HAMILTON - A 42-year-old Darby man with an extensive record of breaking traffic laws was sentenced to a 13-month commitment with the Montana Department of Corrections for his sixth DUI Thursday.

Guy W. Copenhaver was arrested in May just south of Florence when a sheriff's deputy spotted his vehicle swerving over the dividing lines at about 2 a.m.

Copenhaver told the arresting officer he'd had "the typical two beers" and was driving home from Missoula. He refused to provide a breath or blood sample.

He also told the officer he'd served time in Nevada for felony DUI and knew he was facing 13 months in jail for the present case.

Saying he didn't have any choice under current state law, Ravalli County Judge James Haynes sentenced Copenhaver to a 13-month commitment with the Montana Department of Corrections with an additional five years suspended.

Copenhaver has a high school education and is currently living off an $860-a-month federal disability payment. He suffers from bipolar disorder.

Copenhaver also amassed a long string of traffic infractions. Haynes said it appeared to be as many as three dozen since 1983.

Haynes told Copenhaver that he will not be allowed to operate a vehicle without written authorization from his parole officer once he completes his Department of Corrections commitment.

Copenhaver will also be required to pay $600 in fines and restitution for attorney fees. Haynes said the man should be able to make those payments from his disability checks, considering the fact his food and lodging expenses were being picked up by the state for the next few months.

Ravalli Republic editor Perry Backus can be reached at 363-3300 or editor@ravallirepublic.com.