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FORTY FORT — A Dallas Township man was arraigned Thursday on charges of drunken driving, his second alcohol-related offense for operating a motor vehicle within a year.
State police at Wyoming allege John A. Bittner, 53, of Flicks Lane, had a blood alcohol level of .151 percent when he was stopped for speeding on the North Cross Valley Expressway on Dec. 21.
An adult driver in Pennsylvania is considered legally intoxicated with an alcohol level of .08 percent.
State police said Bittner, driving a Cadillac SRX, was stopped for traveling 70 mph in a 55 mph zone and weaving back and forth crossing over the fog line.
A trooper detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverages on Bittner, who had bloodshot and glossy eyes and slurred speech, according to the criminal complaint.
State police said Bittner had bundle of cash falling out of a shirt pocket.
Bittner was arraigned by District Judge David Barilla in Swoyersville on two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and three traffic violations. Because he was represented by Attorney Joseph Albert at the arraignment, Bittner waived his right to a preliminary hearing sending the charges to Luzerne County Court.
Bittner remains free without bail.
Court records say Bittner is facing charges of incapable of safely operating a watercraft after imbibing alcohol, negligent operation of a watercraft and several boating violations filed by the state Fish and Game Commission on Sept. 8.
Waterways conservation officers patrolling Harveys Lake on June 28 spotted Bittner and two women operating a jet ski traveling too fast causing a wake within 100 feet of the shoreline and docks. Bittner was a passenger on the jet ski when it was first seen by officers, the complaint says.
As officers pursued the jet ski, the operator of the watercraft nearly struck a dock and sharply turned, causing Bittner and the two women to fall into the lake.
Bittner climbed onto the jet ski claiming he was the operator, according to the complaint.
Officers said in the complaint Bittner failed a field sobriety test and refused to submit to a breath test to register an alcohol level.
County Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. refused to dismiss the boating drunken driving charge against Bittner at a pre-trial hearing on Feb. 23, court records say.