A semi truck driver was taken off the road for 24 hours due to alleged consumption of alcohol while on duty.
Indiana State Police Motor Carrier Inspecter, Kim Hill was checking trucks at the West Harrison Weigh Station on I-74 at the Indiana/Ohio state line when a 2006 Volvo semi crossed the scale around 9:15 a.m. Monday.
MCI Hill asked the driver to exit the scale and bring paperwork for a routine check. The driver, 42-year-old Willie Peterson of Pamplico, SC, was speaking with the inspector when she detected an oder of alcoholic beverages of Peterson’s breath, police allege.
“A check of Peterson’s BAC with a Portable Breath Test device detected the presence of alcohol in his system,” said Indiana State Police Sgt. Noel Houze.
It is unclear what Peterson registered with the breath test, however, it was not at or above .08 BAC.
“If his personal car was there he could have driven away, cause his blood-alcohol was very low. But under the Federal Regulations for Commercial Drivers, they cannot have any alcohol in their system,” said Sgt. Houze
Peterson was issued a traffic ticket for the class B infraction and by statute was placed out-of-service for 24 hours.
Although there is no jail time associated with the infraction, it does carry a maximum fine of $1,000.
