Police report of lawmaker’s DUI arrest says she smelled of alcohol, was slurring speech

HNN Feb 26, 2021: … A damaging new police report says state Rep. Sharon Har “smelled of alcohol” during her drunken driving arrest on Monday night, yelled “Black Lives Matter” at officers and told them she was going to be the next governor.

The 52-year-old lawmaker was arrested about 10:20 p.m. Monday after police saw her driving in the wrong direction in the center lane of Beretania Street, which is a one-way street….

In his report, the officer who made the initial stop said that Har “slurred” her speech and appeared intoxicated. “I could smell the odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath and the interior of the vehicle,” said Honolulu Police Sgt. Adam Lipka. Another officer said Har raised her voice with them.

“(She) began to yell that she was embarrassed, that her wrists hurt, questioned us as to why there needed to be so many officers at the scene, and stated ‘Black Lives Matter.’ She then began to yell at officers Ting and Tory to hurry up because she needed to call people,” said Officer Clinton Ono.

A third officer, Christopher Morgado, said Har “began asking if I knew who she is.”

“Sharon then related that she was going to be the next governor but ‘this’ will mess up her plans.”

The police accounts contradict Har’s explanation of the events. Earlier this week, the veteran lawmaker blamed the arrest on a single beer mixed with medication she was taking for a respiratory illness that contained codeine.…

during her arrest, Morgado said Har “related that she is not currently taking prescription medication.”

Police said Har ― known for her work on toughening drunk driving law ― also refused to take a field sobriety test….

read … Police report of lawmaker’s DUI arrest says she smelled of alcohol, was slurring speech

KITV: Police documents show O'ahu lawmaker allegedly denied taking prescription drugs in DUI arrest  

HNN: Police body cam footage shows DUI arrest of Hawaii lawmaker

SA: State Rep. Sharon Har faces drunken driving penalties she helped write

Shapiro: State legislator Sharon Har takes intoxication with power to new level

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Statement from House Representative Sharon Har

News Release February 23, 2021

RE: Arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence on Feb. 22, 2021:

I have had an upper respiratory illness for several weeks now.  As a result, I have been taking prescribed cough medication with codeine to control the symptoms associated with my illness.  

On February 22, 2021, after a late evening at work, I had a beer with my dinner.  This, in conjunction with my medication, contributed to my impaired driving.  

I am extremely sorry for not anticipating the effect of this combination on my driving.  I deeply apologize to my constituents, friends, family and colleagues, and to the public for this failure on my part.  I would like to express my gratitude to the officers of the Honolulu Police Department for the professional manner in which they conducted their duty in effecting my arrest.  

Above all, I am grateful that no one was hurt.  

Sincerely,

Sharon Har

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Initial Coverage:

SA Feb 23, 2021: From a review of online state court records and judging from her bail amount, it appears this was Har’s first drunken driving charge.

KHON Feb 23, 2021: Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii points out that going the wrong way takes drinking and driving to another level of danger.

HNN Feb 23, 2021: Rep Sharon Har DUI—Wrong Way Driver on Beretania

A Hawaii lawmaker has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Monday night, police said.

Honolulu police arrested Sharon Har on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant around 10:20 p.m.

Sources said the 52-year-old state representative was driving the wrong way in the center lane down Beretania Street near Piikoi Street.

She has since been released on $500 bail….

Har represents District 42, covering Kapolei and Makakilo. She was first elected to the state Legislature in 2006, and has advocated for stricter DUI laws following a personal experience with a drunk driver.

She told constituents in a newsletter that in 2007, she was “hit head-on by a drunken driver in Kapolei.”

Following the incident, she introduced a measure to require anyone arrested for DUI to install an ignition interlock. The bill became law in 2008.

In a statement on Har, House Speaker Scott Saiki called the arrest an “unfortunate incident.”

“We are wishing Representative Har and her family the best right now,” he said.