The NBA, the NFL and DUI

Posted on: June 2, 2008 at 4:13 p.m.

Being charged with driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious matter, and unfortunately professional athletes find themselves in that situation far too often. For example, on April 14, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after police saw him swerving into other lanes and failing to dim his lights. Anthony also failed several sobriety tests and submitted to a blood test.

In another case, NFL prospect J.D. Quinn, currently and offensive lineman for the University of Montana was arrested for speeding and a first-offense DUI. Quinn pleaded not guilty and entered an alcohol treatment program, the latter of which is a good idea for anyone facing a DUI charge. This isn't the first time either individual has been in trouble with the law or their university, as Anthony has been linked to gangs and crime and Quinn was bounced from Oklahoma University after taking money from a job he never attended.

DUI charges are not to be taken lightly, and while some individuals have the celebrity power to avoid serious repercussions, most Americans face fines, loss of a drivers license and potentially even jail time.

In California, DUI charges can carry with them the following penalties:
- Six months in prison
- A fine of anywhere from $390 to $1,000
- Loss of driver's license for up to six months

Those charges are only for first offenses, subsequent convictions can lead to up to four years without a driver's license. While most athlete's set a fine example in terms of work ethic, charitable giving and success, the general attitude towards DUI charges should never be followed.

Tagged as: california criminal laws

Comments:

Marina Visan on June 11, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. wrote:

I personally do not understand why one would even think about drinking and driving. I went to high school in Europe, and because public transportation is so easily accessible, there was never a question of one of our friends drinking and driving. Here, I

Marina on June 11, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. wrote:

I personally do not understand why one would even think about drinking and driving. I went to high school in Europe, and because public transportation is so easily accessible, there was never a question of one of our friends drinking and driving. Here, I've seen many at parties who drink a lot at the beginning of the party and do not drink the last hour, so they think it is safe for them to drive. To me, that is so dangerous and ridiculous, and I am glad that the penalties are so harsh if someone is caught drinking and driving. I would go as far as to say that they are not harsh enough. Last year, my friend's close friend drank and then decide to drive her best friend and her two other friends home. She lost control, crashed into a tree, and killed all her friends in her car. She was the only one that was still alive. Now she must live with what she did for the rest of her life, which, to her, is worse than death. She wishes she had died as well. I cannot imagine how much she probably thought about the 'what if'. What if she did not take those drinks? What if she said she could not drive and they would have taken a taxi home? That one tiny decision could change your entire life, so the punishment for it should reflect that.

M Phung Tu on June 10, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. wrote:

I think that people with fame should not receive lesser punishments for a DUI than others without fame. It doesn't matter who you are: the alcohol gets everyone drunk, and when you drunk despite your status or power your judgment is impair, when you kill someone on the road, even if you are famous it is not going to make the victim's family feel any light heartedness. If the DUI we commit are the same then why do the rich and famous get lesser punishments and we have to actually face the law?

Sally Derohanessian on June 9, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. wrote:

Watching Paris Hilton drive under the influence and receive so much media attention is one thing; and that is not to say that this behavior is acceptable because on the contrary, it is sickening to see how such celebrities get away with their irresponsible behavior and at the same time encourage people to follow their lead. Many teenagers today who aspire to resemble Paris Hilton or her like think it's another fashion trend to drink and get behind the wheel. It is ridiculous how DUIs are taken so lightly and I agree with Kelsey in that more serious punishment needs to take place in order to control drunk driving because people are thinking about the act itself and not the consequences which could result in killing someone. When it comes to athletes, one would expect more maturity and responsibility from someone who has achieved his/her fame and success through perseverance and hard work. Unfortunately, human errors whether intentional or not overlook the character of a person - whether celebrity, athlete, doctor, student, etc. we are all liable to make wrong decisions at some point or another. However, in this country, laws are also supposed to be blind in that they are to govern everyone equally. So I feel there are two problems here, one - when it comes to drunk driving, celebrities are able to get away with the act and don't receive equal punishment as average civilians; and two - the punishment for drunk driving itself is not harsh enough and needs to be modified so that people take it more seriously or at least learn from their mistakes.

Tatiana Vardanyan on June 9, 2008 at 3:07 a.m. wrote:

My brother had a DUI 2 yrs ago, it was his first offense but he was required to attend mandatory AA meetings that included group therapy, a visit to the morgue, and volunteer service as well as losing his driving privileges. I vividly remember picking him up from his meeting one particular day while he was outside 'mingling' with his fellow AA buddies about where they were going to go out for a drink that evening. I was appalled. He clearly did not gain enough insight to 'drink responsibly' and something needs to be done about the manners in which we prevent such crimes.

Gabe Rose on June 7, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. wrote:

One potential upside of so many high profile DUI cases: If the law is applied equally to the rich and the famous (far from a sure thing), perhaps news of the harsh punishments handed down to people like Carmelo and others can serve as a warning and an example for all those who look up to them. If, however, they are let off with a slap on the wrist, while lower profile people get the book thrown at them, I can only see such actions perpetuating the serious problem of driving under the influence.

Amanda Hester on June 6, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. wrote:

Driving while under the influence is a crime that is so easy to commit and doesn't require the typical thought that goes behind committing more serious crimes, yet it is a crime that can result in death. Most people that recieve DUIs don't consider themselves criminals and often make excuses for their actions. When a person chooses to drive while intoxicated there are typically three possible outcomes: the person gets to their destination safe, the person recieves a DUI ticket or the person gets into an accident which sometimes results in death. Because the majority of outcomes of driving under the influence aren't majorly negative, alot of people find no harm in doing it. It is not until a drunk person injures or kills someone that they trully see wrong in their actions. This is why the penalties for driving while intoxicated need to be harsher to increase the possibilty of a highly negative outcome and to prevent people from wanting to chance it.

Kelsey Kernstine on June 3, 2008 at 3:23 a.m. wrote:

I think that driving drunk should not be tolerated and that there needs to be harsher punishment to keep people from drinking while behind the wheel. There are so many people getting DUIs that it seems to be so common not with just celebrities and athletes. I think to stop people or scare people from driving while under the influence everyone should have to serve jail time. I feel that a fine does not teach anyone anything. For example, $1,000 to say a football player is not much money at all, so for them it is not that big of a deal. Also, taking one

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