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Chiles' son admits drinking, says arrest is 'wake-up call'
Ed Chiles is charged with driving under the influence.
Associated Press
Published August 16, 2005
TAMPA - A son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles admitted Monday that he had been drinking before he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Ed Chiles, 50, who lives on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, issued a statement saying he is "deeply disappointed" in himself.
"I consider it a wake-up call ... because an impaired driver is a danger to others and himself. I take responsibility for my actions and intend to make sure this behavior is never repeated," Chiles wrote.
He was stopped at 3:30 a.m. Sunday in Tampa after a police officer noticed him driving between two lanes, according to jail records.
The officer noticed Chiles' eyes were glassy and his breath smelled of alcohol, a report said.
His blood-alcohol content was reported as 0.15 and 0.16 percent, about twice the legal limit for driving.
Chiles was released from jail about noon Sunday on $500 bail. Chiles owns several restaurants, serves on the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and is director of Solutions to End Red Tide Inc.
His father served as governor of Florida from 1990 to 1998. He died in December 1998, three weeks before he was to leave office.
[Last modified August 16, 2005, 01:28:10]
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