A Villager will lose his driver’s license following a drunk driving arrest that occurred after he climbed into his golf cart after drinking at City Fire.
Anthony Peter Franzolin, 66, who lives in the Azalea Villas in the Village of Pennecamp, pleaded no contest last week in Sumter County Court to a charge of driving under the influence. In addition to a six-month driver’s license suspension, he has been placed on probation for one year and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
According to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Franzolin was operating a black Yamaha golf cart at 11 p.m. March 1 when he pulled out of a parking spot at Lake Sumter Landing without his headlights turned on.
During the subsequent traffic stop, the New York native—who was accompanied by a woman—admitted to having been drinking Michelob Ultra beer at City Fire. He also noted that he has a heart condition requiring daily medication.
Franzolin agreed to participate in field sobriety exercises; however, his poor performance led deputies to conclude he was driving while impaired. He later provided breath samples that registered a blood alcohol content of .161 and .159.
A deputy also discovered that Franzolin was in possession of two receipts from that evening. One was from the redsauce restaurant, showing he had purchased two vodka seltzers and two Patron Silver drinks. The second receipt, from City Fire, showed he had paid for a pitcher of Michelob Ultra beer. City Fire had been his second stop of the night.