On the afternoon of March 25th, ranger Michael O'Connor stopped a vehicle for speeding on the George Parks Highway within Denali National Park and Preserve. O'Connor developed probable cause to believe that the driver, Roger W. James of Fairbanks, was operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. His wife and one-year-old child were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. James was arrested for DUI. Subsequent investigation revealed that James had an open 40 ounce bottle of beer in the vehicle, that his license had been revoked due to a prior DUI conviction, and that an active warrant had been issued for his arrest. In 2006, James had been convicted in state court for DUI and child endangerment, but had failed to surrender to serve the jail time imposed in his sentence. Before being taken to jail in Fairbanks, James was transported to park HQ, where his blood alcohol level was determined to be .15%, well in excess of the legal limit. Under Alaska law, driving under the influence of alcohol with a minor in the vehicle constitutes endangering a child in the first degree, a Class A misdemeanor. An information charging James under the Assimilative Crimes Act with this violation, as well as multiple federal traffic violations, has been filed by the US Attorney's Office in Fairbanks. James' 2006 conviction in state court involved similar circumstances.
Ruby: 1.8.7, Rails: 1.1.6