VICTOR, N.Y. — New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb was arrested for driving while intoxicated Tuesday night.
Kolb (R, C, I, Ref-Canandaigua) represents the 131st Assembly district, which is southeast of Rochester. He is the longest-tenured lawmaker in Albany, having been in the assembly for 20 years.
The Ontario County Sheriff's Office says that on New Year's Eve, Kolb was caught driving drunk, after crashing into a ditch outside his home in the Town of Victor.
After talking with the operator, the deputy determined he could smell alcohol, at which time he administered field sobriety tests and he was unable to pass those tests
The sheriff says a passerby noticed the 2018 GMC Acadia that Kolb was in had crashed.
This press release says Kolb had a blood alcohol content over the state limit of 0.08 percent. But the sheriff's office won't say exactly what his blood alcohol content was, instead saying that will come out in the legal process.
He was in the vehicle when the deputy arrived.
No one was hurt in the crash, but there was property damage.
Kolb was the only in in the car, and was taken to Ontario County jail for processing. He was also charged with making an unsafe turn.
Kolb has issued a statement saying. "This was a terrible lapse in judgment, one I have urged others not to make, and I take full responsibility for it."
But that apology is not enough, even for some Republicans.
Assemblymember Kieran Lalor, a downstate lawmaker tweeted Wednesday that Kolb should step down and that it's a disgrace he hasn't done so.
Kolb issued this statement:
Last night, I was charged with driving under the influence near my home. This was a terrible lapse in judgment, one I have urged others not to make, and I take full responsibility for it.
I want to offer sincere apologies to my family, friends, colleagues, and the people of the 131st Assembly District. I fully recognize the severity of the situation and I am profoundly sorry.
There is no excuse and no justification for what occurred Tuesday evening. I made the wrong decision, and it is one I deeply regret.