Columbia Falls bus driver pleads guilty to DUI; incident was not related to work

A Kalispell woman who was a Columbia Falls School bus driver was charged and pleaded guilty to DUI last week.

According to court documents, Tabitha Irene Roth, 54, of Kalispell was charged with DUI after a person complained that Roth was intoxicated and trying to drive in the city of Kalispell about 11:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

Kalispell Police Officer Joshua Welchons responded to the scene, which was not disclosed, and heard a Jeep revving its engine.

He made contact with Roth and smelled alcohol on her breath and observed she had watery, bloodshot eyes.

She was taken into custody after field sobriety tests and Roth provided a breath sample that found a blood alcohol level of 0.192, well over the legal limit of 0.08.

Roth’s LinkedIn account lists her as a bus driver for School District 6 and a parent whose children are on her bus route also alerted the Hungry Horse News after Roth appeared on the Flathead County Detention Center roster last week. The LinkedIn photo of Roth and the booking photo also match

School District 6 superintendent Cory Dzwiogo said Roth was still employed by the district, but she is no longer driving bus, as she has other duties.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Dzwiogo said Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Roth was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center and the next day, Sept. 11, pleaded guilty in Kalispell City Court to one count of operating a non-commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% of higher.

She was sentenced by Kalispell Municipal Judge Alison Howard to 180 days in jail, with 178 suspended and credit for two days served. She was fined $850 with credit of $176 for the two days in jail. She is allowed to pay the fine at a rate of $50 per month.

Roth is also prohibited from consuming alcohol or being near any bars, taverns or casinos. She must also enroll in a treatment program, though she was recommended for a probationary driver’s license.