Monroe driver arrested for 50th time

A driver who had been arrested 49 times, including eight convictions for driving with a suspended license, made it an even 50 when she was stopped on Interstate 405 near Highway 520 on Wednesday night by the State Patrol.

Leah A. Slemmer of Monroe was stopped for not wearing a seat belt and then cited again for driving with a suspended license.

She also was cited for violating a requirement that her car be fitted with an ignition-interlock device to detect alcohol use.

Slemmer told the arresting officer she was "having a bad day," said Trooper Jeff Merrill, patrol public-information officer. Records show that Wednesday was Slemmer's 54th birthday.

When a trooper asked for a license and registration, Slemmer produced an identification card and said she "was suspended," Merrill said. A records check confirmed her driver's license had been suspended eight times.

Department of Licensing records also showed that Slemmer was required to have an ignition-interlock device on any car she was driving, but no interlock was fitted.

Slemmer told the trooper she was driving to help her sister get a car out of an impound yard. The car Slemmer was driving was released to the sister.

Slemmer's driving record shows she was also convicted five times for driving without a valid license and four times for DUI offenses.

Law-enforcement officials estimate about 200,000 people drive in this state with suspended driver's licenses.

Peyton Whitely can be reached at 206-464-2259 or pwhitely@seattletimes.com.