May 14, 2008

Legislator Who Brought Us the Texas DWI Surcharge May Get Surcharge Himself

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

The Dallas Morning News has reported that the legislator that helped pass the surcharge for DWI drivers was arrested and charged with DWI himself. 

Rep. Mike Krusee Charged with DWI

State Rep. Mike Krusee, a Republican from Williamson County north of Austin, was arrested for drunk driving late Wednesday. He was released this morning. The Austin American-Statesman has the story, with mugshot.

Of note: Krusee carried and passed legislation in 2003 that created something called the "driver responsibility program" to help fund the Texas Mobility Fund. That program included a number of surcharges for driving offenses, including $1,000 for a first conviction of driving while intoxicated.

Update: Here is the longer article from the Austin American-Statesman:

State Rep. Krusee charged with drunken driving
Lawmaker helped write and pass legislation stiffening penalty for driving while intoxicated.

By Isadora Vail
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, May 02, 2008

State Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated Wednesday night.

If convicted of the Class B misdemeanor, Krusee, 49, could spend as many as 180 days in jail and pay a $4,000 fine.

Krusee was booked into the Williamson County Jail at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and was released at 8:55 a.m. Thursday, officials said. His bail had been set at $1,000.

Krusee carried and passed legislation in 2003 that created the "driver responsibility program" to help finance the Transportation Department's Texas Mobility Fund. That program included a number of surcharges for driving offenses, including $1,000 for a first conviction of driving while intoxicated.

He is chairman of the House Transportation Committee and a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Krusee is not seeking re-election this year.

Trooper Michael Scheffler wrote in an arrest affidavit that he followed Krusee's car down U.S. 183 after he noticed that the vehicle was swerving in and out of lanes and that its registration was expired.

Scheffler followed Krusee for about a mile before pulling him over near his home south of Texas 45 North, the affidavit said.

Scheffler said he noticed a strong smell of alcohol and administered a field sobriety test, which Krusee failed, according to the affidavit, and Krusee admitted to drinking a glass of wine.

It was not known where Krusee had the wine, said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Public Safety. She said the videotape of the arrest that was recorded on Scheffler's dashboard camera would not be released to the public because it is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

According to the affidavit, Krusee was swaying while he talked to the trooper and his eyes were watery and bloodshot.

Because Krusee refused a breath alcohol and blood test, his license will automatically be suspended for 180 days, according to Texas law and the affidavit.

Krusee's press office at the Capitol referred all calls to his Austin-based attorney, Jason Nassour, whose secretary said he had no comment.

 

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Comments on Legislator Who Brought Us the Texas DWI Surcharge May Get Surcharge Himself »

November 14, 2008

Taylor from Wine Barrels @ 10:59 am

One glass of wine is obviously not enough to fail a field sobriety test. I just goes to show you that nobody is above the law, even the people who make it.

November 29, 2008

Steve @ 4:42 pm

He got off w/o having to pay a dime.

February 4, 2009

Surcharge killer @ 11:42 am

thats good cuz his passing of that bill got me with a suspended license now…they should of locked im up longer than that…he must be crazy passing a bill like that ..plus the country is in a rut but before i can get my family finances straight i have to pay surcharges…get the….outta here…i cal those people demons

May 2, 2009

Joe @ 3:25 am

Surcharge is a rippoff and Im not going to pay it,Ill wall before they will steal any more of my money

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