While working on something else, I was checking the status of the negligent driving and failure to yield charges against John Phillip Kline. While I didn't find any record of it in the court system, I did find a 2007 conviction for "(DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE) VEH. WHILE IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL" from a 2006 incident in Washington County. The crash reportedly led to an injury.
That is not to in anyway imply that he was drinking on November 24, 2014.
Presumably he had a commercial license to be driving a utility truck? I've been wondering if a drunk driving conviction would cause loss of a commercial license, but in Maryland I guess not.
Posted by: Greenbelt | March 12, 2015 at 10:55 AM
What's the lifetime prevalence of DUI records in the male population, I wonder.
Posted by: Smedley Burkhart | March 12, 2015 at 11:19 AM
He might not have had needed a commercial license to drive a utility truck. If he did have a commercial license, a conviction for DUI (or even refusing to be tested) results in a one-year license suspension (a meaningful penalty, since that license is key to the driver's livelihood); a second conviction results in a lifetime suspension.
Posted by: black jack | March 12, 2015 at 01:39 PM
If I was representing the family, I'd want all of his driving records going far back. If they can show a pattern of poor judgement, they can also sue the WSSC for hiring this guy.
Posted by: SJE | March 14, 2015 at 05:53 PM
Actually, WSSC is already a party to suit because the driver was acting on WSSC business. But its a stronger case against WSSC.
Posted by: SJE | March 14, 2015 at 05:53 PM