Updated at 4:10 p.m., Friday, December 21, 2007
Hawaii legislator pleads no contest to DUI
Advertiser Staff
State Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, 32, has pleaded no contest to a charge of drunken driving and must pay a $750 fine and provide 72 hours of court-ordered community service.He entered the no-contest plea this afternoon before state District Judge William Cardwell.
Karamatsu, D-41st (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), was charged with being severely intoxicated after he was involved in a single-car accident at 1:15 a.m. Oct. 16 on the Moanalua Freeway.
Karamatsu's blood alcohol level was 0.171 — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
After his arrest, Karamatsu said he had been socializing with friends and "made a serious error in judgment."
He apologized to his family, colleagues and constituents, saying, "I do understand that elected officials should be held to a higher standard, and I will work very hard to regain the public's trust."
Karamatsu had been serving as state House vice speaker but was suspended from that post after the accident.
Speaker Calvin Say said representatives will decide in January what action to take.
"There may be a reorganization and that would be the best time to address this," said Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise).
