On Sunday, September 6, 2020, at approximately 3:53 a.m., a Blaine County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol initiated a traffic stop on State Highway 75 near Gimlet Road, south of Ketchum, Idaho.
Rodolfo Lee Chavez, age 24 of Hailey, Idaho, was driving a white 2007 Mazda CX5 with two passengers.
Upon investigation, Chavez was arrested and charged with felony Driving Under the Influence, I.C. 18-8004(F), misdemeanor Driving without Privileges, I.C. 18-8001. Chavez has two previous convictions for driving under the influence in 2016 and 2019, making this his third DUI in ten years, a felony.
Chavez was arraigned in Blaine County Magistrate Court on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, and remains in the custody of the Blaine County Detention Center on a $30,000 bond.
One of the passengers was cited for Open Container of Alcohol, I.C. 23-505(2). Both passengers were released at the scene.
Over the labor day weekend officers from the Blaine County Sheriff Office, the Hailey Police Department, and the Idaho State Police participated in a joint DUI Emphasis Patrol to remove impaired drivers from Blaine County roadways. There were a total of six DUI arrests in Blaine County, Idaho over the holiday weekend.
“Keeping our roadways safe is a high priority, said Sheriff Steve Harkins. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes every day that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. That is one death every 50 minutes. In Blaine County, Idaho we have zero-tolerance on this subject. A drunk driver is a dangerous driver. If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you,” said Harkins.
Sheriff Steve Harkins
Posted September 8, 2020, @ 3:00 pm
CONTACT: Holly Carter – Blaine County Sheriff’s Office (208) 788-5536 End.###