The nationwide limit for blood-alcohol concentration to determine drunkenness when driving is .08%, and even lower if you have a commercial driver’s license. The average citizen, when arrested for DUI, might just make their local paper’s blotter page or be mentioned in a section of the local paper for recent arrests. Celebrities, however, can count on the entire world knowing about their incursions with the law, sometimes within hours of arrest.
Most celebrities have lawyers on retainer, but it’s always good to have a lawyer that has a concentration on defending people against DUI charges. Here are just a few of the celebrities who have faced the long arm of the law for DUI charges this year, as reported by a Los Angeles DUI attorney.
Bam Margera
The star of the stunt-show Jackass who moved on to star in his own television program Viva La Bam on MTV was arrested in early January for DUI. Police first attempted to pull Margera over after noticing him talking on his cell phone. Police then conducted a field sobriety test and breathalyzer before arresting the star. Since it was his first DUI charge, Margera was able to avoid jail time by agreeing to attend a “live in” treatment program, attend AA meetings, pay fines, and serve three years’ probation.
Jeff Hardy
One half of the famed World Wrestling Entertainment tag-team known as the Hardy Boyz, Jeff Hardy was arrested back in March for DUI. The arrest came after he crashed his vehicle and was found to be over three times the legal limit. Testing revealed that Hardy’s blood-alcohol content was .25. He was due back in court in April and the WWE stated that Hardy was responsible for his own actions.
Jeremy Lane
NFL’s Seattle Seahawks star Jeremy Lane was arrested in January with a BAC of reportedly .039 and Lane was unable to perform a field sobriety test. However, Lane was quick to let fans know that he was more high than drunk and had previously smoked marijuana about three hours before driving. Police who arrested Lane said that the vehicle he was driving reeked of marijuana.
Jey Uso
Prior to Jeff Hardy’s arrest, another WWE superstar and one-half of the tag team known as the Usos was arrested for DUI. Jey Uso, whose real name is Joshua Samuel Fatu, was arrested for drunk driving following a WWE live event in Hidalgo, Texas. As with Jeff Hardy, WWE spokespersons issued a statement saying that Uso was responsible for his own actions.
Dennis Rodman
No stranger to encounters with law enforcement, Dennis Rodman was allegedly swerving his car and blasting music back in January when police pulled him over. He was already on probation for an earlier DUI incident and cops said that at the time, Rodman “reeked of booze.” He has reportedly entered rehab and been sober since the arrest.
Fame and fortune come at a price. That price is sometimes the entire world knowing that you got behind the wheel of a car while not sober.