Driving instructor charged with DWI

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque driving instructor faces DWI charges after a Rio Rancho Police officer found him so intoxicated at a crash site that he couldn’t even stand without holding onto his car.

Thomas McGinnis owns two T.J. McGinnis driving schools in Albuquerque. He and his family have been teaching driver's education for four decades.

McGinnis, 53, was arrested last Thursday at 4:45 pm for driving drunk and reckless driving.

McGinnis blew a .30 on a breath alcohol test, which is nearly four times the presumed level of intoxication.

Investigators said McGinnis slammed into another car from behind that Thursday. The other driver waved down a police officer.

The officer reported that McGinnis was so intoxicated he failed every field sobriety test, including adding six additional letters to the end of the alphabet.

However, even before the tests were preformed, the officer said he knew McGinnis had been drinking.

“He had the odor of intoxicating liquor on his breath, he had blood shoot red watery eyes and unstable walk,” John Francis with the Rio Rancho Police Department said.

Police said McGinnis should have known better since every class he's taught for 30 years requires a course on DWI prevention.

His driver's license is now in the process of being revoked. If that happens McGinnis could lose his instruction license to teach.

McGinnis posted bond and is out of jail.