A 69-year-old Hilo man has been arrested and charged with habitual drunken driving.
A 69-year-old Hilo man has been arrested and charged with habitual drunken driving.
According to a police log, James Allen Costa was arrested at 1:05 a.m. Monday on West Kawili Street in Hilo and charged with habitual DUI, driving after his license was suspended or revoked for DUI and driving without insurance.
He was released from custody after posting $2,525 bail and is scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court on April 30.
Habitual DUI is defined as having been convicted at least three times for DUI in the 10 years prior to the current offense and is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
According to court records, Costa pleaded no contest on May 26, 2010 to a DUI offense that occurred on Jan. 28 that year.
He was fined $750 plus $412 in fees. On Dec. 23, 2009, he pleaded no contest to two DUI offenses that occurred on March 17 and May 22 that year.
He was fined $500 for the earlier offense and $1,000 for the later charge, and assessed $382 in fees.