Posted on: Sunday, January 19, 2003

Councilman fined in drunken-driving case

Associated Press

WAILUKU, Maui — County Councilman Wayne Nishiki has avoided a jail term for his second drunken-driving conviction in five years.

Nishiki, 58, was ordered Friday to pay $996 in fines and fees and perform 240 hours of community service after pleading no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol, following too closely, and driving on a bike lane. His driver's license also has been suspended for one year.

He was arrested Aug. 30 while driving on North Kihei Road.

Deputy Prosecutor Mark Simonds said the prosecutor's office agreed not to seek a jail term in a plea agreement so the state wouldn't have to bring the arresting officer, who now lives in Oregon, to Maui to testify at a trial, or risk having the charges dismissed if the officer were not available.

Nishiki said that as part of his community service requirement, he hopes to speak to young people about the danger of combined drinking and driving.