Mississippi: State Senate President Pro Temp Terry Burton busted for DUI after I-20 crash in Scott County

Mississippi State Senate President Pro Tempore Terry C. Burton, R Newton Mississippi DWI arrest 061616

Mississippi State Senate President Pro Tempore Terry C. Burton, R Newton Mississippi DWI arrest 061616

 

HAMMERED LAWMAKER HAMMERS TRAFFIC SIGN ON INTERSTATE

From The Clarion Register

State Senate President Pro Tempore Terry C. Burton, R-Newton, faces a charge of DUI after a minor single-car wreck on Interstate 20 in Scott County on Saturday night.

In a written statement, Highway Patrol Capt. Johnny Poulos said the Highway Patrol responded to a report of a wreck on I-20 in Scott County at about 10 p.m. He said Burton, 60, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox eastbound when it left the interstate and collided with a traffic sign.

“Burton was transported to the Scott County Detention Center and charged with driving under the influence,” Poulos said. “The crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.”

Further details were not being released.

Burton could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday.

Burton, as Senate president pro tem, is the second-ranking member of the state Senate behind Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and serves as chairman of the Rules Committee. He has been a top lieutenant in the Republican leadership under both Reeves and former Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck. Burton was elected to the pro tem position by his Senate colleagues in January. Burton, who has served in the Legislature for 25 years, represents District 31, which includes Lauderdale, Newton and Scott counties.

Burton has in the past supported stricter DUI penalties, including a bill he authored to allow multiple counts of DUI homicide from a single crash causing multiple fatalities…MORE