Former village council member charged with aggravated DUI

A former Winnetka village council member has been charged with her second DUI in four years after she was pulled over in Northfield last month allegedly driving on the bare rim of one of her vehicle’s tires, authorities said.

Jennifer S. Spinney, 64, of the 200 block of Sheridan Road in Winnetka, was charged Nov. 30 with aggravated DUI, operating unsafe equipment, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, fleeing from police and driving on a suspended license at Willow Road and Hibbard Road after police received a 911 call shortly after 4 p.m. about a dangerous driver, authorities said.

Authorities said Spinney was allegedly weaving within her lane of traffic, and police drove behind her for more than one mile with their emergency lights and siren on. They said the front passenger tire of Spinney’s vehicle was flat, and she was allegedly driving on the metal rim, making a loud noise and sending up sparks.

The traffic stop took place when she stopped for the red light at Willow and Hibbard, police said.

Spinney allegedly hit a curb as she was pulling over, had trouble getting out of her vehicle and refused to take field sobriety and Breathalyzer tests, authorities said. Police said Spinney allegedly smelled of alcohol, was unbalanced on her feet and her speech was slurred.

Police also said the license plates on Spinney’s vehicle did not match up with her vehicle, and she was also cited for not having valid registration.

Spinney, who could not be reached for comment, was released on a $25,000 I bond on Dec. 1 and is scheduled for a Dec. 22 court hearing, records show.

Spinney served as a trustee on the Winnetka village council from 2009 to 2012, according to village officials. In 2103, Spinney was given court-ordered supervision and fined after she plead guilty in connection to a September 2012 DUI charge in Skokie, court records show.

Brian Cox is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.