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More of the old "Do as I say, not as I do" from our government masters!!!
Concord police: Southern California assemblyman was legally drunk during traffic stop By Robert Salonga, Contra Costa Times Posted: 04/25/2012 09:35:31 AM PDT CONCORD -- Blood tests show that a Southern California assemblyman who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving while traveling with a female lobbyist in late March was legally drunk during the traffic stop, police said. Concord police Chief Guy Swanger said Wednesday that the tests showed that Assemblyman Roger Hernandez, 36, of the 57th District based in West Covina, had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent, the minimal level for DUI in California. Neither Hernandez nor his spokesman could be immediately reached for comment Wednesday morning. Hernandez was visiting the Bay Area when he was stopped by Concord police about 2:05 a.m. March 27. An officer reported that Hernandez was weaving and failing to use his turn signals while traveling on Concord Avenue near Meridian Park Boulevard. The officer pulled over Hernandez's white Toyota Camry in the parking lot of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and reported that Hernandez showed signs of intoxication. Hernandez refused a Breathalyzer and was given a field sobriety test, after which the officer arrested him on suspicion of DUI. A blood test was taken at the Concord Police Department and Hernandez was taken to County Jail in Martinez and released. A 29-year-old woman since identified as a Kaiser lobbyist was riding with Hernandez and released at the scene. Hernandez, a Democrat and assistant majority whip who was named Freshman Legislator of the Year following his 2010 election, told reporters after the arrest that while he had wine with dinner, he was not drunk and that police did not have probable cause to pull him over. "I do believe pending test results will make clear that I was in fact driving within the law," he said in a statement last week. Also last week, it was revealed that the car Hernandez was driving was a state-issued vehicle that he was not supposed to use outside of Sacramento without permission; the assemblyman conceded and then voluntarily gave up his car privileges. |