SALISBURY, Md.- A 47-year-old Berlin man has been arrested and charged with his eighth impaired driving offense.
According to Maryland State Police, troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries in the area of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road just after 3 a.m. Sunday. MSP said the victim, Laura Iannello of Pennsylvania, and her four passengers, were stopped at a red light on Route 50 eastbound in the aforementioned location, when a 2002 Ford Explorer, driven by James Nibblett, 47, failed to stop for the red light. MSP said Nibblett's vehicle struck the rear of the 2005 Suzuki SUV, being driven by Iannello.
Upon making contact with Nibblett, troopers said they observed he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. According to police, Nibblett subsequently failed field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.
Police said Nibblett's driver's license was suspended for the multiple DUI offenses. Police also said Nibblett was required to have an ignition interlock device on his vehicle, which was not present on the Explorer he was operating.
Police said the victims refused medical treatment at the scene and none were transported to the hospital.
As it stands now in the state of
Maryland, repeat DUI offenders face the same penalties, whether it's
their third or 30th offense.
In light of Nibblett's eighth
DUI-related charge, many people tell WBOC the state needs to get
tougher on these type of crimes.
According to the Wicomico
County State's Attorney's Office, Nibblett now has three
pending cases in Wicomico County, all related to drunk driving.
In
February of 2009, Nibblett pleaded guilty to DUI, for an incident
that happened on the corner of Beaglin Park Drive and Camellia Road
in Salisbury. Another pending DUI case happened in Fruitland in
October of last year.
People we spoke with say knowing repeat
offenders, like Nibblett, are on the roads, worries them.
"I'm
a little nervous because I have a disabled child and he takes the bus
comes in and out of here and I'm in and out of here with them and I
would feel very nervous," said Cynthia Garrett.
Added Kirk Knox of Pocomoke, "For
him to still be driving, it shows that the penalties aren't as
stringent as they should be, in my opinion."
Wicomico County
State's attorney Matt Maciarello said Nibblett's case highlights the
need to maintain vigilant law enforcement on the roads.
"A
person can have their license taken away by the Maryland Motor
Vehicle Administration, that does not mean that person is going to
not get behind the wheel of a car drinking and driving. They still do
it, they do it over and over again."
Maciarello said his office takes
drinking and driving offenses very seriously and will be giving
appropriate attention to Nibblett's three pending cases in Wicomico
County.
