Posted on 12/05/2011 11:16:08 AM PST by kcvl
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration was charged with drunk driving Saturday night by Fairfax City police after being spotted driving on the wrong side of Old Lee Highway, according to the arresting officer.
(Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP) FAA Administrator Jerome Randolph “Randy” Babbitt, 65, of Reston, was alone in his vehicle at about 10:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of Old Lee Highway and was not involved in any accident, police said. He cooperated with the officer and was released on his own recognizance after being taken before a magistrate.
U.S. Department of Transportation spokeswoman Sasha J. Johnson said the agency planned to release a statement later today.
Babbitt was sworn in as the FAA’s 16th administrator in June 2009. He is a veteran pilot and flew for 25 years for Eastern Airlines, according to his official biography.
Babbitt’s arrest information was made public in accordance with a Fairfax City police general order that says the arrest of public officials, including federal officials, for “any criminal charge or serious traffic charge (e.g. driving under the influence, reckless driving)” will be released.
Babbitt faces a Feb. 2 court appearance, said Sgt. Joe Johnson, a Fairfax City police spokesman.
Fairfax Police do not release the blood-alcohol level of those charged, or the results of roadside sobriety tests, said Johnson. State law defines DWI as a .08 blood alcohol concentration.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Pen reassignments on the Orwellian Farm.
The odd thing about a lot of drunk driving cases is that they commonly drive at night on the wrong side of the road with their lights off. This is particularly worrisome as there is little you can do therefore to avoid them. What I do, however, while driving on the highway at night, is follow someone else. It sounds selfish and a little evil, since I’m hoping they die instead of me, but what else is there?
Interesting...the guy lives in my neighborhood.....
At least he wasn’t flying.
"My number one priority is to focus on safety. This is a business where one mistake is one too many."
Interesting - if he were an Air Force officer, his career would now be over.
As pilot were I to earn a DWI arrest I would immediately have my Pilots license suspended until I attend substance abuse classes and jumped through F.A.A. hoops.
Bet this clown gets a pass.
We don’t know that.
"I go flying so high, when I'm stoned."
Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up...
Former head of the Airline Pilots union to be precise
He already is getting a pass. They ROR’ed him and didn't release the BAC to the press. I'll bet a Fairfax county employee was designated to give him a courtesy drive home.
Just be glad he wasn’t flying a plane. :’) Thanks kcvl.
loved that Harry Chapin song..
A DWI will cost him his medical, so he cannot pilot an aircraft!
He even looks like an old drunk union boss. Notice the bruise on his face in this photo (not from Sat. night either).
Babbitt's father ("Slim" Babbitt) was also an airline pilot; he was one of the founding fathers of the Air Line Pilots Association, which has become the largest airline pilot union in the United States and Canada. Randy Babbitt served multiple roles within ALPA, including serving as Executive Administrator 1987-1990. In 1990 Babbitt was elected President of ALPA and served for eight years in that position.
During the Clinton Administration, President Bill Clinton appointed Babbitt to the FAA Management Advisory Council. While in that capacity Babbitt sat on an independent review panel advising the government on aviation safety policy.
"My number one priority is to focus on safety. This is a business where one mistake is one too many." On December 5, 2011, Babbitt was placed on administrative leave after being charged with drunk driving.
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