March 28, 2024
Crime & Courts | Northwest Herald


Crime & Courts

State Rep. Reick charged with DUI

Said he accepts full responsibility for his 'regrettable' actions

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State Rep. Steven Reick was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence of alcohol in Sangamon County, online court records show.

Reick was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08%, according to Sangamon County online court records.

The charges were filed by Illinois State Police, who would not immediately provide further details Thursday evening on Reick’s arrest.

A representative with the Sangamon County Jail said Reick was released about 2:15 a.m. Thursday with a notice to appear in court later this month.

“I made a stupid and regrettable decision last night and accept full responsibility for my actions,” Reick said in a statement Thursday evening.

His next court appearance is set for May 30 in Sangamon County.

Reick, R-Woodstock, serves Illinois’ 63rd District, which covers the west portion of McHenry County, including Woodstock, Marengo, Hebron, Harvard and part of McHenry.

Last month, Reick was criticized during a floor debate.

During a debate on House Bill 3394 – which would mandate the inclusion of one African American and one female member to serve on the board of directors of any publicly held corporation based in Illinois by 2021 – Reick said if proponents of the bill are going to demand this kind of mandate, they may as well be putting up signs in Illinois stating that the state is not open for business.

“I don’t care whether you are offended or not by the fact that we are against this bill,” Reick said on the House floor. “The fact remains that you’re not going to get anything in this country in the way of being treated equally if you’re going to take offense at every [darned] thing that comes up.”

Reick later made apologies to anyone who heard the debate.

“I was offensive to everybody, including myself, and I’m sorry,” he said.

Reick isn’t the only state lawmaker recently arrested for driving under the influence.

On March 29, state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, was charged with DUI while driving in Springfield, according to Sangamon County court records.