‘Chip’ Baltimore arrested for drunk driving, weapons violation

January 19, 2018

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chip — Francis Dale “Chip” Baltimore, 51, who chairs the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, was charged with first-offense OWI and possession of a firearm while under the influence after he was arrested in a traffic stop at 5:41 a.m.

AMES, Iowa — A Perry-area state legislator was arrested early Friday in Ames on drunk driving and weapons charges.

Francis Dale “Chip” Baltimore, 51, who chairs the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, was charged with first-offense OWI and possession of a firearm while under the influence after he was arrested in a traffic stop at 5:41 a.m.

Baltimore was released from custody at the Story County Jail after an initial appearance and the posting of $2,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 8.

Baltimore represents Iowa House District 47, which includes all of Greene County and much of Boone County, including the cities of Boone, Jefferson, Ogden, part of Madrid and several others. He has been a stern critic of repeat OWI offenders and advocates a sobriety monitoring program.

Among the bills passed last year under Baltimore’s chairmanship were HSB 109, which
implemented a 24/7 sobriety program for persons convicted of drunk driving. The program required a person to submit to alcohol or controlled substance testing at set times and implemented penalties for failing the tests, and HSB 133, which changed Iowa’s firearms laws regarding permitting procedures, stand your ground, safety training requirements, confidential permit records, age to teach firearms safety and limits on government restrictions on firearms in a state of emergency.

ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.

Baltimore represents Iowa House District 47, which includes all of Greene County and much of Boone County, including the cities of Boone, Jefferson, Ogden, part of Madrid and several others.

Francis Dale “Chip” Baltimore, 51, who chairs the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, was charged with first-offense OWI and possession of a firearm while under the influence after he was arrested in a traffic stop at 5:41 a.m.

2 COMMENTS

Carin Stanley January 19, 2018 At 10:16 pm

With all this other stuff going on in the news with sexual harassment and inappropriate touching, I think a case of someone driving under the influence is pretty minor. Yes, it was a stupid thing to do, but not a good reason to ask him to step down. Nobody but him knows what was going on in his life that caused him to start drinking in the first place.

Ed Jeffress January 19, 2018 At 10:42 pm

Chip is just another hypocrite exposed. This wasn’t his first time to drink and drive. What was his blood alcohol level at five o’clock in the morning? Will the legislators discipline the problem drinker? When Chip addresses the statehouse representatives, will he be required to blow into a breathe analyzer before he can speak?