According to the McClatchy Newspapers, Idaho’s senior US Senator Mike Crapo has pleaded guilty in an Alexandria, Virginia, court to drunk driving. The court imposed a $250 fine and a jail sentence of 180 days. The jail sentence was suspended by the court subject to Crapo’s not offending again within one year and his completion of a state alcohol safety action program. The court also suspended Crapo’s driver’s license for one year.
Idaho and Virginia are both members of the interstate Drivers License Compact. Membership is a major step necessary to maximize law enforcement efforts against drunk drivers and other serious traffic offenders. Serious offenses such as drunk driving, vehicle manslaughter, reckless driving, etc., are no less serious when committed in another jurisdiction than when committed in the driver’s home state. It is the policy of each member state to promote compliance with the laws, ordinances, and administrative actions regarding the operation of motor vehicles by drivers in states which are members of the compact.
Included in the compact are provisions which allow: Member states to report actions on out-of-state drivers to their licensing state, home states to take the same action on violations reported to them by other member states as if the violation occurred in the home state, and authority to deny issuance of a driver’s license if there is a suspension in another state.
In short, if Idaho intends to live up to its obligation under the Compact, Crapo’s license suspension will be enforced when he is home in Idaho as well.
No time to help the sheriff’s department pick up litter? Is Crapo one of the “exalted few”? I thought that 2 days was the minimum. I guess I just miss understood. Maybe ol’ Mike can do some “volunteer” work at the Boise transfer station during the next recess.
Comment by Ancientemplar — January 4, 2013 @ 8:22 am
Ancientemplar,
The offense was committed in Virginia and tried under Virginia’s laws. Sentencing would have been based on Virginia laws. Although I lived in Alexandria for a few years and had a Virginia driver’s license, I don’t recall if community service was or is an option there. The point is, if Crapo gets caught driving in Idaho (or in any other Compact member state), he should be arrested for driving with a suspended license, and the Virginia court should be notified. At that point, the Virginia court could and should impose the 180-day jail sentence that it suspended conditioned on no future offenses.
Comment by Bill — January 4, 2013 @ 8:45 am
Everyone makes mistakes. What troubles me is that I have not seen where he has been forthcoming about the events leading up to the arrest. I am personally wondering if there were negotiations quickly undertaken to buy the silence of those who know.
Comment by up river — January 4, 2013 @ 9:58 am
Second only to the drunk driving, and aparently he was very drunk, is the hypocricy. He uses his religion as a prop to his good character. Yet apparently he flaunts the tenets of Mormonism. Then “political” and “hypocrite” are synonomous aren’t they!
Comment by rochereau — January 4, 2013 @ 10:03 am
up river….absolutely no excuse for driving drunk. That is no a mistake, it’s a crime. I had a friend who, along with her five children, were murdered by a drunk driver. He plowed into her car with such force that her body was severed in the middle.
Comment by rochereau — January 4, 2013 @ 10:06 am
rochereau, I totally agree with your sentiments. My only point was that he is being punished according to the applicable law for his inexcusable act. That punishment is what ‘society’ has determined is appropriate. I would just like to hear the facts concerning the events that led up to his arrest.
Comment by up river — January 4, 2013 @ 10:14 am
I agree totally with your point, no question. The problem lies with the penalties for drunk driving. That (DUI) is a choice and I think they all belong in jail. Courts can only follow the law. That being said, I also would like to know what isn’t being said. Did he receive special treatment….probably. And yes, what led up to this would be interesting. Also, how often has he driven under the influence in the past.
The man who killed my friend had been a bar drinking all day and also smoking pot. He was paralyzed in the accident and sat in court and said he shouldn’t go to jail as being in a wheelchair for life was punishment enough. He rreceived a life sentence for 6 counts of vehicular manslaughter. He is still there. My friends parents died soon after, we believed from sorrow that had no cure.
Comment by rochereau — January 4, 2013 @ 10:34 am
Upriver, what significance would the events leading up to Crapo’s arrest have for you?
Comment by mary — January 4, 2013 @ 11:25 am
Crapo’s complete post-plea statement is here at the Idaho Press-Tribune website.
Comment by Bill — January 4, 2013 @ 11:26 am
In his post-plea statement, Crapo said, “In recent months, and for less than a year, I have on occasion had alcoholic drinks in my apartment in Washington, DC. It was a poor choice to use alcohol to relieve stress—and one at odds with my personally-held religious beliefs.”
Here is what the National Institute of Health says in response to the question: Does Drinking Reduce Stress?.
Comment by Bill — January 4, 2013 @ 11:40 am
How can someone who doesn’t really accomplish anything have an iota of stress?
Comment by Dan — January 4, 2013 @ 11:59 am
Bullseye Dan!!! 🙂
Comment by rochereau — January 4, 2013 @ 12:40 pm
Mary, until the information was provided since he was not forthcoming with it, I did not know what significance it would have to me. Having read Bill’s post, it is of no significance.
Comment by up river — January 4, 2013 @ 1:23 pm
Well, his post-plea statement (thanks for the link, Bill) was humble and detailed. Dan, I do think that any fiscal conservative would be stressed having to deal with this administration. Perhaps Crapo knows more than we even fear about the true state of our country’s condition?
Comment by mary — January 4, 2013 @ 1:25 pm
Crapo is fiscally conservative?
Comment by Dan — January 4, 2013 @ 2:08 pm
Well, ok, you’ve got me there. He SAYS he’s a fiscal conservative, but I’ve always wanted him to stand up and start publicly drawing attention to the fiscal problems in DC. He’s too quiet and demure to do so and now he’s part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Comment by mary — January 4, 2013 @ 4:04 pm