Updated at 2:37 p.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Karamatsu suspended from House vice speaker post
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell will serve as temporary vice speaker.
Karamatsu said that he made a serious error in judgment that led to his arrest in the early hours of Oct. 16.
Honolulu police said Karamatsu, 32, was traveling west-bound on Moanalua Freeway at about 1:15 a.m. when he lost control of his car and struck a concrete pillar.
Karamatsu, D-41st (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Kalihi police substation, where a Breathalyzer measured his blood-alcohol content at 0.171 — more than twice the .08 blood-alcohol level above which a person is deemed to be under the influence, police said.
Bail was set at $500.
Karamatsu, in a statement, said he had been out socializing with friends.
Karamatsu is an attorney and small-business owner who was first elected to the Legislature in 2002. He was chosen by State House Speaker Calvin Say as vice speaker before last session after a leadership shuffle, in part to have a younger lawmaker on the leadership team.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
