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Port Richey Official Arrested On Drunken Driving Charge

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

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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