Florida Governor Charlie Crist will visit the Saint Petersburg Police Department for a ceremonial signing of new DUI legislation.

The bill calls for those convicted of Florida DUI to carry higher insurance coverage. Specifically, a minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident in bodily injury insurance, and at least $50,000 in property damage coverage.

The measure had bi-partisan sponsorship in the Florida Legislature, and it was supported by the Florida Justice Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Texas Governor Rick Perry signed new legislation that increases the penalties for injuring or killing public safety officials while driving drunk. This covers on duty police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

The bill is in memory of two North Texas peace officers killed by drunk drivers, Dwayne Freeto of Fort Worth and Darren Medlin of Grapevine. Freeto’s vehicle was struck by a drunk driver while helping a stranded motorist. Medlin was killed by a drunk driver while he was on duty.

Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Richard Alpert said that his office was going to use the new law to prosecute those who injury public safety personnel while intoxicated. “We will take these cases to trial, and we don’t plea bargain.”

The new Texas DWI penalties make Intoxication Manslaughter a first degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years in jail. The charge of Intoxication Assault becomes a second degree felony with a 2 to 20 year prison sentence. Both carry a maximum fine of $10,000. The bill takes effect September 1.

Louisiana lawmakers agreed on a bill that will increase the consequences of being convicted of a DUI. The new law requires first time drunk driving offenders to have their driver’s license suspended for one year. Currently first time offenders lose their driving privileges for 90 days.

There is an option of a ‘hardship license’ if the first time offender agrees to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. To start the car the driver would have to blow into a tube that measures blood alcohol content. The car can only be started if the BAC is below a certain level, usually .04% or half the legal limit. The ‘hardship license’ can only be used for travel to work, school or church.

Under the proposed legislation, repeat Louisiana DWI offenders would lose their license for two years, or twice as long as current law allows. Subsequent drunk driving charges would result in a three-year suspension.

The DUI bill is now heading to Governor Kathleen Blanco.

The Pennsylvania High Court said that a pilot who flew while intoxicated will have to serve an 6 to 23 month jail term imposed by a lower court.

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 Hawaiian state legislature has passed a bill authorizing the return of driver’s licenses to repeat DUI offenders. The current law calls for the permanent suspension of a license for those who have been convicted of driving under the influence four times in ten years.

According to lawmakers, the new legislation is about giving second chances and allowing a person to be productive in life. A repeat Hawaii DUI offender would be able to re-apply for a driver’s license ten years after its suspension for an alcohol related offense. The driver would also have to maintain a clean driving record. Approximately 1,100 drivers have had their license suspended for life.

Opponents are concerned about relapse in chronic drunk drivers. Governor Linda Lingle has indicated that she will veto the measure though legislators have said they will hold a special session to consider overriding that action.

MADD has not issued an opinion on the bill, opting instead to fight for the mandatory implementation of ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders. 

Missoula, Montana – Adam Lundgren, 42, was cited for DUI around 5:00 pm and released to a sober friend. However, he jumped from his friend’s car and went drinking. Around 10:00 pm he wrecked his car and was arrested for a second DUI by the same officer who stopped him 5 hours earlier. Lundgren posted bail and was released but was sent back to jail after showing up drunk at his arraignment two days later.

Marburg, Germany – A 45-year old man drove a borrowed car to a police station to reclaim his stolen car. At the station, officers noticed alcohol on his breath. When his blood alcohol content registered over the legal limit, he was charged with drunk driving and his driver’s license and keys were confiscated. Four hours later police were surprised to see the same man driving again. A new breath test showed he had an even higher BAC and he was charged with a second drunk driving offense.

White Lake, New York – How about two New York DWI charges from one vehicle? Witnesses alerted police to a hit-and-run accident where the female driver who caused the crash switched places in the car with a male passenger and drove off. Shortly after, Sullivan County Sheriff’s deputies stopped Martin Kunik, 59, found him to be intoxicated and charged him with misdemeanor DWI. Based on what witnesses had described, police also tested the BAC of Ellen Friedman, 54, and ticketed her for drunk driving.

Westchester County, Connecticut – Police made two unrelated DWI arrests at one accident scene. Matthew Siden, 18, wrecked his vehicle and was cited for driving while intoxicated. While police were conducting an investigation of the accident, another drunk driver happened upon the scene. Claudio O. Tacuri-Arpi failed to obey a traffic device and was arrested for his second Connecticut DWI in less than sixty days.

The Tennessee DUI charge against NFL quarterback Steve McNair was dismissed after his brother-in-law agreed to a lesser traffic violation.

McNair was a passenger in his Dodge pick-up truck when the vehicle was stopped by Nashville police in May for speeding. The driver, brother-in-law Jamie Cartwright, was arrested after he failed a field sobriety test. Under Tennessee law, McNair was also charged with DUI for allowing his vehicle to be driven by someone who was drunk.

Cartwright’s DUI defense attorney negotiated a plea bargain of reckless driving. As a consequence of the lesser charge, the case against McNair was dismissed.

The former Tennessee Titan player was in General Sessions Court in Nashville when the DUI was dropped.

Three wheeling in Toronto – Patrick Shanahan, 35, was arrested for drunk driving home from a pub around 1:00 am while driving his mother’s motorized wheelchair. Shanahan protested saying the three-wheeled scooter didn’t need a license, insurance or license plates, so it could not be drunk driving. A Toronto court disagreed and he was fined and placed on probation.

Obviously things are a little different in Germany – A 31-year old German was pulled over for riding down his wheelchair down the center of the road. When police administered a breath test it was found the man registered 10 times the legal limit, considered a life-threatening amount. The man was considered traveling as a pedestrian and, rather than being charged with drunk driving, he was held until a sober friend could pick him up. A police spokesperson said the man would be facing some kind of punishment, but “it’s just not clear yet what exactly that will be.”

Getting mowed over in Illinois – Robert Wendt decided to use his riding lawnmower to travel to a nearby store for gas and a six-pack of beer. He was stopped by police for riding on the wrong side the road and was determined to be intoxicated after failing a field sobriety test. Wendt spent two nights in jail for what was his second Illinois DUI. When released, he was ticketed for not having mowed his lawn.

Playing through in Georgia – The assistant principal of Whitewater High School in Peachtree City was stopped a little after midnight for riding a golf cart on a public road. Mary Pina, 50, was determined to be intoxicated and charged with Georgia DUI. She may lessened her troubles if she had followed the city code which states that those in a golf cart must use a cart path when available.

Making tracks in Nova Scotia – Walter Hawes, 52, had been drinking before jumping on a farm tractor and heading down the road. He only drove a short distance before rolling into a ditch. Hawes failed a breathalyzer test, though his BAC was acknowledged as being higher than when the accident occurred because he continued to drink until police arrived. A judge determined a tractor is a motor vehicle and charged Hawes with drunk driving. Hawes is prohibited from driving any vehicle, including a tractor, for a year.

The Montana State Police have announced a new vehicle that will help them crack down on drunk driving. A Mobile Impaired Driving Assessment Center allows police to position law enforcement resources close to large events being held across the state.

Even the size and color of the vehicle are meant to be imposing, reminding the public that the highway patrol is active in the area. The black, 40-foot long vehicle acts as a remote police station with a blood alcohol content testing station, refrigerated storage for blood samples, a temporary holding area, toilets and computer access.

The special vehicle will be deployed at major events in areas without a readily accessible courthouse or jail. Targeted venues will include concerts, rodeos, sporting events and the famed Testicle Festival. Two officers will staff the vehicle and patrol cars will transport suspected drunk drivers to the center for testing and processing.

Currently it can take as long as four hours to process a single Montana DUI case in rural areas. The new vehicle will allow police to arrest drunk drivers more quickly and efficiently. Montana ranks high in the number of alcohol related injuries, partly because of its remote roads and partly due to a prevailing ‘wild west’ attitude towards drinking and driving.

The mobile unit was purchased with a $250,000 federal grant. The state patrol plans to start use of the vehicle in the middle of summer.

Eager for the early bird special in Texas – Father Karel Fink, pastor of St. Paul Parish in Smithville, Texas, crashed his pick-up truck into La Cabana Restaurant. The 61-year old priest was found to be intoxicated and charged with Texas DWI. Fink is recovering at the St. Paul Church rectory.

More drive-thru madness in Connecticut – Vernon resident passed at a local Taco Bell shortly before 3:00 am while ordering food. Police were called and they found Lajos Patrissi’s truck still in the drive thru lane, with one vehicle waiting behind the truck. Patrissi was charged with driving under the influence.

Sounds more like bulls##t in Pennsylvania – When Anthony M. Bruce was stopped around 2:30 am and questioned about the smell of alcohol, he told police it was ‘cow manure’. Bruce, 20, was arrested for under age drinking and Pennsylvania DUI.

Really wanted that last beer in Wisconsin – A 22-year old woman from Fond du Lac crashed into the rear of a Bud Light beer truck at 6:00 in the morning as it was waiting to turn into a Walmart parking lot. She was arrested for drunk driving, as well as a few outstanding warrants.