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Blackfeet Nation court bars reporting of DUI offenses to state
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Filed Under: Law
More on: blackfeet, crime, dui, jurisdiction, montana, tribal courts
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The Blackfeet Nation can't report DUI or other driving offenses to the state of Montana, the tribe's appellate court ruled last year. The Blackfeet Law and Order Code does not allow tribal officers to send records to the state, the decision stated. As a result, a tribal member who was facing jail time for a DUI conviction off the reservation had his punishment lowered because two of his tribal offenses weren't admitted in state court. The tribal member was identified by the Associated Press as Shawn Augare, the brother of Shannon Augare, a tribal council member and state lawmaker who was recently stopped on suspicion of drunken driving. Shannon Augare drove away after reportedly telling a Glacier County sheriff's deputy that the officer lacked jurisdiction over tribal members on the reservation. The Glacier County attorney confirmed that the state lacks jurisdiction over tribal members and other Blackfeet descendants. Get the Story: Blackfeet judge expunges DUIs of state senator's brother (AP 6/3) County attorney: Deputy had no jurisdiction in Blackfeet Reservation stop (AP 5/31) Related Stories: Blackfeet Nation considers charges against council member (5/31)

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