Rep. Mike Lawler was weaving through traffic at 74 mph with a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when state troopers pulled him over in 2012, police records reviewed by The Post reveal.
Lawler (R-NY) came clean earlier this year about the old drunken driving bust as he sped home from a Big Apple St. Patrick’s Day bash — but state police records revealed new details in the bust.
Lawler, 40, was behind the wheel of his white Ford Escape SUV on March 17, 2012, when troopers spotted him speeding on the northbound Palisades Parkway in Rockland County, the reports said.
“Speeding 74 in 55 mph zone, following too closely, crossed hazard markings several times, unsafe lane change and lane change several without signals,” the arrest report said. “[Trooper] imitated a V&T stop on said vehicle at exit 13 northbound ramp. Said vehicle stopped on the ramp blocking traffic.”
Police said the Empire State politician consented to a breathalyzer, which recorded a blood-alcohol content of .14, nearly double the state legal limit of .08, the records show.
Lawler was charged with driving while intoxicated and later pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of driving while ability impaired.
His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
But he was up front about the incident when he was 25, telling students at Nanuet High School in July that it’s something he’s since regretted, adding that his father was a recovering alcoholic who was battling cancer at the time of the arrest.
“It was not my proudest moment. It was something I was deeply embarrassed about,” he told the class. “More importantly, I could’ve killed myself or someone else. I was grateful that I was pulled over and nobody was hurt.”
The Hudson Valley congressman, who represents all or parts of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties, was elected in 2022 and is facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Cait Conley for the crucial 17th Congressional District seat in November.
