Bus Driver Charged with Minnesota DWI

Driver was on his route when passengers notified police of drunk driving.

A Minneapolis area Metro Transit driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Minnesota while operating a bus with a blood alcohol content six times the legal limit. Alonzo V. Martin was stopped around 9:40 pm after passengers and a motorist called police to report erratic driving.

Police officers say that Martin exhibited slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and an aroma of alcohol. Martin denied drinking though an open container of alcohol was found on the bus. He failed a field sobriety test and a breath test revealed a blood alcohol content of .24%. According to Minnesota DWI laws, a driver is legally intoxicated with a BAC of .08%. For a commercial driver, however, the threshold for drunk driving in MN is .04%.

Martin is expected to be charged with third degree Minnesota DWI. He has a history of driving offenses, including several speeding tickets, no proof of insurance, inattentive driving and having an open container. Two tickets were issued within 12 months of his hire by Metro Transit, a violation of company employment policy.

Martin has been placed on leave pending the filing of formal charges. This is the first incident of driver receiving a DWI while on duty in the history of the transit agency.

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