MIAMI – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz returned to work Tuesday for the first time since his DUI arrest in Key West last month.
Diaz was arrested Sept. 19 after he was pulled over on his motorcycle for traveling 74 mph in a 30 mph zone, Key West police said.
An officer wrote in the police report that Diaz didn't use the kickstand for his motorcycle, causing it to fall over.
Police said Diaz's speech sounded slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and his breath smelled of alcohol.
Diaz told police that he had a rum and Coke and one glass of champagne about three hours earlier, the report said.
"MADD is disappointed anytime someone is arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, especially if that someone is in a position of authority who may be considered a role model," Mothers Against Drunk Driving Miami-Dade executive director Janet Mondshein told Local 10 News. "While no one was killed or injured in this alleged incident, it's often not the case. Each year 10,000 people are killed because of drunk driving and almost 300,000 injured. Also, the only difference between a simple DUI and DUI manslaughter is chance."
Police body cameras captured Diaz's roadside field-sobriety test.
"There goes my political career," Diaz said at one point in the video.
Diaz had no comment when Local 10 News reporter Ben Kennedy asked if the fourth-term commissioner representing District 12 felt that his political career was over.
However, Diaz did address his fellow commissioners before Tuesday morning's meeting.
"Mr. chairman, I wanted to take a moment to apologize to you and my colleagues for any embarrassment my personal legal situation has caused this great governing body of ours," Diaz said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Diaz was contrite and sorry.
"We should know that we are held to a higher standard," Gimenez said. "We know that we should act a certain way."
Diaz has pleaded not guilty.
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