Prosecutor gives notice of new evidence in Ron Book DUI case

The Assistant State Attorney prosecuting lobbyist Ron Book’s DUI case filed a supplement notice of discovery in his case yesterday.

Among the additional evidence he intends to introduce at trial are; two audio recordings of calls made from Jail and one additional witness they intend to call (the identity of which wasn’t disclosed). It will be interesting to learn what these additional items of evidence will show.

In the mean time, Mr. Book waived personal appearance at his pre-trial hearing scheduled for tomorrow at 10AM. He will be represented by his attorney.

It is important for the prosecutor and judge to know that each year drunk driving kills more than 10,000 people. A total of 1,147 children 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2017. The NHTSA reports that of the 1.5 million arrests of impaired drivers each year, one-third are repeat offenders. A report published by the American Journal of Public Health studying over 100 million driving records found that the recidivism rate among first offenders more closely resembles that of second offenders than of non-offenders. This finding indicates that leniency for first offenders is not appropriate, according to the Director of Law Enforcement at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Research collated by the National Traffic Law Center and MADD found that first offenders are very likely to have driven impaired before their first arrest. Studies found that on average, one arrest is made for every 88 instances of driving over the legal limit defining alcohol-impaired driving.