Celebrity DUI Arrests

Posted on: February 24, 2009 at 6:53 a.m.

Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers will tell you, being a celebrity does not exempt you from the consequences of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. On the contrary, celebrities have to endure a greater amount of public scrutiny, which makes them more likely to get caught when they are doing something wrong. Many, many people break the law every year by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Celebrities DUI cases have the added dimension of having their mistakes and acts of stupidity splashes all over tabloids, reported in the nightly news and ridiculed on the internet and talk shows. Imagine having your indiscretions being widely publicized for all your friends and family to hear about.

In 2008, former basketball star Charles Barkley, New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, actress Heather Locklear and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora were all arrested for driving under the influence. In Locklears case, it was the photographers that were following her who called local law enforcement. Film actress Sandra Bullock and her husband were reportedly hit by someone driving under the influence, while actors Lindsey Lohan and Lane Garrison were sued related to DUI arrests in 2007. Many of these DUI arrests came in Los Angeles, and each of these celebrities had to hire Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys who were experienced with the law and the Los Angeles court system.

Penalties for celebrities convicted of DUIs are also no less severe than the average, non-famous person. In Samboras case, he was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to a three-month alcohol education class and required to pay fines as consequence of his 2008 DUI arrest. Socialite Paris Hilton famously spent three weeks in a Los Angeles area jail because of a probation violation stemming from an earlier DUI arrest. Actor Keifer Sutherland spent 48 days in jail in 2007 for his second DUI conviction.

The only difference, if there is one, between celebrities or the average person who has been arrested for driving under the influence is a good lawyer. If you have been charged with driving under the influence, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today to begin preparing your defense. The attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP have a combined 50 years of experience in criminal defense and are "AV" rated DUI defense attorneys. They will work hard to ensure the best possible outcome for you.

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Comments:

Asher Luzzatto UCLA 139 on May 28, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. wrote:

This seems to be one example from a multitude of cases where a good lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of a case. I have known 2 UCLA students charged with a DUI, convicted, and sentenced to over 1 year without a license and significant legal ramifications. The reason celebrities seem to get off with reduced sentences is because they not only hire the top lawyers, but also attempt to settle the case in a very timely fashion so as to avoid the continued public scrutiny and negative PR. Time is money for celebrity culture and the longer a celebrity is forced to deal with legal offenses, the more he or she has to lose, and conversely, the more the media outlets covering the story have to gain. It is merely a cost benefit analysis, and one that most laypersons do not have to evaluate as dramatically as say, Mel Gibson or Charles Barkley. The importance of a great defense lawyer cannot however, be discounted as they will cause headaches for the prosecution that makes a normal DUI case too costly to pursue to vehemently for the state. In the end, it is the money that will come to make the most significant difference in this scenario or any like it.

Elise Podsadecki (UCLA Comm 13 on May 26, 2009 at 10:34 p.m. wrote:

In my opinion it seems as though some of the celebrities who show up in the tabloids for offenses such as DUI or violating probation often make it easier for the media to put them in the spotlight by involving themselves in activities such as frequent partying in public venues. If you're in the public eye, you have a responsibility to act accordingly. I think it's a fair assumption to say that if they have the resources to partake in lavish parties and the like, then they likely have the resources to arrange other means of transportation than driving themselves. Just like any other person who makes the choice to drink over the legal limit and gets caught, celebrities are responsible for their actions and should receive the same punishment that you or I would. Personally, I am glad that celebrities are not exempt from legal punishment for unlawful activities. However, it seems as though celebrity status does serve as a buffer for suffering the full extent of the law. Take Paris Hilton for example. Paris is a socialite who, aside from being a hotel company heiress, has gained her celebrity by becoming renown for her public debauchery and immoral, irresponsible behavior. In 2007 she was given a 45-day sentence for violating probation, of which she only served 4 days (and was given credit for 5 days) before returning home. Had she not been famous, I’m willing to bet that she would not have been given the same deal. We as a society cannot set a double standard in society or reward illegal behavior simply because of social status. Doing so sends a message to the masses that money and power can “afford” a person more rights (no pun intended).

Puja Patel, UCLA on May 24, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. wrote:

Even though it seems really weird, it makes sense that these girls would get in trouble with the law for sending naked pictures of themselves, if the recipients of those pictures were under 18 years old. I'm not exactly sure if this specific case took place in a high school or middle school, but I've seen cases on the news where 7th or 8th grade girls inadvertently send naked pictures to everyone in their grade, in essence dispensing child pornography (because they are under 18) to minors. It's also interesting to think about how technology is providing new avenues for younger and younger people to break the law, and it'll be interesting to see how the court will interpret the law when it concerns the private text messages of a young person.

A Greenfield, UCLA on May 24, 2009 at 12:52 p.m. wrote:

This post made me curious about the nature of celebrity crimes. Because celebrities are constantly in the spotlight, all of their actions and wrongdoings are made public. In this way, when prosecuted they become an example for society. On the other hand, sometimes the general public thinks differently of celebrities because of their situation of always being in the spotlight and under public scrutiny. When presenting a celebrity case to a jury, which angle best emotionally connects the celebrity with the jury?

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