Bethlehem Police investigating the scene reported that Timothy Willgruber failed a field sobriety test. Police are considering charges, including driving under the influence in Pennsylvania.

Thomas Willgruber's wife called the incident a "freak accident" and was felt it was not the right time to worry about blame. The twins reportedly were best friends and spoke on a regular basis.

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A pupillometer is being deployed that allows an officer to test a PA DUI suspect for impairment from prescription, over the counter and illicit drugs. The hand-held device is meant to establish probable cause to continue a DUI investigation. It scans the pupils of a suspect and compares the readings to a database with over 3 million images of people known to have drugs in their system. The officer must have special training to operate the equipment and receive Drug Recognition Expert certification.

The pupillometer is said to be 97% accurate, though the efficiency drops for those over 50 years of age, under 16 and for women who are pregnant.

The device and an accompanying computer cost about $11,300. A highway safety grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation paid for Lycoming County’s equipment. Two additional Pennsylvania DUI devices have been put into service in York and King of Prussia. A fourth is expected to be deployed soon in western Pennsylvania.

Statistics show 52,300 arrested for driving under the influence in PA during 2008. 9,000 of those were also charged with impairment from drugs and an estimated 60% of motorists arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania are multiple drug users.

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The figures reflect actions undertaken by law enforcement agencies across the state. The most common reason for initiating a pursuit was a traffic violation, such as speeding (910 pursuits). Felony criminal charges (260), driving under the influence in Pennsylvania (239) and stolen vehicles (227) were the other most cited reasons. Of all the pursuits initiated, 1,301 resulted in apprehension.

According to state law, each law enforcement agency must have a written policy for vehicle pursuit, including when to initiate, continue or terminate a pursuit. Because of safety concerns, such information is considered confidential and not available to the public. A pursuit is defined as a motorist resisting apprehension by increasing speed or ignoring indications to stop.

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The increase in PA DUI arrests is attributed to police training and targeted enforcement. Specially trained Pennsylvania troopers utilized ‘Operation Nighthawk’ to search for drunk driving. The department has also expanded its drug recognition program to identify motorists operating under the influence of prescription or illegal drugs.

Despite the additional arrests, the number of alcohol related accidents was down 3% and the number of DUI related fatalities was down 9% from 2007.

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A Northampton County judge said the 44-year old defendant cannot be released from jail until he undergoes a mental examination. A Pennsylvania DUI lawyer is on standby for a more conventional legal defense.

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This is the third year for the event, which is primarily promoted through social networking web sites, such as Facebook. One organizer said he asked participants to "celebrate safely". This year’s event reportedly drew alumni and students from other schools besides Penn State. There were a total of 262 calls to police last year.

The demand for police stretched the city's services, leading many to criticize the focus and impact of the event. Some noted the use of ambulances to carry inebriated revelers, which left limited medical personnel for other types of emergency. A spokesperson with the State College police department said the scale of the event and potential danger to the public was evident by the number of arrests made for Pennsylvania DUI even with overworked manpower.

Campus and city law enforcement officers are hoping the crime rate decreases on the real St. Patrick's Day, now that the students have celebrated.

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County Commissioners have responded by saying that no formal action has been taken and the final budget will not be passed until December 22. They were also adamant that no drunks would be released onto the streets. The first draft of the $482 million county budget for 2009 calls for no tax increase and a trimming of expenditures. Shutting the DUI centers would save the county $300,000. The centers are currently funded from the county’s general fund. $150 from each fee paid into an accelerated rehabilitative disposition program for Montgomery County drunk driving helps offset the costs.

The first DUI center was established eleven years ago, aimed at expediting the blood alcohol testing and processing of a suspected drunk driver so an officer could return to patrol more rapidly. The centers however are not open 24/7 and they are underutilized by all law enforcement agencies. Municipal police departments are allowed access to the facilities but typically take suspects to hospitals for blood draw instead. More than 1600 Pennsylvania DUI arrests have been made in Montgomery County during the 20 months between February 2007 and August 2008, though it is not known how many went through the special DUI centers.

All sides of the issue have expressed interest in determining what best serves the community. That must, however, cover both public safety and fiscal responsibility.

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Sheep attends more than 300 events a year as the mascot. He earned the job in January 2007 by doing 50 one-armed push-ups. Sheep, who is a senior at Penn State, is required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average as part of a scholarship deal.

Some disciplinary action is expected be taken though the Office of Judicial Affairs has not said whether the DUI arrest will impact Sheep's ability to don the costume for Penn State's appearance at the Rose Bowl.

'The Nittany Lion' is not the first mascot to get into trouble. Stanford's 'Tree' was charged with public intoxication, Miami's 'Sebastian the Ibis' was arrested with an extinguisher in the stadium just before an attempt to extinguish the Florida State mascot's flaming spear, and Wisconsin's 'Bucky' was busted for not wearing pants while walking down the streets of Madison.

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The driver of the van suffered a concussion and treated and released at a local hospital. Gable, who was off-duty at the time of the accident, was not seriously injured. He has been charged with drunk driving in Philadelphia and he could face additional charges after a review by the District Attorney. Official penalties, including suspension, could also be meted out by the Police Commission.

Gable, 21, is a one year veteran assigned to the 25th District. According to a police spokesperson, Gable has been assigned desk duty and his “police powers have been stripped.”

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Last September Angle was charged with suspicion of Pennsylvania DUI in suburban Pittsburgh. A motorist claimed that Angle had cut her off while exiting a bar parking lot. Moon Township officers later located Angle at his home, where he said he had consumed a few beers.

Angle’s Pennsylvania DUI defense lawyer successfully argued that police could not place Angle in his vehicle at a specific time.

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Burke had attended a fireworks display on July 4th, 2007 in Narbeth, PA. As he cycled away from the festivities, he was involved in an accident with a car. Police responding to the scene determined that Burke had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit for intoxication, and he was booked for drunk driving in Pennsylvania.

In handing down the sentence, the Montgomery County judge may have been influenced by the fact that Burke skipped his court hearing, thinking there was no offense of DUI while bicycling.

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The law stipulates that when state police are involved in an arrest for Pennsylvania DUI, the Commonwealth gives half of the fees and fines collected to the county where the arrest occurred. That money is to be equally split between the county prison system and the county drug and alcohol program.

Schuykill County however has been placing the monies in a general use fund, and not delivering them to the prisons or the rehabilitation program. The amount misallocated is estimated to be nearly $200,000.

County officials expressed confusion, with several using the excuse that they were new to office and did not know about the law. The county commissioner’s chairwoman thought the issue had been resolved last year. A full accounting is now under way to determine how much of the general fund surplus should be transferred to the appropriate accounts. Resolution is hoped for in time for the commissioners’ June 4 meeting.

If you were arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania, you need a Pennsylvania DUI Lawyer.

During 2006 troopers investigated 4,775 vehicular accidents involving alcohol, an increase of 1%. According to the Pennsylvania highway department, deaths from alcohol related crashes dropped from 544 to 525.

A state police commissioner said that improved recognition of driving while impaired by illegal or prescription drugs has played a key role in the figures.

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During an April 2006 trial, prosecutors said John V. Salamone ‘risked a catastrophe’ when he piloted his plane near the cooling towers of a nuclear power plant, through restricted airspace and across runways at Philadelphia International Airport without control tower communication. When Salamone was finally forced to land after a four-hour flight, his blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit for driving under the influence.

A defense attorney tried to argue that there was no imminent danger even though evidence showed that at least six jet and multi-engine aircraft had to be diverted by air traffic controllers to avoid mid-air collisions with Salamone's single-engine plane. Plus there was the potential of widespread damage from a nuclear disaster.

Salamone's private pilot’s license was suspended by the Federal Aviation Administration. His commercial pilot’s license was revoked and he later surrendered his FAA medical certificate which is required by all pilots.

In a twist however, a charge of Pennsylvania DUI was dismissed as it was determined there is no state law against operating an airplane while intoxicated. State lawmakers are now considering such legislation.

The bill has been roundly criticized for its expense, its manipulation of Pennsylvania DUI statistics and for its failure to acknowledge that it is not illegal to drive after drinking responsibly.

The author of the bill introduced it to the House Committee on Transportation based on stories he had heard about college binge drinking and figures he had read on the number of alcohol related deaths in the state. The anti-drunk driving organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, states that Pennsylvania has the fourth highest number of alcohol related fatalities in the nation, though the ranking drops to 23rd when one factors in population.

The bill’s author was apparently unaware of the cost of ignition interlock systems, which would be paid for by vehicle owners. When told the cost would range between $700 and $1,200, he acted surprised and indicated that he might be more willing to accept amendments to his proposed legislation.

Organizations like the American Beverage Institute, which promotes “responsible consumption of adult beverages,” have spoken out against the bill as being over-reaching. The law would require an interlock device even if the vehicle owner did not drink. Typically ignition interlock devices are calibrated to disable a vehicle when .025% blood-alcohol content is detected. That level could be reached by a 170-pound male after consuming two beers in one hour. Pennsylvania law establishes .08% BAC as the threshold for being legally intoxicated.

Opponents feel that lawmakers are responding to pressure being put on them by organizations like MADD and by auto manufacturers. Several manufacturers, including Toyota and Volvo, are currently researching ignition interlock devices with an interest in making the systems part of their vehicle fleet.

Even other Pennsylvania State Legislators have expressed reservations about the bill, citing the expense and certain requirements. The author responded by hoping the bill initiates hearings on drunk driving and alcoholism.

A similar bill, that limits the scope to commercial vehicles like trucks and buses, is being debated in the New York State Legislature.