No contest plea entered for Canadian premier

Associated Press

LAHAINA, Maui — A lawyer for British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell yesterday entered a plea of no contest for him and paid a fine of $913 on a drunken- driving charge.

Campbell, who was not in court, was ordered to complete alcohol and substance abuse assessments. His attorney, Steven Barta of Honolulu, said Campbell completed the programs in Canada.

"Mr. Campbell is sufficiently embarrassed ... as well he should be," District Judge Reinette Cooper said.

Campbell, 55, was arrested Jan. 10 on Maui while driving to his hotel after a dinner with friends. He was charged with drunken driving and other traffic offenses and jailed overnight. His blood alcohol level was 0.149, nearly twice the legal limit of .08.

His driver's license was revoked Feb. 10 for three months. Campbell also stands to lose his British Columbia driver's license for one year.

Word of the premier's arrest caused a political storm in British Columbia.