HELENA - A Republican lawmaker has pleaded guilty to drunken driving, after being arrested over the weekend. Red Lodge Representative Scott Boggio entered his plea Monday. His passenger, at the time of his arrest, was a fellow legislator, who is a member of the Yellowstone County DUI Task Force.
Court records show Boggio had a blood-alcohol level of .14 when he was arrested Saturday night. The legal limit in Montana is .08. Boggio says he'd had a few drinks with dinner, but didn't think he was intoxicated when he drove. Neither did his passenger, Republican Representative Elsie Arntzen of Billings.
Police say Boggio was pulled over because the vehicle he was driving had no license plates and hit a curb when turning a corner. The blue Ford Explorer belongs to Republican Representative Harry Klock of Harlowton. Klock says the vehicle is new and its temporary plates must have been stolen before Boggio's arrest.
A Helena city judge ordered Boggio to pay a $690 fine and to take an alcohol awareness class.