DUIVirginia DUI Library
Police Chief Charged with DUI in Virginia
Top cop arrested for drunk driving in Alexandria with BAC over twice the legal limit.
The chief of the Alexandria Police Department was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of driving under the influence in Virginia. Chief David P. Baker was involved in an accident around 11:00 pm while off-duty but driving a city issued unmarked vehicle. He was found to have a blood alcohol content of .19%, more than twice the legal limit for intoxication.
The Alexandria city manager ordered an internal investigation, and Baker was placed on administrative leave.
Baker, 58, has nearly 40 years experience with law enforcement, working for the District of Columbia police and then the Alexandria department. He was second in command for 16 years before being made the chief of police in 2006. There reportedly no other incidents on his record and he is highly respected.
Baker was arrested for drunk driving in Virginia and booked along normal procedures. He was released with no bail and has his first court date this Wednesday. Because his BAC was above .15%, Virginia DUI laws stipulate a minimum of five days in jail if he is convicted.
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DUI Officer Charged with DUI in Virginia
Member of select DUI team arrested for drunk driving in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach police said that charges of driving under the influence in Virginia have been filed against an officer involved with DUI enforcement. Master Police Officer Bryan K. Womble was arrested on suspicion of VA DUI on Saturday after a two vehicle accident. There were no injuries.
Womble is part of an eight member Selective Enforcement Team that targets suspected drunk drivers. In 2007, Womble reportedly made 70 Virginia DUI arrests. He 2008, he was quoted as saying that stopping drunk driving is difficult because "a lot of (intoxicated drivers) have that mentality that it can not happen, it will not happen to me."
Womble, 36, was booked and the Virginia Beach City Jail where he posted bond and was released. He has been placed on administrative duty pending an investigation.
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Former NFL Star Arrested for Virginia DUI
Bruce Smith nabbed for drunk driving in Virginia Beach.
Bruce Smith, former NFL star, was arrested for driving under the influence in Virginia early Friday morning. Smith was stopped for speeding around 1:45 am on Interstate 264. After officers suspected alcohol, Smith refused a breath test. He was booked for VA DUI and released on bond several hours later.
Over 19 years, Smith, 45, played for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins. He is the NFL leader in sacks and he will inducted into the Football Hall this summer.
Smith, a native of the Norfolk area, has been arrested for DUI twice before. A 1997 charge was dismissed and he was acquitted in a 2003 incident.
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Vita Fossella Pleads Guilty to Virginia DUI
Former US Representative admits drunk driving in Virginia court.
Former Representative Vito Fossella entered a guilty plea in Virginia court Monday. It was the same day that his Virginia DUI jury trial was set to begin.
Fossella, the Republican lawmaker who represented Staten Island New York, was charged with driving under the influence in Alexandria Virginia last May. The arrest report indicated that his blood alcohol content was .17%, over twice the legal limit for intoxication. In the days following the VA DUI arrest, it was learned that Fossella had fathered a child in an extra-marital affair. The combination of events led to his political downfall and he decided to not to run for re-election.
Fossella’s DUI defense lawyer had planned to challenge the breath test evidence, citing faulty equipment. He said that efforts to gain information on the equipment from other courts were unsuccessful and that the congressman decided to accept responsibility for his actions. The recent death of major league baseball player Nick Adenhart by a drunk driver reportedly also influenced Fossella’s decision to plead guilty, as it reinforced the consequences of driving while intoxicated.
Fossella was found guilty of drunk driving last October. He appealed the conviction, which under Virginia DUI law entitled him to a jury trial. He has four days remaining on a five day jail sentence issued last December. He was given credit for the day he served when he was initially arrested for Virginia DUI.
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NY Congressman Sentenced to Jail for Virginia DUI
Rep. Fossella arrested for drunk driving in Alexandria, VA last May.
United States Representative Vito Fossella was sentenced to five days in jail for a conviction of driving under the influence in Virginia. The 43-year old congressman was arrested in May for suspicion of drunk driving and was found guilty of that offense in October.
During the sentencing hearing Fossella said he had made a mistake but argued that his blood alcohol content could not have been as high as the recorded .17%. Under Virginia DUI laws, jail is mandatory when the BAC at the time of arrest is above .15%. Fossella’s DUI defense attorney claimed the breath testing equipment must have had a ‘software glitch’.
Fossella is the lone Republican representative from the New York City area. His political career unraveled following is May 1 arrest. In addition to the VA drunk driving charge, it was revealed that he had fathered a child in an extramarital affair. The series of revelations led Fossella to say that he would not seek re-election. His current term expires next January.
Fossella and his attorney indicated that the recent sentencing hearing was just the first step in a lengthy process. An appeal was filed immediately after the judge meted out judgment.
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Marcus Vick Pleads Guilty to Virginia DUI
Brother of former NFL player was charged with drunk driving in VA last June.
Marcus Vick entered a guilty plea in Norfolk Court to several criminal charges, including driving under the influence in Virginia.
Vick, 24, was arrested last June after briefly evading a bicycle patrol that had responded to a quarrel. Vick pleaded guilty to Virginia DUI, eluding police and driving on the wrong side of the road. The judge did not sentence Vick to jail but did suspend his license for one-year and ordered him to pay a $530 fine.
Vick is a former quarterback for Virginia Tech, though he was dismissed from the team in 2006 after a series of problems. He is the younger brother of former Virginia Tech and Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick, who is currently in jail on federal charges associated with a dog fighting operation.
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Assistant Police Chief Nabbed for Virginia DUI
Newport News places Dawn Barber on administrative leave after arrest for drunk driving in Virginia.
The Assistant Police Chief for Newport News, Virginia was arrested last Saturday for drunk driving. According to Virginia State Police, Dawn Barber, 44, was stopped on Interstate 64 around 9:40 pm and a breath test indicated she had a blood alcohol content of .12%. The legal limit for intoxication in Virginia is .08%. Barber was consequently charged with driving under the influence in Hampton, Virginia. There is no word as to what initiated the traffic stop.
Barber is a 21 year veteran with the Newport News police department. She was named assistant police chief of administration and support in 2005, making news as the highest ranking position in the police department to be held by a woman. Barber oversees the 911 dispatch center, fleet operations, property and evidence, recruiting and crime analysis divisions. She was responsible for oversight on the construction of the new police headquarters which opened last year.
Barber has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
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Boat Operator Charged with Virginia DUI
Man involved in boating accident that killed his passenger.
Kirk Riffey, from Cheaspeake, was charged with driving under the influence in Virginia following a fatal boating accident.
Riffey was operating a powerboat on the southern branch of the Elizabeth River when he struck a functioning channel marker. His passenger, Bobby Ray Ussery from Virginia Beach, was killed in the incident.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is considering additional charges.
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Wild Details of Representative Fossella’s Virginia DUI
Fossella’s PR campaign can’t keep info and questions out of press in VA drunk driving case.
Details of Vito Fossella’s arrest for driving under the influence in Virginia are forming an intriguing image. The US Congressman from New York was arrested last week for drunk driving in Alexandria, Virginia after running a red light. At the time, he told officers he was rushing to help his ailing daughter get to a hospital. It was later learned that, in fact, he had been at a White House function honoring the Super Bowl champions New York Giants and then at a dinner with other New Yorkers.
It has now been revealed that Fossella and a friend only referred to as ‘Brian’ went to Logan Tavern in Washington, DC after the dinner. Waiters describe the two being very intoxicated and at one point ‘Brian’ passed out in front of the men’s room. Staff called a cab for the pair but it is not known if they took the cab or walked to their vehicles. Shortly after midnight, Fossella was arrested for DUI in Alexandria, over 8 miles away. His blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.
After being booked for drunk driving, Fossella called a blond woman described as a ‘good friend’ to pick him up. The woman has since been identified as retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Laura Faye. Faye and Fossella reportedly met in 2003 while she was a House military liaison for the Air Force. The press is curious as to why Faye was called when Fossella’s Chief of Staff lives in Alexandria. Faye is a single mother with a 3-year old daughter. A relative of Faye’s said who fathered the child is ‘vague’.
Fossella’s camp has retained the services of a high priced Republican public relations crisis consultant. That in itself is raising questions about the need for such expensive damage control.
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New York Congressman Arrested for DUI in Virginia
Representative Vito Fossella charged with drunk driving in suburban Washington DC.
Vito Fossella, a member of the US House of Representatives, was arrested for driving under the influence in Virginia. The Republican lawmaker was stopped in Alexandria, Virginia for running a red light, and, after detecting a strong smell of alcohol, police asked him to submit to field sobriety tests and a breath test. Fossella reportedly failed the field tests and registered a preliminary blood alcohol content of .133%. When a second breath test was taken during booking for Virginia DUI, the result was .17%. The legal limit for driving while intoxicated in Virginia is .08%.
Fossella was driving a white Honda Civic at 12:10 am when arrested for drunk driving. When asked to recite the alphabet between D and T, Fossella started “A, B”, prompting the officer to explain the request again. Fossella then said “D, E, F, H, G, H, I, J, L” before stopping. He initially told the arresting officer that he was going to pick up his sick daughter, but later acknowledged he had been at a White House Super Bowl event for the NFL champions the New York Giants and then went to dinner where drinks were consumed.
Under Virginia DUI laws a first offense for drinking and driving is a misdemeanor. Because Fossella’s BAC was above .15% he faces at least five days in jail. In addition, Fossella is subject to an automatic House ethics investigation. Fossella apologized to his constituents and said he would not resign. His staff has denied that he has a drinking problem.
Fossella, 43, has represented Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York since 1997 when he won a special election. An strong ally of George Bush and Dick Cheney, the representative is seeking re-election in November, making the drunk driving arrest in Virginia a potential political liability.
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