The Shame of Celebrity DUI's

Posted on: June 10, 2008 at 11:20 a.m.

Celebrity run-ins with the law is old news, the wealthy and powerful throughout history have flaunted the laws of their respective civilizations. However, a dangerous trend, both to the individuals and those who emulate them, has continued to develop over the last year or so. Celebrities have continually found themselves being arrested for DUI in California, and almost flaunting the laws.

For example:

- Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora was arrested in Laguna Beach, CA for DUI in March of this year. He had already gone through a rehab stint the Spring before, and failed verbal and manual sobriety tests;
- In December of 2007, former star of the hit show "The OC" Misha Barton was arrested for DUI, not having a license and possession of narcotics; and
- Paris Hilton actually spent time in jail for her multiple run-ins with the law of DUI charges.

While most celebrities are able to smile their way out of charges, for the other 99.9% of the American population, DUI charges are serious and bring major consequences with them. Jail time, loss of license, mandatory alcohol treatment programs and major fines are just some of the penalties that judges can assess upon a conviction.

While penalties are stiff and law enforcement has a number of ways to bring about a conviction (including sobriety tests, blood tests and more) there are often flaws with the science and an experienced attorney may be to aid your defense in such matters. While we may not all be able to act our way out of DUI charges, attorneys with experience and know how can legally defend these kinds of cases.

Tagged as: california criminal laws, counterfeit goods pc 350, violent crimes defense

Comments:

Luisa Garcia on June 13, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. wrote:

I agree with Luiza's statement in that many celebrities continue getting DUI's and making other such offenses despite whatever punishment they may have already received. There have been many times that the media has caught a celebrity making an offense and saying comments such 'They wont do anything to me...Im So and So!' However, I dont believe that celebrities should receive a tougher punishment than the rest of us. That solely brings us back to the same problem because there would still be variability in the law. It seems to me that celebrities keep making such offenses because the punishment--or lack there of--is almost always minimal. Thus, the focus should be on making sure that they ARE GETTING the punishment that fits whatever offense they have committed and consequently removing their 'Im a celebrity and I-can-do-whatever-I-want!' mentality.

Luiza Melikyan on June 12, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. wrote:

I don't understand how rich and famous people like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities get caught driving drunk. It is really ridiculus. Don't they have drivers or limos to pick them up and take them where ever they need to go? Sometimes I think they're just doing it on purpose to get the attention because a simple cab takes maybe 3 minutes to call. Celebrities and those who have money should be given harsher punishment because they have the means to provide alternate transportation very easily as compared to the working man. The fact that many of them continued to get a DUI multiple times only proves that the first offense did not have any negative consequence for them.

Anna Andersen on June 11, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. wrote:

I don't understand how there can be such variability in the punishment for a DUI. You wer either DUI or you weren't, right? Some of my friends, minors at the time, were approached by an undercover cop at UCSD's Sun God Festival, while they were discretely drinking alcohol from sports water bottles. They were charged with minor in possession, and lost their license for an entire year! I didn't understand how a judge could take away a license for something that had nothing to do with driving. Another friend of mine, also a minor, got a DUI, but she was only without a license for 6 months. This just doesn't add up to me. I think there needs to be more regularity in dolling out punishments, and especially if the offense is committed by a celebrity because they get so much attention. The Paris Hilton case is a big joke on our justice system.

Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin LLP has been recognized as one of the best U.S. law firms, based on the experience, professionalism, and ethics of its criminal defense lawyers and attorneys. We aggressively defend clients in all Southern California courtrooms on state and federal charges, including DUI, DMV, misdemeanor, felony, juvenile cases, in the following communities and courthouses.

Los Angeles County, CA: Agoura, Altadena, Alhambra, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Century City, Chatsworth, Compton, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Downtown Criminal Court, El Segundo, East Los Angeles, Eastlake, Encino, El Monte, Glendale, Glendora, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Los Angeles Lawyer, La Canada, LAX Court, Los Padrinos, Long Beach, Los Angeles Attorney, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Newhall, Norwalk, Palos Verdes, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Santa Monica, South Gate, South Pasadena, Sylmar, Torrance, Universal City, Valencia, Van Nuys, West Covina, West Hollywood, Walnut, Westchester, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Whittier, Woodland Hills, California. Orange County, CA: Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine Attorney, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, La Habra, La Palma, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Orange County Lawyer, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda, California. Ventura County, CA: Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, San Buenaventura, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village. San Bernardino County, CA: Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland.

Prior Criminal Law Posts

The Shame of Celebrity DUI's

Comments:

Add your comment!

Firm Fan Page & News

Our Criminal Defense Partners

Criminal Defense Resources

Prior Criminal Law Posts