A state trooper who allegedly drove a patrol car while under the influence of alcohol yesterday waived a preliminary hearing on DUI charges.

Trooper Kevin D. Wackley, 47, of Tamaqua, who is stationed at the Hamburg barracks, was scheduled to have a hearing before District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose in Hamburg.He is facing two counts of DUI.Wackley, a 19-year veteran of the state police, reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .182 when arrested on July 12.He was arrested after troopers received a tip from a township police officer that Wackley was possibly intoxicated.Troopers used their GPS tracking device system to locate Wackley's marked patrol car, which was on Old Route 22 in Windsor Township. He was instructed by radio to pull into a parking lot, and complied with the instruction.Wackley is presently under suspension from his job as a state trooper.