BY LARRY SOBCZAK
EDITOR
It’s one of the toughest misdemeanor convictions facing a drunken driver and Bruce Township Clerk Susan Brockmann was sentenced to 10 months of probation, a $450 fine and 25 hours of community service by 42 District Court Judge William Hackel III on April 28.
Brockmann plead guilty to so-called “super drunk” charges in March for an incident that happened at 3 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Bruce Township Hall.
“I made a terrible, terrible mistake that night,” Brockmann said at her sentencing hearing.
Michigan State troopers said that Brockmann backed into a patrol car that was investigating a burglar alarm at the offices.
Troopers took Brockmann to the police station in New Baltimore where her blood alcohol content was measured at 0.20 and 0.18 percent more than an hour after the collision.
Under Michigan law, anyone driving with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.08 percent is considered driving drunk.
In 2008, the Michigan State Legislature passed a law doubling penalties for anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.17.
Brockmann could have faced six months in jail, fines up to $700 and 360 hours of community service and ignition interlock on her vehicle which would have prevented the car from starting until a breathalyzer test was administered.
Under mandatory Michigan driver’s laws, Brockmann must complete an alcohol treatment program and pay driver responsibility fees of $1,000 a year for the next two years as well as one year driver’s license suspension and six points on her driving record.
After acknowledging the incident at a December 2016 township board of trustees meeting, Brockmann said that she would not speak to the press any further.
Brockmann’s attorney, Chris Fischer, did not return phone calls requesting comment about the sentencing before press time.
