A member of the Palmerton Area School District Board of Directors is facing multiple charges including driving under the influence after a February traffic stop in Lehigh Township, according to court documents filed in Northampton County.

Brandon Michael Mazepa, 33, of Palmerton, was charged with DUI, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without insurance following an incident on Feb. 26 at 2:38 a.m. on Blue Mountain Drive in Danielsville.

A formal arraignment in Northampton County Court was originally scheduled for Thursday, but has been continued to June 5.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Lehigh Township Police Officer Collin Haupt, Mazepa was operating a black 2023 Hyundai Kona when the officer saw the vehicle traveling in front of him on Blue Mountain Drive.

The complaint states that Haupt “ran the vehicle’s registration and it came back expired as of Jan. 31, 2025.” Haupt followed the vehicle and activated his emergency lights and sirens, eventually conducting the traffic stop in a parking lot at 1439 Blue Mountain Drive.

During the initial contact, Mazepa allegedly told the officer there were “multiple reasons” why he was being stopped and stated “that he does not have insurance on the vehicle and is not registered,” according to the complaint. The officer noted that Mazepa was chewing gum during the encounter.

When asked where he was coming from, Mazepa initially said “Allentown Brew Works” and that he was a manager there. However, the complaint indicates Mazepa later apologized and said he was “actually coming from Bethlehem Brew Works.”

Haupt reported observing several signs of impairment during his interaction with Mazepa.

When asked if he had been drinking, Mazepa reportedly responded “not at all,” according to the complaint. After initially being hesitant about taking field sobriety tests, Mazepa eventually agreed to the testing.

The complaint indicates that after Officers Craig Ball and Anthony Stinemire arrived to assist, Haupt said Mazepa “showed signs of impairment” during field sobriety tests.

Based on the field sobriety tests and his observations, Haupt determined that “Mazepa was incapable of safely driving” and placed him under arrest for DUI at 3:11 a.m.

A portable breath test showed the presence of alcohol, and Mazepa was taken to St. Luke’s Carbon Hospital, where a blood test was administered.

The toxicology report, which came back April 2, revealed that Mazepa had a blood alcohol content of 0.225% at the time of his arrest, which is nearly three times Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 0.08%.

Based on the high blood alcohol content, Mazepa faces two separate DUI charges: general impairment, classified as a misdemeanor, and highest rate of alcohol, also a misdemeanor, for having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16% or higher.

The complaint also includes charges for driving an unregistered vehicle and required financial responsibility, both summary offenses.

Mazepa posted $5,000 unsecured bail.

He joined the Palmerton Area board in December 2019 after winning a seat a month earlier and was reelected in 2023.