Hawkeye Beat Writer Gets Pulled Over & Blows a .325 Early Tues Morn (Drove to Columbus next day)

[Franisdaman]

Mark Emmert of the Register was arrested early Tues morning, March 19. Chad Leistikow and he then drove to Columbus the next day, on Wednesday March 20, to cover the Hawkeyes' mens NCAA Tournament games on Friday March 22 and Sunday March 24.

Mark stated on a recent podcast that he is scheduled to be in Minneapolis to cover the Final 4 for USA Today. I am not sure how he can do his job if his driver's license is suspended and he can't drive. Minneapolis is just a 4.5 hour drive from Iowa City, where he resides.

Mark is a great writer. Drinking & driving is a serious issue. I hope he gets the support & help he needs. He could have killed himself or someone else.

The story from the Iowa City Press Citizen:

Reporter faces OWI charge
Staff report
Published 2:53 p.m. CT March 19, 2019
Updated 6:08 p.m. CT March 19, 2019


An Iowa City reporter is accused of operating while under the influence after an officer pulled him over for drifting across lanes and striking the curb.

Mark Emmert, 53, was arrested early Tuesday by Coralville Police after the officer conducted a traffic stop, according to a Coralville police report.

Emmert, who writes for both the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Des Moines Register, consented to a preliminary breath test that resulted in a 0.325 percent blood-alcohol level. In Iowa, the legal limit for intoxication is 0.08 percent.

After providing an additional sample at the Coralville Police Department, Emmert had a 0.220 percent blood-alcohol level.

He was later transported to the Johnson County Jail.

Mark Emmert, 53, is accused of operating while under the influence. He was arrested on March 19, 2019. (Photo: Johnson County Sheriff's Office)

 

[unoHawkeye]

On a Tuesday morning? Legend

(Only kidding - drinking and driving is the opposite of legendary)

 

[Franisdaman]

On a Tuesday morning? Legend

(Only kidding - drinking and driving is the opposite of legendary)

how does one function with a .325 blood alcohol level?

 

[SotaHawk87]

how does one function with a .325 blood alcohol level?

How do you not pass out before that

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

how does one function with a .325 blood alcohol level?

This is the perfect board to ask this question.

 

[hawk_a_holic]

Mark Emmert of the Register was arrested early Tues morning, March 19. Chad Leistikow and he then drove to Columbus the next day, on Wednesday March 20, to cover the Hawkeyes' mens NCAA Tournament games on Friday March 22 and Sunday March 24.

Mark stated on a recent podcast that he is scheduled to be in Minneapolis to cover the Final 4 for USA Today. I am not sure how he can do his job if his driver's license is suspended and he can't drive. Minneapolis is just a 4.5 hour drive from Iowa City, where he resides.

Mark is a great writer. Drinking & driving is a serious issue. I hope he gets the support & help he needs. He could have killed himself or someone else.

The story from the Iowa City Press Citizen:

Reporter faces OWI charge
Staff report
Published 2:53 p.m. CT March 19, 2019
Updated 6:08 p.m. CT March 19, 2019


An Iowa City reporter is accused of operating while under the influence after an officer pulled him over for drifting across lanes and striking the curb.

Mark Emmert, 53, was arrested early Tuesday by Coralville Police after the officer conducted a traffic stop, according to a Coralville police report.

Emmert, who writes for both the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Des Moines Register, consented to a preliminary breath test that resulted in a 0.325 percent blood-alcohol level. In Iowa, the legal limit for intoxication is 0.08 percent.

After providing an additional sample at the Coralville Police Department, Emmert had a 0.220 percent blood-alcohol level.

He was later transported to the Johnson County Jail.

Mark Emmert, 53, is accused of operating while under the influence. He was arrested on March 19, 2019. (Photo: Johnson County Sheriff's Office)

Sinner

 

[Moral]

This is the perfect board to ask this question.

Lmao. Yeah it is, especially after a loss.

 

[AuroraHawk]

You can get a permit to drive for work related issues even if license suspended.

There are high functioning alcoholics who do things on a daily basis at high levels of intoxication. Levels that would be potentially deadly for others.

 

[Nohawknamesleft]

How do you function? With very little short term memory functioning. Lol.

 

[Franisdaman]

This is the perfect board to ask this question.

OMG......I lol'd

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

He can get a temporary work license after his license is revoked in 10 days or so.

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

.325? Honestly, we shouldn’t make light of this situation at all. This isn’t buzzed driving, this is operating a deadly weapon while shit faced drunk.

 

[Franisdaman]

You can get a permit to drive for work related issues even if license suspended.

There are high functioning alcoholics who do things on a daily basis at high levels of intoxication. Levels that would be potentially deadly for others.

i was not sure how tough drinking & driving laws were in the state of Iowa

look at his mug shot in the orig post; he looks completely normal and is standing! LOL

 

[Franisdaman]

Sinner

Listen here, Mr Hawk-a-holic....

 

[gojojo]

how does one function with a .325 blood alcohol level?

Years of alcoholism

 

[Herkmeister]

how does one function with a .325 blood alcohol level?

I've never been that drunk, but Mrs. Herk just lays there.

 

[Franisdaman]

Years of alcoholism

yeah, makes you wonder

 

[Herkmeister]

SAM STILL HOLDS THE IOWA RECORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hawksense]

Blew a .325. Actual BA was .22. Still hammered, but it's a different test and result.

 

[Stormn Norman]

Wow, that boy was eff’ed up! This is not a good thing but growing up in Iowa I’ve seen some serious drunk driving and plenty of times where the drunk drivers made it to there destination, drank more and then drove themselves and others home..

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Blew a .325. Actual BA was .22. Still hammered, but it's a different test and result.

PBT on scene was probably the .325 and when went to jail official test done on data master. Get up to 2 hrs before you have to blow or it’s a failed test if you don’t. Either way not good for him.

 

[Harbinger273]

.325? Honestly, we shouldn’t make light of this situation at all. This isn’t buzzed driving, this is operating a deadly weapon while shit faced drunk.

Depends on his tolerance which is likely very high. He looks fine in the mug and I have seen higher bac. Nevertheless, it's not a good thing to be that in his cups. Sit him for 2 and have him do some community service on those Saturdays.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Why the hell did the register allow him to work?!

 

[Franisdaman]

Blew a .325. Actual BA was .22. Still hammered, but it's a different test and result.

PBT on scene was probably the .325 and when went to jail official test done on data master. Get up to 2 hrs before you have to blow or it’s a failed test if you don’t. Either way not good for him.

I guess it is not clear; the additional sample read at .22. Would this .22 reading be from blood drawn from his arm at the police station?

What is a data master? is that another blow test, but more accurate?

From the story:

After providing an additional sample at the Coralville Police Department, Emmert had a 0.220 percent blood-alcohol level.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

I guess it is not clear; the additional sample read at .22. Would this .22 reading be from blood drawn from his arm at the police station?

What is a data master? is that another blow test, but more accurate?

From the story:

After providing an additional sample at the Coralville Police Department, Emmert had a 0.220 percent blood-alcohol level.

Data master is a blow device at jails but connected to a machine but same function as a pbt with blowing into a device. Both are fairly accurate. But it’s the “official” breath test. Blood or urine only drawn in cases where they think drugs are involved or an alternative to breath test if requested by the offender but doesn’t have to be done.

 

[cosmo90]

how does one function with a .325 blood alcohol level?

Very sad for Mark. He made a bad choice and there will be consequences. Very glad that nobody was injured as a result of this choice. Hope in time he can appreciate that as well.

The high BAC in the field is likely caused by mouth alcohol. Take a shot of vodka, then blow into a PBT and your breath alcohol will read much higher than your blood alcohol is. The portable field units arent that much higher than a blood test normally. He may have consumed soon before the stop to cause that high of a reading.

 

[gojojo]

Why the hell did the register allow him to work?!

Fire him and even further push the guy down a well? Get the guy some help

 

[ANYCHawk]

Fire him and even further push the guy down a well? Get the guy some help

I didn't say fire him, but why the hell is he allowed to work two days later?

 

[IamHawkeye]

Mark Emmert of the Register was arrested early Tues morning, March 19. Chad Leistikow and he then drove to Columbus the next day, on Wednesday March 20, to cover the Hawkeyes' mens NCAA Tournament games on Friday March 22 and Sunday March 24.

Mark stated on a recent podcast that he is scheduled to be in Minneapolis to cover the Final 4 for USA Today. I am not sure how he can do his job if his driver's license is suspended and he can't drive. Minneapolis is just a 4.5 hour drive from Iowa City, where he resides.

Mark is a great writer. Drinking & driving is a serious issue. I hope he gets the support & help he needs. He could have killed himself or someone else.

The story from the Iowa City Press Citizen:

Reporter faces OWI charge
Staff report
Published 2:53 p.m. CT March 19, 2019
Updated 6:08 p.m. CT March 19, 2019


An Iowa City reporter is accused of operating while under the influence after an officer pulled him over for drifting across lanes and striking the curb.

Mark Emmert, 53, was arrested early Tuesday by Coralville Police after the officer conducted a traffic stop, according to a Coralville police report.

Emmert, who writes for both the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Des Moines Register, consented to a preliminary breath test that resulted in a 0.325 percent blood-alcohol level. In Iowa, the legal limit for intoxication is 0.08 percent.

After providing an additional sample at the Coralville Police Department, Emmert had a 0.220 percent blood-alcohol level.

He was later transported to the Johnson County Jail.

Mark Emmert, 53, is accused of operating while under the influence. He was arrested on March 19, 2019. (Photo: Johnson County Sheriff's Office)

How do you know he drove at all to Columbus? Did you ask Chad L?And he can hire a driver to Mpls. Any of you want to drive him?

 

[Franisdaman]

How do you know he drove at all to Columbus? Did you ask Chad L?And he can hire a driver to Mpls. Any of you want to drive him?

Chad and Mark drove together; its a safe bet who did all the driving

 

[Pepperman]

Just be glad nothing worse happened. He’s got a drinking problem and now has the exposure (certainly many others already knew) that will drive him to seek help.

This can end well.

 

[Herkmeister]

I like Mark, and though I made some humorous comments there is nothing funny here. I hope Mark gets the help he needs and gets through this. Addiction is an awful thing.

Good luck Mark. You have many fans who don’t want to lose you.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Why the hell did the register allow him to work?!

It's a good question, although most jobs you aren't automatically fired if you get a DUI or arrested for something that doesn't cause you to miss work due to being in jail. I lean on the side that people should be allowed to work and earn a living.

It is interesting that the standard for players and coaches is to immediately be suspended and miss at least 1 game for something like this. I'm not saying there is an absolute right answer on this,

 

[VicHawkeye]

Hawks shoot 32% in first half, if they shoot 32.5 like this guy they win today!

I do hope Mark is able to get things together and not let this happen again. We all make mistakes and hopefully we learn.

 

[Run&Blade]

You can get a permit to drive for work related issues even if license suspended.

There are high functioning alcoholics who do things on a daily basis at high levels of intoxication. Levels that would be potentially deadly for others.

Takes a while for the paperwork to catch up doesn’t it?

 

[cidhawkeye]

I didn't say fire him, but why the hell is he allowed to work two days later?

He didn’t call anyone King Kong?

 

[owenhawk]

Most people who blow .325 would be passed out. That would lead me to believe Mark is a functional alcoholic to be able to drive and function at that level.

 

[Franisdaman]

Most people who blow .325 would be passed out. That would lead me to believe Mark is a functional alcoholic to be able to drive and function at that level.

check out this graphic; as the orig post states, he originally blew a .325, which is life threatening

he later blew a .22, where when at that point, it can cause severe impairment and loss of consciousness.


CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

 

[ANYCHawk]

It's a good question, although most jobs you aren't automatically fired if you get a DUI or arrested for something that doesn't cause you to miss work due to being in jail. I lean on the side that people should be allowed to work and earn a living.

It is interesting that the standard for players and coaches is to immediately be suspended and miss at least 1 game for something like this. I'm not saying there is an absolute right answer on this,

Newspapers are a little bit different than the widget factory though. And I get he's the sports reporter which some news organizations, and it looks like the register falls into this category, treat as the toy department. But, its not. It's an important part of the newsroom operation and should be held to the same standard. I don't get why the register let him go out there and represent the paper, and the public, just days after his arrest.

 

[BC Hawk]

I don’t buy that “life lesson” crap for anyone over 20 years old. He knows what drinking and driving is and he put familys’ lives at risk. I hope the fine hurts.