A former Maui police officer, who was on administrative leave from the department when he was arrested last year for driving drunk, had his license suspended for 90 days and was ordered Thursday to pay $637 in fines and fees.
Gary R. Schemper, 26, was pulled over around 2:10 a.m. on Dec. 11, 2008, after a police officer saw him driving "at a high rate of speed" on Piilani Highway in Kihei, according to court records.
The officer said the vehicle sped up at the intersection of Lipoa Street and Piilani Highway in order to beat a red light.
Schemper was observed driving at no less than 78 miles per hour, with the officer having to drive up to 90 miles per hour to catch up with the car.
When stopped, police observed Schemper with red, watery eyes, slurred speech and having an "overwhelming odor of liquor" on his breath.
Schemper told the police officer that he had a few beers at the Tiki Lounge in Kihei and he was on his way home.
Schemper's blood-alcohol level was at 0.145 percent. The legal limit is 0.08.
When Schemper was arrested, the arresting officer learned from dispatchers that he was on administrative leave from the Maui Police Department pending an internal investigation, according to court records.
Maui Police administrative officials confirmed Thursday that Schemper is no longer with the department, but would not discuss other details of his employment.
Schemper pleaded guilty to the driving under the influence charge in April, said Deputy Prosecutor Marie Kosegarten outside of court. She said Schemper also admitted to speeding.
Wailuku District Court Judge Kelsey Kawano waived the requirement for Schemper to appear in court. Schemper no longer resides in Hawaii, attorneys said.
In court Thursday, Kawano said Schemper will have his license suspended "absolutely" for 30 days, but for the following 60 days he will be able to drive, if needed, to and from work and substance-abuse treatment.
Kawano also ordered Schemper to undergo a substance-abuse evaluation and a driver's-education course, both of which he already has completed.
Schemper previously was ordered to pay $202 in fines and fees for speeding, according to court records.
Kosegarten said these were Schemper's first offenses for drunken driving and speeding.
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