Rep. Albert Hale accused of DUI ‘to the slightest degree’

State Rep. Albert Hale was arrested Sunday on one count of driving under the influence.

Navajo County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jim Molesa confirmed that Hale, D-St. Michaels, was arrested by the state Department of Public Safety.

Hale, 64, was pulled over for speeding at 10:30 a.m. Sunday by a DPS officer on State Route 277, according to booking records. The officer noticed an “odor of alcohol,” and Hale admitted there was alcohol in his coffee.  Hale then performed poorly on a field sobriety test, according to the booking record.

The Democratic lawmaker was arrested on one count of impaired driving to the slightest degree.

ARS 28-1381 states it is unlawful to drive or be in physical control of a vehicle “while under the influence of intoxicating liquor… if the person is impaired to the slightest degree.”

Hale was booked into the county jail in Holbrook and was released that same day, Molesa said.

DPS spokesman Tim Case declined to comment on the case, citing the department’s ongoing investigation.

Hale could not be immediately reached for comment.

The longtime Democratic lawmaker has been cited 11 times in various local traffic cases since 1999, according to judicial records, though in each case, the case was dismissed.

Most recently, Hale received a photo radar citation for going 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit in Scottsdale on Nov. 14, 2013.

The case was dismissed because he was not served and the charge was not filed within the proper time limits. Two similar photo enforcement cases in 2013 were dismissed in Show Low Municipal Court earlier this year because Hale wasn’t served within 120 days.  Records on earlier citations were not available.

Hale has served in the Arizona House of Representatives since 2011. He previously served in the Senate. He is a former Navajo Nation president.