of grave concern. Alcohol related accidents are increasing and it is known that habitual offenders do more harm than anyone else. HB 4 addresses those problems, including a broad array of legal action to increase penalties for drunken driving.” Senator Hoffman’s website.
News links: Juneau Daily News ...Cached
KTUU-TV Channel 2 ...Cached

Name: Lee Constantine
Date of episode: 9 May 2004
Age then: 51 (born 6 November 1952)
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: Florida State Senator (Member of the Florida State Senate)
Party: Republican
News links: Channel 6 ...Cached
WOFL-TV Channel 35 ...Cached
He already had a conviction, and he still got elected, because most voters care about drunk driving only as a convenient excuse to impose unjust laws on people under 21.

Name: Tom Rukavina
Date of episode: 31 July 2004
Age then: 54
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI, driving erratically, 0.15%.
Office: Minnesota State Representative (Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives)
Party: Democratic Farmer Labor
News links:
WDIO-TV Channel 10 ...Cached

Name: Paul L. Kujawski
Date of episode: 19 August 2004
Age then: 50
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Stopped for DWI, stepped out and took a leak under flashing blue light.
Office: Massachusetts State Representative (Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives)
Party: Democratic
News links: Boston Globe ...Cached
Boston Phoenix ...Cached
Pleads guilty: Metro West Daily News ...Cached
Re-elected in 2004 despite DWI because most voters care about drunk driving only when it is a convenient excuse to impose unjust laws on people under 21.

Name: Stephen Adamini
Date of episode: 14 September 2004
Age then: 59
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Hit 2 parked cars, 0.15%
Office: Michigan State Representative (Member of the Michigan House of Representatives)
Party: Democratic
News links: The Detroit News ...Cached

Name: Livvy Floren
Date of episode: 4 October 2004
Age then: 60
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI, crashed into utility pole
Office: Connecticut State Representative (Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: Boston Globe ...Cached

Name: David Graves
Date of episodes: March 2004 & 15 February 2005
Age then:
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: Georgia State Representative (Member of the Georgia House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: WXIA-TV Channe 11 ...Cached
Macon Telegraph ...Cached

Name: Shirley Krug
Date of episode: 14 November 2004
Age then: 46
Incumbent then: Yes [lame duck]
Crime: DWI, unsafe swerving
Office: Wisconsin State Representative (Member of the Wisconsin Assembly)
Party: Democratic
News links:
Madison.com ...Cached
Green Bay Press Gazette ...Cached

Name: Frank Boyle
Date of episode: 6 December 2004
Age then: 59
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI
Office: Wisconsin State Representative (Member of the Wisconsin Assembly)
Party: Democratic
News links:
The Daily Telegram ...Cached
Madison.com ...Cached
[In fairness: Boyle co-sponsored Assembly Bill 141 to lower drinking age to 19 for military personnel.]

Name: Russ Decker
Date of episode: Tuesday, 29 March 2005
Age then: 51 (b. 25 May 1953).
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving
Office: Wisconsin State Senator (Member of the Wisconsin State Senate).
Party: Democratic
News links: The Capital Times ...Cached ...WLS-TV Channel 7, Chicago, Illinois (ABC) ...Cached.
Wausau Daily Herald ...Cached
Voted in 2003 against lowering BAC limit from 0.10 to 0.08...then blew a 0.09
[In fairness: Decker co-sponsored Assembly Bill 141 to lower drinking age to 19 for military personnel.]

Name: David Law
Date of episode: 13 July 2005
Age then:
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI, 0.13%
Office: Michigan State Representative (Member of the Michigan House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links:
Detroit Free Press ...Cached
WOOD-TV Channel 8 ...Cached

Name: Kevin Brady
Date of episode: 7 October 2005
Age then: 50
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving in South Dakota
Office: Congressman from Texas (Member of the United States House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: Houston Chronicle ...Cached
KHOU-TV Channel 11 ...Cached
Reuters ...Cached
CNN ...Cached

In the Democratic landslide elections of 7 Nov. 2006, this Republican defeated an Democrat by more than 2 to 1, proving most voters care about drunk driving only when it is a convenient excuse to violate the rights of people younger than 21.

Name: Jeffrey Kaelin
Date of episode: 23 June 2006
Age then: 55
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: OUI (0.13% by breath)
Minor crash maneuvering out of parking space
Office: State representative (Member of the Maine House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: Bangor Daily News ...Cached
Apology ...Cached
Won’t seek re-election ...Cached

Name: Kenneth W. Ruffing
Date of episode: 19 August 2006
Age then: 39
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Driving under the influence, 0.346%
Office: Pennsylvania State Representative (Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
Committee on Liquor Control
Party: Democratic
News links:
Post-Gazette ...Cached
Already lost re-election in May primary

Name: Jerry W. Cooper
Date of episode: 7 February 2007
Age then: 58
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI, speeding one-car crash 0.18%
Office: Tennessee state senator (Member of the Tennessee Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links:
WTVF-TV CHANNEL 5
WMC-TV CHANNEL 5

Name: Danielle Nantkes
Date of episode: 14 February 2007
Age then: 29
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI, crashed into snowplow
Office: Nebraska State Senator (Member of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature)
Party:
News links: KMTV-TV Channel 3

Name: Scott Boggio
Date of episode: 17 March 2007
Age then: 54 (d.o.b. 2 Nov. 1952)
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI 0.14% Struck curb when turning corner.
Office: Montana State Representative (Member of the Montana House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links:
KULR-TV Channel 8
Billings Gazette

Name: Trish Groe
Date of episode: 22 March 2007
Age then: 38
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Felony DUI plea-bargained to misdemeaner. Prior DWI in California
Office: Arizona State Representative (Member of the Arizona House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links:
Examiner
AZ Central
KOLD-TV Channel 13
Sonoran Alliance
Mohave Daily News

Name: Harold Dutton
Date of episode: 18 April 2007
Age then: 62
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Speeding, DWI
Office: Texas State Representative (Member of the Texas House of Representatives)
Party: Democratic
News links: News 8 Austin ... Cached

Name: Karim Camara
Date of episode: 25 April 2007
Age then: 35
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Weaving, 65 mph in 30 mph zone, DWI, refused breath test.
Office: New York State Assemblyman (Member of the New York State Assembly)
Party: Democrat
News links: Capital News 9
The Brooklyn Paper
North Country Gazette
Albany Times Union

Name: Ben Harbin
Date of episode: 20 May 2007
Age then: 43
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI, crash into utility pole
Office: George State Representative (Member of the Georgia House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: Atlanta Jounal Constitution
Fox 5 Atlanta
Rome News-Tribune
Washington Times

Name: James Metzen
Date of episode: 22 May 2007
Age then: 61
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Weaving, 4th Degree DWI, 0.15%
Office: President of the Minnesota State Senate
Party: DFL
News links:
WCCO-TV Channel 4
Star-Tribune ...Cached
WKBT-TV Channel 8 (sentence) ...Cached

Name: Jeff Rabon
Date of episode: 27 August 2007
Age then: 45
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI, 0.16%, 3-car crash left a woman hospitalized with minor injuries.
Office: Oklahoma State Senator (Member of the Oklahoma State Senate)
Party: Democratic

This hypocrite was tough on responsible drinkers under 21.Click here ... Cached
Already had a DWI conviction and got elected, because most voters don’t care about drunk driving
News links: KXII-TV Channel 12
KTUL-TV Channel 8
Tulsa World
KTUL-TV Channel 8
KFDA-TV Channel 10
Durant Democrat

Name: Rob Briley
Date of episode: 8 September 2007
Age then: 40
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime:DWI crash, hit-and-run, high-speed police chase
Office: Tennessee State Representative (Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
Party: Democratic
News links:
Knoxville News Sentinel ... Cached
YouTube video of arrest
Nashville Tennessean ... Cached
WTVF-TV Channel 5 ... Cached
WTVF-TV Channel 5 (Pleads guilty) ... Cached

Name: John D. Sabini
Date of episode: 27 September 2007
Age then: 50
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI, failed to keep right.
Office: New York State Senator (Member of the New York State Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links:WINS-AM 1010 kHz ... Cached
New York Times ... Cached
WRBG-TV Channel 6 ... Cached

Name: Jon Riki Karamatsu
Date of episode: 16 October 2007
Age then: 32
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: Drunk driving, crash
Office: Vice Speaker, Hawaii House of Representatives
Party: Democratic
News links: Star-Bulletin ... Cached

Name: Chuck Graham
Date of episode: 20 October 2007
Age then: 42
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI, 3-car crash
Office: Missouri state senator (Member of the Missouri Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links: News Tribune ... Cached
Columbia Tribune ... Cached
KOMU-TV Channel 8 ... Cached

Name: Kumar P. Barve
Date of episode: 29 Nov. 2007
Age then: 49 (born 8 Sept. 1958)
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI
Office: Delegate (Member of the Maryland House of Delegates)
Party: Democratic
News links: WRC-TV Channel 4
WRC-TV Channel 4 [pleads guilty]

Name: Russell R. “Randy” Scott
Date of episode: 21 April 2008
Age then: 62
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI
Office: South Carolina state senator (Member of the South Carolina state senate)
Party: Republican
News links: WCIV-TV Channel 4 ...Cached

Name: Ron Menor
Date of episode: 27 April 2008
Age then: 52
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI, with minor under 15 in the car
Office: Hawaiʻi state senator (Member of the Hawaiʻi State Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links: KGMB-TV Channel 9 ... Cached (To make an okina ʻ in HTML use ʻ )

Name: Mike Krusee
Date of episode: 30 April 2008
Age then: 49 (born 26 February 1959)
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI, driving erratically.
Office: Texas state representative (Member of the Texas House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: KXAN-TV
KEYE-TV Channel 42

Name: Bob Biggins
Date of episode: 28 May 2008
Age then: 61
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DUI, driving on wrong side
Office: Illinois state representative (Member of the Illinois House of Representatives)
Party: Republican
News links: Chicago Tribune ... Cached

Name: William Denley
Date of episode: 21 February 2009
Age then:
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI
Office: New Hampshire State Senator [member of the New Hampshire State Senate]
Party: Republican
News links: WMUR-TV Channel 9 ... Cached

Name: Richard Martinez
Date of episode: 28 June 2019
Age then: 66
Incumbent then: Yes
Crime: DWI with injury to 2 persons in another vehicle.
Office: New Mexico state senator (Member of the New Mexico State Senate)
Party: Democratic
News links: ABC News ... Cached