Pima County Public Fiduciary Anita Royal was placed on 12 months unsupervised probation Monday after pleading guilty to driving under the influence.
Tucson City Magistrate Wendy Million also ordered Royal, 57, to pay a $1,500 fine and attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving impact panel, said M.J. Raciti, assistant city prosecutor.
On Oct. 6, 2009, a Tucson motorcycle officer saw Royal speeding and passing other motorists near Speedway and Craycroft shortly before midnight. When the officer caught up to Royal, he observed her drifting from her lane, according to police reports.
Royal did not immediately pull over when the officer activated his lights and sirens and when she did, she turned into the left turn bay and stopped, although the right lanes were clear. Royal failed to make her turn even after being advised to do so by the officer over his public address system, according to the police report.
People are also reading…
The officer walked Royal across the street to conduct his investigation while another officer moved Royal’s car and the first officer’s motorcycle.
Royal appeared intoxicated, but denied having had anything to drink. She later said she’d had one drink at a friend’s, according to the report.
She explained she must have been calling her husband or changing the radio station when she drifted from her lane.
The officer reported that Royal repeatedly told him that she was “waiving her rights” and wasn’t going to talk to him, even after he asked her if she meant she was “invoking” her rights.
Royal also refused to take an intoxilyzer test despite being told her license would be suspended for a year and argued with the officer about whether he had the legal authority to obtain blood samples. In addition, Royal insisted she wanted to walk home from the police station even after being told that was impermissible.
Royal was originally charged with DUI, speeding, unsafe lane change and failing to produce evidence of financial responsibility.
