Reckless Driving Guilty Plea by Dana Point City Attorney

DANA POINT — Dana Point City Atty. Jerry Patterson pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving and paid a fine of $400 Thursday after agreeing to a plea bargain in connection with a drunk driving arrest Dec 15.

Patterson, a former congressman, was stopped around 3 a.m. on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after he failed a field sobriety test, police said.

According to a police report, Patterson was driving his 1991 Volkswagen van about 85 m.p.h. in a 50 m.p.h. zone and failed to stop at a red light.

Patterson was on his way home in Huntington Beach from a City Council meeting at the time.

The reporting officer said he detected an odor of alcohol and that Patterson “displayed symptoms of intoxication.”

According to police, Patterson took a breath test at the Newport Beach police station that showed his blood-alcohol to be .08%, the legal limit under California law. Police said a blood test taken about 50 minutes later showed his blood-alcohol level to be .07%, which is legally permissible.

Patterson steadfastly maintained his innocence.

“I feel totally vindicated,” he said Thursday. “I’m glad it’s over, and I’m pleased with the result. I was absolutely not drunk. At a maximum, I had three glasses of wine over a long period of time.”

Patterson’s wife, Linda Moulton-Patterson, is mayor of Huntington Beach and a candidate for county supervisor in the 2nd District.