Crime Scene

It used to be that a first-time offender charged with driving while intoxicated in Putnam County and registering a blood-alcohol level below 0.15 percent could have the misdemeanor charge reduce to a violation of driving while impaired. But District Attorney Kevin L. Wright recently announced that his office had changed that policy. Now, anyone with a blood-alcohol level of 0.13 percent or more will not be eligible for the reduced charge, Wright said.
“If a person, even a first offender, chooses to drink and drive, they will not receive consideration from the courts and the district attorney’s office when the alcohol in their system is is five points above the state limit of 0.08 percent,� Wright said in a statement from his office.
He noted that Putnam County has made significant progress in the last 20 years in reducing the instances of driving while intoxicated but said he believes that the new policy by his office will fruther discourage intoxicated people from getting behind the wheel.
“Simply because someone is a first-time offender does not eliminate the possibility that they have serious issued with alcohol, even though it is customary to give them a break,� Wright said.
Wright said he discussed the change with Putnam County Probation Director Gene J. Funicelli, Putnam’s STOP-DWI coordinator, and that Funicelli is on board with the idea.