State Senator Dave Min, a Democrat from Irvine who is currently campaigning for Congress, has entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in Northern California. This plea was made on Tuesday in the Sacramento County Superior Court, where it was determined that Min had been driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.08. As a result, he has been sentenced to two days in jail, required to complete a three-month first offender program, and placed on three years of informal probation. Additionally, Min will have to participate in 30 hours of alcohol and drug education counseling as part of the program.
When contacted by the City News Service for a response, Min’s office referred back to a statement that he had issued at the time of his arrest.
“Last night I was cited for a misdemeanor for driving under the influence,” said Min in a statement from his office in May. “My decision to drive last night was irresponsible. I accept full responsibility, and there is no excuse for my actions. I am deeply sorry to my family, constituents, and supporters. I recognize the need to do better, and I will not allow this personal failure to distract from the important work we are doing in California and Washington.”
The California Highway Patrol initially stopped Min in Sacramento on May 2 for driving without his headlights on, according to their report.
While driving a Toyota Camry south on Ninth Street north of South Street, Min was pulled over for not having his headlights on at 10:23 p.m. The officer followed Min’s car to Ninth Street at Broadway, where they observed the Camry stop at a red light but then proceed through the intersection while the light was still red. It was at this point that the officers noticed signs of alcohol intoxication.
Min was subsequently arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and taken into custody without incident at the Sacramento County Jail.
Scott Baugh, a Republican also running for the same congressional seat currently held by Democrat Katie Porter, who is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dianne Feinstein, declined to comment on Min’s situation.
