The legislation is one of four bills aimed at underage drinkers approved by the General Assembly this week.|

Another bill would change current law to prevent a judge from allowing people convicted of a DUI from driving to and from school on a restricted driver’s license.

Washington Regional Alcohol Program spokesman Kurt Erickson says one bill that was aimed at adult drunk drivers failed to pass in the General Assembly.

The legislation would have required an ignition interlock system on the car of anyone convicted of a DUI – even first-time offenders.

Ignition interlocks require the driver to blow into a breathalyzer before the car can start.

“At the very last minute, that bill was tailored to not apply to all DUI offenders, but those with a .10 or higher BAC,” Erickson says.

The changes killed the bill, Erickson says.

A similar bill is being considered in Maryland.

Last week, the U.S. Partnership for a Drug-Free America released a new study showing that alcohol use among high school students increased by 11 percent in 2008.

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Pienaar was also ordered to pay a 100 pound ($150) fine on Tuesday for failing to obey a traffic signal.

The 27-year-old Everton midfielder was stopped by police on Feb. 21, the day after his club’s 3-1 win over Manchester United at Goodison Park. He was found to be nearly twice the legal limit.

The South African starred in Everton’s 5-1 win over Hull City on Sunday and is expected to be a key member of the host’s team at the 2010 World Cup later this year.

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Unlike most people accused of driving under the influence, the Assemblyman—who was twice accused of sexual assault in 2004—says he wants his case to go to trial. He has turned down a plea deal that would have given him a $300 fine, a 90-day license suspension, and enrollment in a drunk-driving program. His lawyer insists he wants the case to proceed in court, but due to Powell’s busy schedule including special legislative sessions and a 10-day overseas business trip, the politician has missed multiple court dates.

The trial has also been delayed due to a dispute over the exchange of evidence and scheduling conflicts involving defense lawyers and witnesses. If found guilty of the misdemeanor charges, it’s doubtful that Powell will receive any jail time and equally unlikely that he would get booted from office. Powell’s lawyer says the politician doesn’t want to delay the case—in fact, he wants to wrap it up. “It’s not a situation where there’s any type of avoidance,” said attorney Stacey Richmond. “This ongoing situation is more of an inconvenience to him.” The next scheduled court date is Monday, but the trial probably won’t begin then because one of the police officers involved in the case is busy.

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The conservative lawmaker came out Monday on KERN radio in Bakersfield, saying he felt compelled to address rumors that he had visited a gay nightclub near the Capitol before his arrest last week for driving under the influence.

The 55-year-old father of four says he broke the law, putting people at risk, so he owes the public an explanation.

Ashburn has consistently voted against gay rights measures since he was elected to the state Assembly in 1996.

He has said those votes reflected the way constituents in his district wanted him to vote.

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The suspect, a retirement board member and a former town council candidate, became physically combative with an officer who had let him out of the booking cell so he could use the bathroom, police said.

A second officer entered the room and helped handcuff him.

The suspect had crashed his car into a guardrail on South Meriden Road on Feb. 24 and failed a field sobriety test, police said. He swore at officers and called them names as they drove him to the police station, police said.

During the booking process, he refused to take a Breathalyzer test and later scuffled with the officers. He was charged with driving under the influence, failure to drive right and interfering with an officer.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Cheshire you need legal assistance. Contact a Cheshire DUI Attorney for a free consultation.

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FOX 10 has obtained court records that show the officer was arrested 8 years ago for driving while intoxicated, when he was 19 years of age.

Records show he plead guilty to the charge back in 2002, well before he began working for the Phoenix Police Department.

Phoenix Police tell FOX 10 that a DUI arrest doesn’t stop them from hiring an officer, and a DUI arrest for an officer on the force doesn’t guarantee they’ll be placed on administrative leave.

The officer is still patrolling city streets, just days after his latest DUI arrest.

FOX 10’s Miram Garcia reports.

If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Arizona you should contact an Arizona Attorney promptly.

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The Wyoming State Legislature wrapped its 60th session up today, leaving more than 100 bills inactive and working out a $50 million difference between the Senate and House budget bills.

As of press time, the House and Senate had appointed their respective general governmental appropriations bills to a Joint Conference Committee. Last Thursday the two released budgets in which the Senate was more fiscally conservative in school construction and direct distributions to local governments. The General Fund sits at $2.9 billion and a compromise was expected by Tuesday.

Of the more than 100 bills that failed, missed a deadline for consideration or were indefinitely postponed were a minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour, the proposed Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act that would exempt Wyoming from federal regulation, the proposed Wyoming Food Freedom Act and the House version of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) amendments.

However, the Senate DUI penalties amendment was presented to Freudenthal Wednesday afternoon, and he signed it into law as SEA11.

The Governor also acted on House Bill 13, regarding underage drinking. The bill, which he signed into law, creates an offense for anyone under 21 attempting to enter a business or location in which alcohol is sold and expands offenses for underage drinking.

Freudenthal also signed Senate File 26, which permits individuals with a concealed weapons permit from any other state to carry a concealed firearm in Wyoming and would permit those convicted of misdemeanor controlled substance offenses to acquire a permit a year after completing a sentence.

Among the bills still awaiting active in one of the houses or waiting action by Freudenthal Thursday afternoon are the juvenile detention facilities bills and extended eligibility for concealed weapons permits. The action taken by the governor on Thursday was not available at press time.

The following bills are working their way to the governor’s desk.

House Bill 95

Entrenched in talk of automatic rifles, rocket propelled grenades and silencers, this bill passed the House and passed the second reading in the Senate Tuesday night with amendments to exclude them. The bill would exempt owners and manufacturers of firearms manufactured, sold, purchased, possessed and used exclusively in Wyoming from federal regulation. This would include registration.

Senate File 20: Texting and driving

This bill proposes the prohibition of sending or reading text messages while operating a motor vehicle.

It has passed the second reading in the House

Senate File 0072: Wyoming retirement plan

The Senate proposed adjustments to contributions employees and employers make to the Wyoming Retirement plan. The bill proposes an increase for all covered members from 5.57 percent to 7 percent. Furthermore, employers would pay 5.57 percent of the member’s salary without salary reduction or offset.

House Bill 64: Mandatory minimum sentence for sexual abuse of a minor

This Bill would set a minimum sentence of abuse by a minor under 13 by an adult 18 or older at 25 years. Current Wyoming Statute only has a maximum penalty of 50 years.

This House bill passed the second reading in the Senate.

Joint Resolution 1: Resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution

The resolution seeks to solidify Wyoming’s state sovereignty. The resolution description states the resolution ask “Congress to cease and desist from enacting mandates that are beyond the scope of the enumerated powers granted to Congress by the Constitution of the United States.”

This resolution has passed the second reading in the Senate.

House Bill 72: Regulation of wind energy facilities

If passed, this act would require permitting of wind energy facilities by County Commissions, establish minimum standards for wind facilities, provide for the review of county permitting decisions and provide for referrals to the industrial siting council. The bill also outlines requirements for rulemaking, penalties, fees and financial assurances.

This House bill passed the second reading in the Senate as well.

House Bill 79: Eminent domain-wind power collector lines

The power of condemnation for the erection, placement or expansion of lines for wind generated electricity would be limited by this action. The prohibition on any such condemnation would be effective upon signing and last until June 30, 2011.

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The Governor’s Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute on Wednesday announced a statewide crackdown on drunk driving, called “Operation Pull Over Blitz 62.”

From March 5-21, more than 250 Indiana law enforcement agencies will conduct high-visibility enforcement patrols to target impaired and aggressive drivers. This crackdown will take place during Indiana’s March basketball tournaments and the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

Operation Pull Over Blitz 62 is a statewide enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Indiana’s crackdown on impaired and dangerous driving will be reinforced by a paid statewide advertising campaign and targeted public outreach efforts aimed at comprehensively promoting the life-saving benefits of driving safe and sober.

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Sen. Roy Ashburn, a Republican from Bakersfield, was spotted driving erratically at about 2 a.m. Wednesday in downtown Sacramento, officials said. He was arrested after taking a sobriety test, and he was taken to Sacramento County Jail, where he was administered a blood-alcohol test prior to being booked and released.

He was charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher.

Ashburn, a 55-year-old father of four, apologized for his actions.

“I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment,” he said in a statement. “I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me — my family, my constituents, my friends, and my colleagues in the Senate.”

He was arrested after leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in midtown Sacramento, according to cbs13.com. A male passenger, who was not identified as a lawmaker, was also in the car but was not detained, the TV station reported.

A spokesman for Ashburn declined to comment to FoxNews.com regarding the nightclub allegations.

Ashburn, who served in the state Assembly from 1996 to 2002 before he was elected to the Senate, has voted against every gay rights measure since he became a senator, according to Project Vote Smart, a Web site that tracks voting records.

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Sasha Pringle was arrested Saturday night after police said she crashed into another car, sending it over the Buckman Bridge, killing the driver.

Shawn Arnold, a criminal attorney in Jacksonville, said about half of his DUI clients are women. He said that’s a big increase from when he first started practicing law 11 years ago.

“It seemed to be 85 percent or so male,” he said.

From 2008 to 2009, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had a 3 percent increase in the number of females arrested for DUI.

Nassau County had an increase of 16 percent from 2007 to 2008, although the numbers were slightly down in 2009.

One First Coast woman who didn’t want to be identified, said she was never arrested for drinking and driving, but could have been.

“I probably did it hundreds if not thousands of times. I should have had many DUIs,” she said.

When she heard about Saturday’s deadly crash on the Buckman Bridge, her heart sank, she said.

“It could have been me. I’m just very, very grateful it never was. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to be responsible for that,” she said.

She doesn’t drink anymore and has been attending alcohol anonymous meetings for years.  She doesn’t know why she started abusing liquor and why she would have ever mixed it with driving.

Arnold said there are several theories as to why more women are drinking and driving.

“There’s more women in the workplace. They seem to have more money and they’re out more often at night now…that seems to have changed the dynamic,” said Arnold.

If you have been arrested for Florida DUI you have only 10 days to request an administrative review hearing in order to avoid automatic license suspension.

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