Our December 27, 2012, OpenCdA post titled But Not Up Here…  talked about the gangs who had promised they would not come to northern Idaho.  Commenter “kageman” reasonably asked, “But, how bad can the gang/drug activity be in North Idaho?”

That question has been at least partially answered in today’s Spokesman-Review article by Scott Maben.  His article is headlined Interstate 90 a major route for traffickers heading east.

Just another toke over the line…

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.