by KYW's Brad Segall
A Havertown, Pa. man who pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to pedaling his bicycle while under influence of alcohol -- and then failed to show up for his first sentencing hearing -- will spend thirty days behind bars.
Jeffrey Burke (right) will spend 15 consecutive weekends behind bars and is losing his driver’s license for at least a year.
The 35-year-old man had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when he rode his bike home from a fireworks display in Narberth on July 4th of last year.
Prosecutor Tony Gil says Burke was involved in a crash with a car, and Gil calls the sentence justified under the circumstances:
"The DUI law in Pennsylvania is designed to keep people protected on the road-- not just the people who are on the road with you, but yourself. And Mr. Burke here was hit because he was under the influence -- he was weaving on the road.”
Burke told police he rode his bike to the fireworks show because he knew he was going to drink there.
This was his second offense, and he was looking at 30 days' inpatient treatment -- but that was before he missed his court date (see related story).
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