Even those with the best intentions, make mistakes sometimes. Virginia Beach Police Sergeant, Margaret Hobbs, learned this lesson the hard way last month, when she was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI.)
Prosecutors say Hobbs was found driving drunk with two young children, ages two and five in the vehicle. Her blood alcohol content was reported .23, almost three times the legal limit of .08.
Sources say Hobb’s arrest came after some type of accident took place near the Oceana NAS Dam Neck Annex. Hobbs was released days after the incident on $5,000 bond. The Police Sergeant will not be allowed to drive, or drink until her April trial is completed.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol-impaired traffic accidents are responsible for over 10,000 deaths annually. This number accounts for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Over 1.1 million drivers in the U.S. were arrested in 2014 for DUI.
It is important to be clear, Hobbs was not drinking on the job. The alcohol consumption and arrest were made on the Police Sergeant’s personal time. Nevertheless, her actions are still illegal and contribute to the previous statistics about drunk driving.
Those in the Virginia Beach Police force have expressed disbelief in Hobb’s alleged DUI, and actions that accompanied the scenario. The incident is not representative of the person that colleagues have long known Hobbs to be.
Hobbs has served on the force for over 17 years. Much of her career was spent as the Public Information Officer, before moving into special investigations. When she became Police Sergeant in 2010, she was the department’s top choice candidate. Many in the department have expressed the positive reputation that ‘Margie Hobbs’ has had throughout her career.
People make mistakes, even those who enforce the law. Pending the outcome of both the criminal and administrative investigations, Hobbs is on administrative assignment with the department until a decision is made at her April 8th court hearing.
