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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge has thrown out a drunken driving case against state Democratic Rep. Bill Beck on the basis that the police officer did not have reasonable suspicion to pull him over.
Beck was arrested in April after the arresting officer said he spotted the Nashville lawmaker's pickup truck traveling with two wheels in the turn lane. After the stop, the officer said Beck had bloodshot eyes, a disheveled appearance and slurred speech.
Judge Phillip Maxey said dashboard video from the officer's patrol car did not show that Beck was veering, and that a "momentary observation" of the truck crossing the line did not rise to the level of reasonable suspicion for making the stop.
Beck said he was pleased with the ruling and looks forward to focusing entirely on his work.
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