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State lawmaker from Columbus picked up for DUI

6:12 pm January 13, 2012, by jgalloway

State Rep. Kip Smith, R-Columbus, was arrested on a charge of DUI early this morning by an Atlanta police officer. Read the incident report here. Apparently Smith drives a gold Jaguar XJ8.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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30 comments Add your comment

Andy

January 13th, 2012
6:31 pm

Wonder who will the seat in the special election

chalkdawg4

January 13th, 2012
6:39 pm

A really bad choice. D.U.I. laws are rather draconian. Limit used to be .10. Poor guy is now screwed and he was very borderline drunk based on the old standards. Feds required the states to lower BAC standard to .08 or lose highway funding. My thoughts and prayers are with Rep. Smith. You just toasted your career over a few drinks. Laws are not really fair but they are what they are. Should have taken a cab. At least you didn’t have any red panties.

trailboss

January 13th, 2012
6:44 pm

HE’LL GET OUT OF IT… THE POLICE LIGHT WAS BLINDING HIM THROUGH HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR.

findog

January 13th, 2012
6:47 pm

cannot arrest a member of the state legislature while they are in session
bet the cop gets fired

swga resident

January 13th, 2012
6:59 pm

Makes you proud of your reps doesn’t it! Didn’t even make it through the first week! They ought to send him home and sideline him for the session!

Matt

January 13th, 2012
7:00 pm

Is it common for the arresting officer to give those they have arrested a ride home after they bond out?

Unfiltered

January 13th, 2012
7:02 pm

It is not possible to drink a single beer (as Mr. Smith said he did, per the incident report) and blow a .09 BAC. Depends on his weight, but it would take at least 4 brewskis if he’s 160 pounds, 5 or more if he’s 180. Math is math.

sheepdawg

January 13th, 2012
7:09 pm

another idiot elected by uneducated masses

double

January 13th, 2012
7:16 pm

has to be the officers fault,He should not have been out patrolling that particular area.Should been in area of some roach motel.

Cover Up

January 13th, 2012
7:22 pm

With his buddies in the DA’s office, this will get dropped “quickly and quietly” as they like to say in DC. Money talks—nothing will happen. Regular people? Would be hosed for the same thing!!

td

January 13th, 2012
7:27 pm

If he is found guilty then I hope he is removed from office. Zero tolerance for drinking and driving.

tom mitchell

January 13th, 2012
8:09 pm

Hal’s is the preferred GOP/Lobbyist redevouz spot every evening when the Circus is in town. Kasim Reed should set up a DUI Roadblock outside the joint. He would really have some political leverage over the State Capitol then.

Frederick Douglass

January 13th, 2012
8:14 pm

He wasn’t drinking, a page from a left leaning newspaper flew up from the road, landed on his windshield, and caused him to swerve.

double

January 13th, 2012
8:16 pm

TD he’s a Republican,thought they could not commit any wrong.You ain’t drunk are ya?

findog

January 13th, 2012
8:21 pm

Td, isn’t always right, but he’s always consistent

td

January 13th, 2012
9:14 pm

findog

January 13th, 2012
8:21 pm
Td, isn’t always right, but he’s always consistent

I will take that as a compliment, Thank you.

another comment

January 13th, 2012
9:18 pm

What about him trying to make it clear to the Officer that he was a Ga. Legislator. Sounds to me just like the Univ. of Ga. AD. Damon tried to do. Use his position for a break.

I like how this faux Good Odle boy is only 30 and driving a 14 year old Jaguar. HOT !!! lol. NOT.

thetruth

January 13th, 2012
9:21 pm

Findog …………. you are WRONG. There is no immunity from law because an individual is an elected official and the elective body they are a part of is in session. If he murdered someone, would he be immune and the officer arresting him be fired ? NO. You are a mockery. This drunk needs help. And needs to be OUT of leadership positions.

td

January 13th, 2012
9:24 pm

double

January 13th, 2012
8:16 pm
TD he’s a Republican,thought they could not commit any wrong.You ain’t drunk are ya?

I do not drink because I have seen it hurt way to many people. I feel our politicians should be held to a very high standard. I do not care if they are Republican or Democrat. If they break the law that they have sworn to uphold then they have violated the public trust and broke the law then they should be removed from office. Now I will not say he should be removed right now because he has not had his day in court. When that day comes and if he is found guilty then he should be removed.

double

January 13th, 2012
10:28 pm

TD have no fear.The speaker Ralston is going to look in on the matter.Chastisment will be the order.

Is Chalkdawg a drunk?

January 13th, 2012
10:32 pm

DUI laws aren’t draconian at all. Numbers bear out that you aren’t safe to drive at .08, and many aren’t safe even if they’re under (but approaching) that legal limit.

But no, keep telling yourself it’s some sort of threat to your liberty that you don’t have the right to put others’ lives at risk by driving drunk. Ass.

double

January 13th, 2012
10:36 pm

Centrist will be on Jim’s case for reporting this.

Dave

January 13th, 2012
11:08 pm

So all of you guys in glass houses here NEVER drove after having three or four beers? NEVER? All of you?

Not saying it is right but he was close tom the limit and notmwasted. We all make mistakes.

anonymous

January 13th, 2012
11:09 pm

Call in Bubba Head: https://plus.google.com/109096607668735169708#109096607668735169708/posts

zeke

January 14th, 2012
7:17 am

he after a few momemts to reflect admitted he messed up. if this is only blemish on record, well, given his youth maybe this should not get him fired. he also needs to get former appropriations chairman harbin’s attorney who got his incident reduced to reckless driving or such. and most importantly make amends and learn from this experience. now if we could just get folks off of phones while driving…

ML

January 14th, 2012
7:32 am

How many times did he lie to the officer?

nelsonh

January 14th, 2012
8:16 am

That was just over the DWI limit. He state legegislor in Texas was picked up for DWI and was videoaped barely able to stand up. His fellow legislators sometime after the event made him chairman of the state Alcoholism committee. It worked out pretty good.

Eastside Mel

January 14th, 2012
9:33 am

He’ll get special treatment from powerful connections and beat the rap—book it.

jameshicksz

January 14th, 2012
9:38 am

Shop around for “Clearance Auto Insurance” online. Instead of just renewing, study the fine print of your policy to see if its terms — or your situation — have changed. Another company might have better rates, but you won’t know unless you shop.
here

truth

January 14th, 2012
10:42 am

What was the outcome of the DUI charge Rep Chuck Sims,Coffee County, picked up a couple of years ago during the session? No one I know has been able to determine. I agree with Eastside Mel about Smith. “He’ll get special treatment from powerful connections and beat the rap—book it.” And………the people will continue to vote for him!