An Aspen wedding shuttle driver was admonished in court by a judge after hearing his charges for DUI and was told to seek another career where he wouldn't be responsible for the welfare of passengers, as reported by Aspen Daily News Online and Seattle PI.
K.M., 53, was arrested for DUI after driving wedding guests down Castle Creek Road on June 15.
According to the arrest affidavit, K.M. drove a commercial shuttle filled with passengers at approximately 12 a.m. when witnesses claim he drove all over the road and was speeding. Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy B.B. wrote that due to K.M.'s driving "the passengers had the driver pull over, and a passenger took over driving the shuttle van" to get them safely to their destination.
One of the passengers also used a cell to call 911 once they were in a cell service range. One passenger reported seeing an empty bottle of alcohol on the shuttle driver's seat, and another reportedly filmed his actions.
A deputy identified the shuttle company as Snow Limo.
The shuttle passengers had already attended the wedding at the Pine Creek Cookhouse.
Once the 15 guests arrived at the Aspen Chapel several detained, and then later identified, K.M. to the police as the driver of the shuttle. K.M. gave Deputy B.B. two driver's licenses, including one commercial license. He was arrested in the Aspen Chapel parking lot.
Deputy B.B. wrote, "He told me that he only had two drinks at the wedding and then specified that he only had two Cokes, and he added that the passengers were out of their minds." However, K.M. smelled of alcohol, his eyes were watery and blood shot, and he was unable to maintain his footing. Passengers in the shuttle also reported hearing K.M. slur his speech.
An Aspen police officer, tasked with searching B.B. and the shuttle, located a small bottle of tequila in K.M.'s pants and another bottle in the driver's section of the vehicle.
During his hearing on June 16 in Pitkin County Court, K.M. was told that he is facing charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence. By drinking alcohol he also violated his parole – which stemmed from a domestic violence case in 2013.
After setting his bond at $1,000 Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely told B.B. that it was time for him to seek different employment. The judge said, "You're endangering people. It's the worst possible thing you could be doing."
Judge Fernandez-Ely further ordered K.M. not to drive without authorization and to sign an alcohol treatment contract. The contract would also include K.M.'s monitored abstinence.
K.M. agreed to the judge's orders. He told Fernandez-Rey that he wouldn't be letting her down.