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Port Richey Official Arrested On Drunken Driving Charge
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Published: May 29, 2008
PORT RICHEY - He reeked of alcohol, his speech was slurred, his eyes bloodshot and glassy.
That's how the report of a Pasco County sheriff's deputy described Port Richey City Councilman Steve O'Neill early Sunday after he was pulled over for allegedly speeding on U.S. 19.
O'Neill, 47, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence after he registered 0.175 and 0.165 on blood-alcohol level tests. Florida law presumes a driver is intoxicated at 0.08. According to a sheriff's office report, O'Neill was stopped about 2:30 a.m. near the Scenic Drive intersection for driving about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.
The deputy said O'Neill was weaving in and out of the northbound lanes. During sobriety tests, O'Neill was "unable to follow simple instructions," the deputy said.
O'Neill was arrested, taken to the Land O' Lakes Jail and posted $250 bail.
O'Neill did not return a phone call seeking comment.
O'Neill, who seldom speaks with the media, was elected to the council in 2006 on a platform of cutting costs and reducing the city's tax burden. He ran for re-election in April and won more than 23 percent of the vote, topping any other candidate.
A certified radiological technologist, O'Neill works at the Florida Cancer Institute in New Port Richey.
Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( sipedo ) on May 29, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Throw the whole family in jail and throw away the key.
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Posted by ( Light_of_Reason ) on May 29, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If this is his first offense, then his insurance carrier will cause enough pain. The article indicates that nobody was hurt, so now is his golden opportunity to clean up his act.
If this is his seconded offense, or more, then yank his license. If he gets busted driving without a license then jail time. Years. He isn't going to stop drinking, so stop him from driving.
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Posted by ( sowusay ) on May 29, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Gosh sipedo, what country are you from?
and light of reason, looks like you have all the answers and Psycic too!
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Posted by ( SunTzu ) on May 30, 2008 at 2:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mr. O’Neal I am sure, deeply regrets not calling a cab. This is so out of character for this man, I too was shocked, as anyone who knows Mr. O’Neal knows him to be a kind, compassionate and thoughtful individual. While there is no reason for anyone to drive impaired, there are few among us who have not at one time in their life gotten behind the wheel when they should not have. This was poor judgment, but we thankful that no one was hurt and that others may learn from his mistake and call a cab after drinking.
Many years ago my niece was killed by a drunk driver, he too was a respectable individual who made a grave error that he has had to live with everyday.
I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.
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Posted by ( jnabna ) on May 30, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
being cruel is especially easy when you're anonymous.
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Posted by ( tallguy007 ) on May 30, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
LOL WHAT A FOOL BUT HELL HE CAN KEEP HIS JOB AND IT WELL BE ALL OK :>(
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Posted by ( xenuownstbo_com ) on May 30, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a man of the people! Good thing they are Pasco people, so they accept this with open arms!
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Posted by ( sipedo ) on May 30, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I was being sarcastic. But in some countries the spouse is thrown in jail too.
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Posted by ( johnboy ) on May 30, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You hear about mayors smoking crack, senators that our alcoholic,Govenors paying for sex, concilman doing cocaine. This make me think that anyone seeking public office from the President down, should go for drug and alcohol testing. but thats just me!!
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