It did not take long for the “MT Lawmaker cited for having open container” story to make its way across the web – and embarrass Montana and become the first embarrassment for this session of the Montana legislature. It also hinders the plans to toughen the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws in the state.

For those of you who have not heard about it, Montana State Senator Jim Shockley (R-Victor) was cited for having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle Friday evening in Missoula. The Missoulian reported Shockley “was drinking a beer and tomato juice concoction when he was stopped.”

That’s another embarrassment (drinking beer and tomato juice), but that’s a story for another day.

Shockley was not cited for DUI. Maybe he would have been legally drunk a few hours later, who knows, but thanks to the action by the Missoula Police Department, he was stopped.

Shockley is the Chairman of Montana State Senate Judiciary Committee which is leading the way in seeing how the state can toughen the DUI laws in Montana.

It is also reported that Shockley is planning to run for Montana Attorney General in 2012 (you can insert your own joke here).

So now the next step is up the leadership of the Republicans in state legislature. Are they really serious enough about toughing the DUI laws in Montana to strip Shockley (Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee) of his chairmanship for breaking the law and hold him accountable, or will the “good old boy” mentality that permeates the halls of the Capitol win out?

The culture of driving and drinking alcohol in Montana needs to be changed. It’s time to for the Montana State Legislature to lead by example.

We’ll be watching.  UPDATE:  Several media sources are reporting that State Senator Shockley stepped down as Judiciary Chairman late this morning.