Judge: Media Can See Dash-Cam Video of Allegedly Drunk Solon

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Utah 3rd District Court Judge Denise Lindberg has upheld a Utah Records Committee decision that a state police dashboard camera video recording the arrest of former Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack is a public record to which the news media should have access, according to a Salt Lake Tribune story.

The Utah Dept. of Public Safety had refused to produce the video, claiming its release would jeopardize Killpack's right to a fair trial of the misdemeanor DUI and failure to signal charges he faced. Killpack was arrested Jan. 15, 2010, and allegedly registered a Breathalyzer blood-alcohol level of .11, above Utah's .08 legal limit. He resigned from the Senate the day after his arrest.

The Department of Public Safety had appealed the Records Committee ruling to the 3rd District Court. State police routinely release dash-cam videos and arrest reports, which weakened the department's argument in the Killpack case.