Minneapolis newsman loses job because of DUI

On Behalf of | Feb 5, 2014 | Drunk Driving Defense

As we often discuss on this blog, being charged with a DUI can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including his or her career.

One Minneapolis TV personality learned this the hard way after he was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and lost his job with KSTP-TV.

The former traffic and entertainment reporter worked with the station for more than 30 years before his sudden departure last month.

According to reports from the Star Tribune, the reporter parted ways with the station after being accused of drunk driving early on Jan. 19 in Excelsior near Lake Minnetonka.

According to local police, the former “5 Eyewitness News Mornings” traffic reporter registered a .134 on a breathalyzer test. The legal limit to drive in the state of Minnesota is .08.

However, in an interview this week with the Star Tribune, the former reporter maintained that he has not yet been convicted of anything. He explained that he had been just three miles from his Excelsior home when he was pulled over for failing to make a complete stop at a stop sign.

The former reporter said that he was “in the neighborhood” and had been dealing with a family member’s health issues before he was stopped around 1:30 a.m.

Unfortunately, this well-liked reporter’s reputation is now tarnished because of his DUI charge. The only thing left to do is put his best defense forward.

Even though the former newsman reportedly failed a breath test, he may be able to challenge the results. Breath tests can be very unreliable because of mistakes that are often made during the process and problems with the machinery.

Sometimes DUI charges also end up being dropped because of unlawful stops or arrests. An experienced DUI defense lawyer can examine evidence from a case to determine if a DUI suspect’s rights were violated.

Source: Star Tribune, “C.J.: Drunken driving arrest drives Gatenby off air,” Feb. 4, 2014