State Rep. Carr admits negligent driving
A state representative from Brandon has admitted to a charge of negligent driving, settling what initially was a drunken driving case, his lawyer said.
Rep. Stephen Carr, D-Brandon, 66, pleaded guilty last week to the single amended charge in Vermont Superior Court in Barre. He was sentenced to pay a $400 fine, and he completed 20 hours of community service prior to Thursday's hearing, lawyer Brooks McArthur said.
Carr initially had been charged with two counts of drunken driving, first offense, arising from a Jan. 14 traffic stop.
Police stopped Carr when they noticed his vehicle cross the white fog line and the yellow center line several times on Vermont 62 while traveling 15 mph above the speed limit, according to court papers.
During the January stop, Carr cooperated with roadside sobriety tests and submitted a breath test, which recorded a blood alcohol content of 0.149 percent almost an hour after the 11 p.m. stop, court papers state. The legal limit for adult drivers in Vermont is 0.08 percent.
McArthur said this week that he and his client are pleased with the outcome of the case.
"Once all the facts of the case were understood, the Washington County State's Attorney's Office didn't treat him any differently than they would have treated anyone else," McArthur said.
Washington County State's Attorney Scott Williams said one of his deputy state's attorneys handled the case, and he agreed that his deputy handled Carr's case as he would have with any other person under the same circumstances.
"It appears that his lack of record, lack of ‘bad’ driving (though there was clearly enough observed to warrant the initial traffic stop), his employment and other pro-social behaviors, led my deputy to address Mr. Carr’s matter as he would any other person," Williams wrote in an email Monday.
He added, "While I personally feel that an elected individual should not seek a ‘break’ and would have preferred Mr. Carr come to court, plead to DUI, put an interlock in his car, and lead by example, I do not feel that given the particular facts here my deputy should have handled the case any differently."
Carr has no criminal record other than the charge stemming from the January traffic stop. He is unable to expunge the conviction from his record. Carr's license also is under civil suspension for up to 90 days, and he must undergo an alcohol and driving education program, Williams said.
The Legislature has taken no formal action against Carr in the wake of the charges or plea agreement.
Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.