In The Name of Justice

A local retired Superior Court judge who was cited this summer for driving under the influence of alcohol pleaded guilty Monday to the reduced charge of negligent operation of a vehicle.

Retired Judge Lodge, 67, served for 20 years on the bench and was known as being sharp, plainspoken and impatient. Not the kind of judge you'd want to go up against if charged with drunk driving.

Lodge was given a suspended 90-day sentence and ordered to pay $796 in fines and fees, and will be on probation for two years.

Lodge was pulled over after a police officer noticed the 1980 truck he was driving  cross the centerline.  Lodge's blood alcohol level was not measured because he declined a breath test.

His defense was, of course that he had not been drinking, and the poor driving was caused by his unreliable vehicle, not drunkenness. His attorney also cited that Lodge had been working in his yard all day and suffered from allergies and his daughter-in-law's cat, hence the red, bloodshot, watery eyes. His attorney also mentioned he had taken a cold-flu medication that was 10 percent alcohol.

Additionally the vehicle he was driving was deemed not road worthy, which was documented by a local auto shop earlier in the year.  Crossing a center line is pretty serious.  Just this past weekend another local accident occurred just the same way killing 3 people!  Of course alcohol was deemed a contributing factor in that one.   

Lodge's attorney went on to say that since Lodge had served his community for 20 years he should not be forced to sit out the mandatory 1 day in jail.

Why? The local garbage man who has served his community for 20 years wouldn't get such a break, and neither would the volunteer fireman. Who says that they haven't contributed just as much to this community as the Judge? 

Washington State law dictates that the penalty for declining the breath test (and we'll give him the benefit of the doubt here), with no prior DUI'S is an automatic 48 hours in jail, fine of $500 to $5,000, and revocation of driver's license for 1 year.

The only penalty that Mr. Lodge received was the $796 fine, per the local newspaper.

Makes one wonder now, doesn't it? If it doesn't it should. The Judge is one of my uncle's close, personal friends.