Judge drops DUI charge against state Rep. Brandon Markosek
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A magisterial district judge on Monday dropped a drunken driving charge against state Rep. Brandon Markosek.
Markosek, 26, of Monroeville had been charged with speeding and drunken driving after a September arrest in Cumberland County. Both charges were dropped by Magisterial District Judge Michael Sanderson of Cumberland County.
The speeding charge was moved to a traffic docket, and he paid a $193.50 fine, court dockets show.
Police initially pulled him over on suspicion of speeding on a road just west of Harrisburg. The police officer learned Markosek had a couple drinks at a nearby tavern and determined the politician was not capable of safe driving.
Markosek agreed to field sobriety tests and a blood test at a nearby hospital. The results showed his blood alcohol content to be 0.058%, according to a criminal complaint. The legal limit for drunken driving in Pennsylvania is 0.08%.
In a statement Monday, Markosek said:
“The officer who pulled me over was doing his job, and I respect that. I was driving too fast and this morning I agreed to pay the necessary fine for speeding. However, I was not impaired. I submitted to a blood test as is required of any driver. When that was analyzed it was evident I wasn’t impaired. I’m at a loss as to why that charge was brought and am relieved that the prosecutor agreed it was not justified in my case.
“This experience has shown me how justice system is supposed to work and I will use that insight when voting on legislation in the future.”
Markosek, a Democrat, was elected in 2018 to represent the 25th State House District, which includes East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Monroeville, North Versailles Township, Pitcairn, Wall, Wilmerding and a large part of Plum.
Markosek replaced his father, Joe Markosek, who represented the same suburban district for 35 years.