VICTOR, N.Y. -- Just a week after he wrote a column warning people against getting behind the wheel drunk, a top Republican in the New York State Assembly was charged with a DWI. 

Brian Kolb, 67, has represented the 131st Assembly District, outside of Rochester. His district covers all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County. 

Kolb was arrested near his home on New Year's Eve. He referred to the incident as a "lapse in judgement." 

He has represented the district since 2000 and has served as the Assembly Minority Leader since 2009. In 2018, Kolb briefly campaigned to unseat Gov. Andrew Cuomo before dropping out of the race. 

Kolb was issued a new taxpayer funded GMC Acadia, in 2018. That was the same vehicle involved in the accident. 

Fellow New York State Republicans have taken to Twitter, calling for Kolb to step down. 

Kolb will be back in court at a later date. 

In his Dec. 20 column, Kolb said, "There is no excuse for impaired driving."