Holmes Denies Drunk Driving Allegations - WSFA.com Montgomery Alabama news.

Sheriff's deputies say he was drinking and driving but Sunday, State Representative Alvin Holmes told WSFA those allegations are untrue.

Deputies say they spotted Holmes weaving on I-65 near the Southern Boulevard exit. An off-duty deputy says he approached Holmes and noticed his speech was slurred and his breath smelled of alcohol.

Holmes denies any wrong-doing. He says he was driving home from the state house that night when his pickup truck started to overheat. He says he pulled over to look for a flashlight and that's when the deputy pulled in behind him.

At a news conference Sunday, Holmes told WSFA he believes he is being singled out by the sheriff's department. He says he wonders why the names of other lawmakers who have had run-ins with deputies haven't been released to the media. He challenged Sheriff D.T. Marshall to do so.

Holmes wasn't arrested because he's a state legislator and a state law gives legislators immunity to certain crimes. During the one hundred and five days of the legislative session, the law says legislators can only be arrested for treason, a felony, or a breach of peace.

The law is a privilege which many say helps legislators break the law. Republican Senator Larry Dixon says it was needed in the 19th century to stop sheriffs from using their power to keep legislators from voting.

But today, Dixon says the law is abused and he would be in favor of removing it from the constitution. Holmes says he would vote in favor of a repeal as well. But that would take a majority in both houses and a statewide vote.

Representative Holmes is a democrat from Montgomery with 29 years of service in the state house.

Reporter: Keysha Perry