Idaho Senator Gets License Suspension for DWI
Idaho Sen. Michael Crapo pleaded guilty to a DWI last week, and today he learned his penalties.
Crapo was sentenced to 180 days in jail and had his license suspended for a year, reports The Washington Post.
But before liberals get overly excited over the prospects of a Republican politician spending time in the can, they should know that his entire jail sentence was suspended. This means that he won't have to spend even a day behind bars.
Even Crapo's license suspension is not that severe, as the Idaho senator is eligible to apply for a restricted license. In fact, the only immediate penalty Crapo may face is having to pay a $250 fine and complete an alcohol reduction program over the next year.
So did Crapo get off easy by pulling his political strings and connections?
Well, that may not necessarily be the case. The senator did not have a history of drunken driving; in fact, as a devout Mormon, he was on the record saying that he doesn't drink.
But while he did run a red light, he did not get into an accident, or injure anyone, or damage any property. Most importantly, Crapo took immediate responsibility, owned up to what he did, and entered a plea deal just days after his arrest.
Prosecutors are often willing to work out plea deals for minor drunken driving arrests. So deals like the one that Crapo received are not that uncommon. So if you are ever arrested for a DUI, you will definitely want to contact an experienced DUI attorney to learn about your possible defenses and options for a plea deal.
Crapo, 61, was arrested two days before Christmas when he ran a red light and told the arresting officer that he'd tossed back several shots of vodka, reports the Post. He tested for a blood alcohol level of 0.11 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08.
While Crapo may be eligible to apply for a restricted license, he says that he has no plans to drive this year.
Related Resources:
- Michael Crapo pleads guilty to DWI charge (Politico)
- Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo Arrested for DUI (FindLaw's Blotter)
- Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison (FindLaw's Blotter)