Repeat DUIs can be a threat to anyone’s career and personal life. But when you are in the public sphere already, being charged with driving under the influence multiple times – especially within a short time span – can disrupt your life and threaten your future aspirations.
In the early morning hours of July 19, 2013, Georgia state representative Chick Sims of Ambrose, was arrested by police for suspected drinking and driving. Just a few months ago, in April, the Republican state lawmaker was arrested for the same violation. It is his third drunk driving arrest since 2010. At the time of his most recent arrest, he was awaiting trail for his April DUI charge.
On that Friday morning, around 5 a.m., a police officer in Douglas, Georgia, saw a car stop 30 yards in front of an intersection even though the traffic light was green. The car was driving erratically and the driver appeared confused, the police officer stated in his report. The politician took some field sobriety tests but refused others. He also refused to take a breathalyzer.
In April, Sims was pulled over in Atlanta after officers spotted him driving erratically. In that instance, he did take a breath test and his blood alcohol level was found to be 0.105, well over Georgia’s legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08.
Just this year, the state senator introduced two new bills: one that would require bars and restaurants to have breathalyzers for patron use, and one that would allow those charged with DUI in Georgia after leaving a bar or restaurant to claim entrapment.
Sources say that the lawmaker is now on his way to an alcohol rehabilitation center.
