Levittown State Lawmaker Arrested Under Suspicion Of DUI

The arrest of a Levittown state lawmaker for driving under the influence has brought to two the number of DUI arrests among elected officials in as many months.

Early Tuesday morning, Rep. John Galloway, a Bucks County Democrat representing the 140th Legislative District, was taken into custody by Harrisburg Police Bureau for suspicion of driving under the influence near his capitol apartment.

The arrest comes on the heels of state Rep. Cherelle Parker’s own driving under the influence arrest in early May.

Parker is a freshman Democratic lawmaker representing the 200th Legislative District in Northwest Philadelphia.

According to Harrisburg police, Galloway was observed by a city patrol officer driving erratically at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

The officer, traveling westbound in the 300 block of Walnut Street, noticed Galloway’s vehicle, which had been traveling southbound on North 3rd Street, come to an “abrupt stop” at a red light, according to a police bureau news release.

The officer then observed Galloway’s vehicle continue westward on Front Street and onto other streets where he swerved and eventually failed to stop at a stop sign, police said. It was here that Galloway was pulled over.

“He appeared intoxicated and was questioned,” the bureau press release states. “The officer called for a patrol supervisor to witness the field sobriety tests. Mr. Galloway did not pass the tests and was taken into custody.”

Galloway subsequently refused to take a breath test to determine his level of intoxication, police said. Galloway was then booked and released, and is awaiting a summons for driving under the influence in the mail.

“Mr. Galloway was apparently respectful during the incident,” the news release states. “He was alone in his personal car.”

Galloway is also being charged with a stop sign violation and failure to use his turn signal while turning.

Through his Harrisburg office press liaison, Galloway declined to be interviewed. But in a statement released by spokesman Bill Patton, Galloway admitted to having gotten into a car after consuming alcohol.

“Last night, I made a very serious mistake,” he said in his statement. “I drove after drinking alcohol. I was pulled over in front of my apartment in Harrisburg. I cooperated fully with the police officer. It is my understanding that I will be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.”

Galloway, in his statement, went on to apologize for his actions, saying he knows they were wrong, and that he made a serious error in judgment.

“There is no excuse for drinking and driving,” the statement continued. “I apologize to my family, friends, colleagues and the people I represent. Most importantly, I am thankful that no one was injured as a result,” of his actions.

According to media reports, Galloway was placed on legislative leave Tuesday by the House Democratic Caucus.

Patton, Galloway’s spokesman, stressed that the move does constitute punishment of any sort.

“The matter gets handled through the normal processes of the legal system,” Patton wrote in an e-mail to Levittown Patch. “Nothing additional happens concerning the House of Representatives and there is no suspension of any kind.”

The reports of Galloway being placed “on leave” for Tuesday’s legislative session is not punishment, but rather is done at a lawmaker’s request when he or she cannot attend a session for any reason, Patton said.

“It’s not a punishment,” he said. “Yesterday, there were five members out of 203 on leave, which is pretty typical.”

Galloway could face a one-year suspension of his driver’s license if found guilty of driving under the influence under state law, although many first-time offenders don’t see jail time, instead participating in a probationary program.