A district judge in Libby rules against Montana's 24/7 sobriety program for drunken driving suspects, calling it unconstitutional. The state has already appealed the ruling to the Montana Supreme Court.
In his February 5 ruling, District Judge James Wheelis says the program's sobriety testing fees are an unconstitutional punishment for defendants before they are tried.
The legislature passed the law in 2011 to crack down on drunk driving. Under the law, anyone arrested for drunken driving two or more times can be ordered to take part in the program. It requires the driver to take, and pay for, frequent breath tests before their trial.
Wheelis threw out the law based on a challenge by Robert Spady, who was arrested for drunken driving and careless driving in Lincoln County. Spady took part in the 24/7 program for 113 days and paid $452 in fees. The order shows he was arrested each time and charged with contempt of court.
We will have more information, and reaction from Governor Bullock, on the ABC MONTANA NEWS at 5:30, and the FOX MONTANA NEWS AT 9.
Saturday, April 19 2014 2:31 AM EDT2014-04-19 06:31:26 GMT
A sudden lurch in a creeping landslide in the northwest Wyoming resort town of Jackson split a house in two and forced workers to abandon efforts to stabilize the hillside.
A sudden lurch in a creeping landslide in the northwest Wyoming resort town of Jackson split a house in two and forced workers to abandon just-begun efforts to stabilize the hillside.
Saturday, April 19 2014 1:23 AM EDT2014-04-19 05:23:46 GMT
People who have accounts on the enrollment website for President Barack Obama's signature health care law are being told to change their passwords following an administration-wide review of the government's...
People who have accounts on the enrollment website for President Barack Obama's signature health care law are being told to change their passwords following an administration-wide review of the government's...
Saturday, April 19 2014 12:31 AM EDT2014-04-19 04:31:15 GMT
Police say they have locked down the Los Angeles Times building in downtown LA after receiving reports of a possible gunman inside.
Police took a man into custody Friday night inside the Los Angeles Times building after it was locked down because of a shooting threat report, the newspaper said.
Saturday, April 19 2014 12:22 AM EDT2014-04-19 04:22:42 GMT
The National Archives is releasing about 7,500 pages of documents Friday from former President Bill Clinton's administration.
Thousands of pages of documents from President Bill Clinton's White House affirm a longtime adage: The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Wednesday, April 16 2014 12:33 AM EDT2014-04-16 04:33:39 GMT
Wildfire season is just about here, and the Missoula Fire Department and Missoula Rural Fire District are already gearing up. Firefighters said every year they take different classes to train for the
Wildfire season is just about here, and the Missoula Fire Department and Missoula Rural Fire District are already gearing up.
Thursday, April 17 2014 12:41 AM EDT2014-04-17 04:41:14 GMT
The Montana Lacrosse team is preparing for their last three games of the regular season. They're currently 6-6 and with all three games at home in Washington Grizzly Stadium, they're hoping the playoffs
The Montana Lacrosse team is preparing for their last three games of the regular season. They're currently 6-6 and with all three games at home in Washington Grizzly Stadium, they're hoping the playoffs are on the horizon.
Thursday, April 17 2014 1:37 PM EDT2014-04-17 17:37:02 GMT
The Gallatin County coroner says 30-year-old Kari Friedman from Bozeman died in a crash at the intersection of Frontage and Valley Center Roads Wednesday. The Montana Highway Patrol said Friedman was turning
The Gallatin County coroner says 30-year-old Kari Friedman from Bozeman died in a crash at the intersection of Frontage and Valley Center Roads Wednesday.
Friday, April 18 2014 4:13 PM EDT2014-04-18 20:13:11 GMT
SPOKANE, Wash. - The man killed in an early morning crash on Friday has been identified as 34-year-old, Alejandro E. Apodaca. Just before 12:30, Apodaca crashed his car on S. Bowdish Rd. He was traveling South on Bowdish near 17th when he lost control of his car, uprooting a tree in the front yard of a home.
SPOKANE, Wash. - The man killed in an early morning crash on Friday has been identified as 34-year-old, Alejandro E. Apodaca. Just before 12:30, Apodaca crashed his car on S. Bowdish Rd. He was traveling South on Bowdish near 17th when he lost control of his car, uprooting a tree in the front yard of a home.
Friday, April 18 2014 12:47 AM EDT2014-04-18 04:47:25 GMT
A Wyoming man is behind bars tonight after threatening to kill Belgrade police officers at a bar Wednesday night. Larry Ward Hill, 65, from Sheridan, Wyoming faces charges of intimidation, a felony and
A Wyoming man is behind bars tonight after threatening to kill Belgrade police officers at a bar Wednesday night.
Thursday, April 17 2014 8:29 PM EDT2014-04-18 00:29:11 GMT
No one is hurt after an early morning garage fire in Missoula, but Missoula firefighters said it was a close call. The fire happened around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, in an alley at 622 N. 2nd Street West.
No one is hurt after an early morning garage fire in Missoula, but Missoula firefighters said it was a close call.
Friday, April 18 2014 12:07 PM EDT2014-04-18 16:07:29 GMT
Montana Department of Transportation is looking to change an increasingly busy intersection northwest of Bozeman where a woman died in a two vehicle crash Wednesday. MDT is finishing up a traffic study
Montana Department of Transportation is looking to change an increasingly busy intersection northwest of Bozeman where a woman died in a two vehicle crash Wednesday.
Friday, April 4 2014 5:11 PM EDT2014-04-04 21:11:26 GMT
SPOKANE, Wash. - KHQ received a call into our newsroom from a viewer who was very upset with the way SCRAPS has handled her dog getting attacked by two pit bulls in their own front yard. Last Friday, March 28th, her stepson let their dog, a 150-pound dog outside in the front yard when he was attacked by two pit bulls.
SPOKANE, Wash. - KHQ received a call into our newsroom from a viewer who was very upset with the way SCRAPS has handled her dog getting attacked by two pit bulls in their own front yard. Last Friday, March 28th, her stepson let their dog, a 150-pound dog outside in the front yard when he was attacked by two pit bulls.
