MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Secretary of State Tre Hargett is clearly embarrassed, as he should be. For four months, he has endured the stigma of being caught driving under the influence of alcohol in a state-issued vehicle. And Thursday, he owned up to his actions – sort of.
Hargett accepted a deal in a Coffee County courtroom, in which he technically pleaded guilty to the DUI charge while still maintaining his innocence.
How’s that possible? Well, it is legal in most states, including Tennessee, under a 1970 Supreme Court decision. That ruling allows defendants to profess their innocence while admitting there is enough evidence to find them guilty. It’s known as an Alford plea, sometimes called a best interest plea deal.
And Hargett was correct to take it. He was pulled over in June after attending the Bonneroo music festival in Tullahoma and later stopping at a local bar. A police officer spotted his car swerving over street markers, detected the smell of alcohol inside the vehicle, and noticed Hargett’s eyes were glossy.
Hargett has already served a mandatory 48 hours in jail and paid the minimum $350 fine. He also will be under driving restrictions for a year, loses use of his state vehicle, and must attend DUI school.
In essence, Hargett is not getting preferential treatment. He has clearly admitted his mistake. And I believe he will be an important ambassador against drunk driving in the future.