Woman Wants Answers After Senator's DUI Bust

Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh says he's humiliated

CREATED Feb. 28, 2013

  • Print
  • Woman Wants Answers After Senator's DUI Bust Video by kmtv.com

    video

 Deputies say Senator Scott Lautenbaugh was nearly three times the legal limit when they pulled him over early Wednesday morning.   A deputy noticed the senator driving erratically near 147th and West Maple. Lautenbaugh tells Action 3 News, he's humiliated. We asked him where he'd been drinking, he refused to answer but for a woman on a drunk driving crusade, his response isn't good enough. Michelle Cowan found out Lautenbaugh was busted this week for DUI.

Cowan says, "I was disgusted." A drunk driver killed Cowan's husband in 2009. The drunk driver also died. It ignited a passion in Cowan to push for tougher DUI laws. She headed to Lincoln in 2010 and lobbied for a bill that would have held businesses accountable for over-serving patrons who drive drunk. Cowan says Lautenbaugh was against the bill. Cowan says, "And I guess I take it personal because I sat in his office and we were practically begging him to see where we were coming from and there was no getting through. He had his mind made up."

Lautenbaugh would not go on camera Thursday but he did speak to Action 3 News on the phone. He said he didn't support the bill, because people should take responsibility for their own actions. That's why he's not saying where he'd been the night of his arrest.  Cowan says he owes the public a response. Cowan says, "He's an elected official that's elected to represent the citizens of the state. Thank God that nobody was killed or injured. Thank God the police were doing their job."  

Action 3 News asked the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for a copy of Lautenbaugh's ticket and drug impairment report. They refused but said neither indicated where the senator had been drinking.