HELENA – The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing sweeping reform to the state’s drunk driving laws says a recent open container ticket resulted from poor judgment.
Republican Committee Chairman Jim Shockley of Victor is also gearing up for a run at the office of Montana attorney general.
Shockley says he was driving home from Helena last Friday when he stopped to buy a beer, his second of the evening.
Missoula police pulled him over and issued an open alcohol container citation after he passed the breathalyzer test with a blood-alcohol level of .03 percent, below the limit of 0.08 at which a person is considered legally drunk.
The veteran lawmaker says he paid the $51 fine Tuesday and doesn’t expect the incident affects DUI reform plans or his run for higher office.