Former state senator Bob Regola gets probation for DUI

Former state senator Bob Regola was ordered Wednesday to serve one year on probation for a drunken driving arrest last October in Penn Township.

Regola, 59, of North Huntingdon, was charged with two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol and three traffic offenses after a traffic stop Oct. 28 on Route 130 when police said his Hummer failed to stay in its traffic lane.

Police said Regola appeared to have blood shot eyes and smelled of alcohol during the traffic stop. They said he refused to take field sobriety and roadside breathalyzer tests but consented to a blood test at local hospital.

According to court records, Regola’s blood alcohol level two hours after his arrest was 0.185% — more than double the limit motorists in Pennsylvania are considered to be intoxicated.

In court on Wednesday, Regola was approved to enter the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for first-time, nonviolent offenders. As a result, Regola did not admit guilt and can have his criminal record expunged after successful completion of the program.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears ordered Regola to serve a year on probation.

Regola, a Republican, served one term in the state Senate representing the 39th District.

It’s the seat currently held by Sen. Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield.

Since leaving the Senate, Regola has owned a political consulting and lobbying firm.