On his way home from a bar in Nevada City early Sunday morning, congressional candidate Theodore Terbolizard, of Cedar Ridge, was arrested by Grass Valley police on suspicion of drunken driving.

"This will not affect my campaign other than giving me publicity," Terbolizard said Sunday afternoon. "I'm sure the other candidates will have a great time with this."

Police stopped Terbolizard, 39, in his silver Jeep Cherokee at 1:43 a.m. on Highway 174 at Empire Street, according to police records.

The arresting officer initially pulled Terbolizard over for "excessive speed over 50 miles per hour," Grass Valley Police Sgt. Joe Matteoni said.

"Based on his driving, the field sobriety tests and physical symptoms, the officers formulated an opinion (Terbolizard) was impaired to the point he could not drive safely," Matteoni said.

"I did my field sobriety tests on a wet, gravely slope in soft mud," Terbolizard said. "It would have been impossible for a ballerina to do."

Terbolizard was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving with a blood alcohol level of more than .08, based on the arresting officer's assessment, Matteoni said. Terbolizard submitted to a blood test at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City, he said.

"So what," Terbolizard said. "There was no collision. I didn't hurt anyone."

The results of a toxicology test on Terbolizard's blood will not be available for about a month, depending upon the laboratory's volume of cases, Matteoni said.

"I had a couple of beers at a bar," Terbolizard said. "I didn't think I had that much (alcohol) in my body. I was surprised how it turned out."

He said Grass Valley police took his laptop computer, hard drives, cameras and a box containing his savings - more than $10,000 - for safekeeping until Tuesday, when the department's evidence room technician will be available to return the items.

The laptop contains campaign finance information, which is now "compromised," Terbolizard said.

However, protection of property is the very reason only a limited number of people have access to the evidence room, Matteoni said.

The candidate for Congress was booked into jail at 3:09 a.m. and his bail was set at $1,316.

He was released on his own recognizance later Sunday morning and was not required to post bond, as with many misdemeanors, jail staff said.

Terbolizard, who refers to himself a constitutionalist and paleo-conservative, began his campaign for the 4th Congressional District Seat last fall.

His platform is based on increased personal freedom and more government restraint.

"This illustrates the problems we have with our government," Terbolizard said. "Our government wants us to be scared and uses that fear to take away our rights. I'm not scared."

Terbolizard is scheduled for arraignment on the DUI charge at 9 a.m. March 7 in Nevada County Superior Court.

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To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail rmoormeister@theunion or call 477-4236.