Cullerton Gives Back SUV

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 4, 2010 7:30PM

State Senate President John Cullerton has returned the SUV that his son, Garritt Cullerton, was driving when he was arrested in April for DUI. The SUV was a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid, one of three state-owned cars Cullerton is responsible for, and was transferred to the state's Department of Central Management Services today. In a statement, Cullerton's office said: “It is our hope that the vehicle can be obtained by one of the many state agencies that has expressed a need for a vehicle but has been unable to proceed due to the state budget crisis."

Cullerton is also leading the charge on two new rules in the wake of the incident. According to the Tribune:

The incident also prompted Cullerton to change the Senate rules regarding the use of the taxpayer-funded cars, which will no longer be allowed to be parked and stored at private residences. Cullerton primarily kept the SUV at his Chicago home, but moved it to the downtown state building following the arrest.

Lawmakers and staff members also must now log travel details, including the date, time and mileage of all trips.

Garritt, 26, was arrested on Sunday, April 18 in the 800 block of North Dearborn with a reported BAC of .188, more than twice the legal limit. Cullerton later revealed that Garritt had taken the SUV without permission.