Strict Enforcer Pleads Guilty for DUI
Posted on Dec 16, 2010 3:45pm PST
Richard "Robin" Foote, 60, though himself a proponent of stricter enforcement for repeat offenders, has found himself in the spotlight for his own DUI and disorderly conduct trial in a South Kingstown District Court, as reported by the Projo Journal.
A repeat offender killed Foote's son, Colin, in May.
Foote, of Charleston, told Judge Mary McCaffrey and a packed courtroom, "I would like to say that in trying to champion my son's cause, I had a serious lapse in judgment. As a result, I unfortunately became part of the problem that I have been working so hard against in these months. I take this matter very seriously. I accept full responsibility for my actions. It's evident to me anyone can get caught up in conduct that compromises themselves and others. I think everyone has to be vigilant and obey the laws."
On December 2, Foote tailed a frightened 16 year-old girl to a police station. Foote intended to turn her in for traffic violations while the young girl only drove to the station for help.
He believed the girl had run a red light in the exact same intersection where his son had been killed in a car accident earlier this year.
The woman that killed Colin, Laura Reale, had multiple driving infractions on her record. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 17.
After the fatality, the Foote family had pushed state legislature to adopt the new Colin B. Foote Act. The new legislature says that persons that have four moving violations in an 18-month period are to be fined $1000 and have their license suspended for one year. A judge may also choose to revoke a license for two years if they believe the person would create a substantial "traffic hazard".
Drivers would also have to perform 60 hours of community service along with 60 hours of driver retraining.
A colinslaw.org website has been set up as a non-profit organization by the Foote family, and billboards educating residents about the new law have been posted across the state.
Jack M. Shippee, the Police Chief for Charlestown, said that the victim was "chased and terrorized" by Foote and that there was a real possibility "that this incident could have had an extremely different, and tragic, outcome."
Foote apologized to the girl and her family and hopes they can forgive him for his actions.
While McCaffrey has dismissed Foote's charges of reckless driving and disorderly conduct, Foote's license has been suspended for three months, he must pay $100 fine, perform 10 hours of community service and attend DUI school.
Jim O'Neil, Foote's lawyer and former attorney general, said, "It's an incredible tragedy. It's beyond what many of us can begin to imagine, the stress they've been under since last May. These folks have been through pure hell."
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