Chicago DUI lawyer comments on those DUI's with Beltway connections

This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here about professional courtesies. Last week, I spoke to an officer who confirmed that it is offered and he has done it for both other officers as well as politicians. He did note that things had changed and the ability to be given that professional courtesy of not being charged with a DUI had decreased significantly to about 60/40 chance.

Now comes news of not one, but two, senators with close family members charged this week with DUI's.

November 19, Hollywood, CA

Bay Sate Sen. John Kerry defended his daughter tonight saying she was not driving drunk when pulled over by Los Angeles cops early this morning and a Breathalyzer test will prove it.

Alexandra Forbes Kerry, 36, was pulled over at 12:40 a.m. in Hollywood for a traffic violation and was charged with DUI, a misdemeanor, Officer Sara Faden told the Herald.

“Alexandra Kerry was pulled over for an expired registration and was released after the results of a breathalyzer test at the police station were under the legal limit. Senator Kerry supports his daughter and will have no further comment on a private matter,” said Kerry spokesperson Jodi Seth.

November 19, McLean, VA

The wife of Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) was arrested in McLean on Wednesday night after crashing into a parked car, and she was charged with drunk driving and hit-and-run, Fairfax County police said Thursday.

Charlene S. Lugar, 77, was stopped shortly after 6:30 p.m. by an officer who noticed smoke coming from her car and damage to the front end of the car as she drove on Old Dominion Drive, Officer Bud Walker said. The officer pulled her over near Dominion Reserve Drive, "developed probable cause that she was intoxicated" and arrested her. He did not release her alleged blood-alcohol content.

Senator Lugar's office released a statement which said that "No other persons were in her car or the unattended car she hit. Thankfully, no one was injured. We are deeply sorry and embarrassed that this accident has occurred."

It appears that across the aisle there are DUI arrests for two prominent senators. We wonder sometimes why they can't get the people's work done but it looks like they might have their hands full with errant family members.