State Senator Roy Ashburn DUI Arrest04 Mar
In the early morning hours of March 3, 2010, State Senator Roy Ashburn was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Senator Ashburn is a republican senator from Bakersfield. News reports indicate that CHP officers conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle because of erratic driving. Upon stopping the vehicle the driver of the vehicle identified himself as Senator Ashburn. The CHP officer noticed signs of intoxication and shortly thereafter placed the Senator under arrest. It is unclear whether the Senator attempted to use his office to gain favorable treatment. Reports do indicate that he identified himself as “Senator Ashburn.”
This arrest comes at a time when the lawmakers in Sacramento are getting tougher on drunk drivers. There is a new pilot program that will begin on July 1, 2010 that will require everyone convicted of a DUI in certain counties to install an ignition interlock device for a period of time. I wonder if this Senator had anything to do with that legislation.
The bottom line is that this Senator probably will get treated like everyone else if he is convicted. If this is his first offense he is looking at about $2,200 in fines, 3 years of probation, two days of work project (probably will be given credit for time served or allowed to do a more low key home detention), and will have to attend an alcohol education program.
