Man arrested twice for DUI

SANDPOINT — A Sagle motorcyclist tallied back-to-back excessive driving under the influence charges after crashing in separate accidents last weekend.

Luke Dale Lowell was charged with excessive DUI after crashing his motorcycle at Fourth and Oak in Sandpoint on Friday. A passerby helped Lowell to his feet and tried to dissuade him from riding off by taking the key to the bike, according to a Sandpoint Police report.

Lowell, 37, walked from the scene, but was followed by the passerby, who alerted police. Lowell was stopped a few blocks away, but denied being on his bike. Lowell declined to submit to field sobriety tests and was arrested.

Lowell’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.36 and 0.37, which is approximately four times higher than the legal limit to drive of 0.08. Lowell posted bond to secure his release.

Lowell was arrested again on Saturday after crashing his motorcycle on West Garfield Bay Road. A partially consumed carton of Chardonnay was found in his pants pocket, according to a Bonner County sheriff deputy’s report.

Lowell’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.30, following the second crash, a probable cause affidavit said.

Lowell made an initial appearance in magistrate court on Monday via videoconference with the jail. Judge Debra Heise forbid Lowell from consuming alcohol or operating a motor vehicle as conditions of his pretrial release. Heise also ordered him to submit to ethyl glucouronide testing twice a week. The testing detects the presence of a direct metabolite of alcohol to monitor compliance with pretrial release conditions.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.