Missoula Police Bust Habitual Traffic Offender for a 6th DUI

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 13, 2024, at approximately 3:35 PM, a Missoula Police Department officer located a suspected impaired driving vehicle that was reported to 911. He initiated his emergency lights and the vehicle yielded in the mall parking lot near Dillards. The officer approached the vehicle and observed two occupants inside. The female in the driver's seat would be positively identified by Montana Driver's License as 48-year-old Candice Hanks. 

The officer noted that Hanks had a blank stare on her face and seemed disoriented. Her mannerisms were notably lethargic and her speech was heavily slurred. Hanks indicated that they were driving home from a day spent on the river. The officer detected an odor of alcoholic beverage and asked Hanks if she had been drinking while at the river. Hanks denied consumption but offered that her passenger had. 

Hanks confirmed the vehicle belonged to her and admitted there was no liability insurance. The officer also discovered that Hanks’ driver's license status was currently Revoked with Habitual Traffic Offender classification. The officer reported that Hanks had numerous prior DUIs and Breath Refusals in addition to a current Arrest Warrant from another jurisdiction related to impaired driving. The officer asked Hanks to exit the vehicle. 

The officer conducted standardized field sobriety tests and Hanks exhibited 12 out of 14 indicators of impairment during the first two tests. Hanks discontinued the One Leg Stand test, stating that she was done and requested to be arrested. Hanks admitted to consuming alcohol "heavily" the night before. She also admitted to ingesting Cannabis that morning.   

Hanks provided a PBT result that registered greater than .08 Breath Alcohol Concentration. Hanks was informed she was under arrest and the officer placed her in handcuffs. According to the officer, she then became rather belligerent and agitated, directing her displeasure toward law enforcement. She also used a plethora of profanity.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The officer transported Hanks to the Missoula County Detention Center where she provided a registered sample on the Intoxilyzer machine that registered .21 BAC. 

Hanks is currently being charged with felony DUI, restricted person operating without ignition interlock, habitual traffic offender, and operating without liability insurance. Her bond was set at $50,000. According to court documents, Hanks has five prior DUI convictions. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.