Drunk driving is one of the most commonly committed crimes in America and celebrities are just as likely to drive drunk as the general populace. While you may feel all alone when you have been accused of driving under the influence, it’s important to remember that many people (including some of the most famous people in the world), have also been charged with driving drunk. While this list of celebrities with DUIs shouldn’t inspire anyone to follow in their footsteps, it’s a reminder that anyone can find themselves in need of a Rancho Bernardo DUI attorney no matter how rich or famous they are.
A Quick List of Celebrities With DUIs
We’ve actually covered two celebrities With DUIs in this blog already, those two celebrities being Michael Phelps and Tiger Woods, who was notably charged with driving under the influence of drugs, not alcohol. But these two are only a handful of some of the many, many famous celebrities with DUIs on their records. Other celebrities who have been accused of the crime include Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Amanda Bynes, Nick Carter, Aaron Carter, Natasha Lyonne, Rick Springfield, Paris Hilton, Heather Locklear and Randy Travis.
Justin Bieber’s Illegal Racing DUI
Some celebrities are particularly notable when it comes to the circumstances of how they got their DUIs. For example, Justin Bieber was stopped for illegal racing in Miami Beach. While Bieber was not drunk, he did have marijuana and Xanax in his system when he was pulled over. To make matters worse, he was also accused of evading police and driving with an invalid license. His case was settled in a plea bargain that required the Biebs to pay $50,000 to a youth charity and plead guilty to careless driving (a less serious form of reckless driving in Florida) and resisting arrest. He also had to attend anger management counseling and a drunk driving program. Just about any Rancho Bernardo DUI attorney would agree that Bieber got off pretty lightly considering the charges he could have faced.
Lindsay Lohan: Two DUIs and Drug Possession
Lindsay Lohan not only has multiple DUIs, but she also got in trouble multiple times after failing to uphold the terms of her probation. She was first arrested for drunk driving in May of 2007 and was voluntarily fitted with a SCRAM sobriety monitor ankle bracelet. Then, only a few months later, she was again arrested for drunk driving in July, only this time she was also charged with felony possession of cocaine and driving on a suspended license. She plead guilty to misdemeanor cocaine use and a second DUI and was sentenced to one day in jail, community service, an alcohol education program and three years of probation.
In October of 2009, her probation was extended for another year after she repeatedly failed to uphold the terms of probation, including appearing at scheduled court appearances and her alcohol program. After missing another court date and a DUI progress hearing, in May 2010, she was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days in an inpatient rehab program. In September 2010 she had her probation revoked completely after failing a drug test.
Kiefer Sutherland’s Four DUI Accusations
Kiefer Sutherland has not been convicted of four DUIs, but that’s how many times he has been charged with drunk driving. In 1989 and 1993, he was arrested for drunk driving, reckless driving and in 1989 he also faced charges for carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place. In both cases, all charges but the reckless driving ones were dismissed.
In 2004, he was convicted of driving under the influence and again in 2007. He was sentenced to 48 days in jail for the second offense, 18 for violating his probation from the prior charge and 30 for the DUI itself. Ask just about any Rancho Bernardo DUI attorney and they’ll say that while this sentence seems pretty typical, what was atypical is the fact that the court allowed him to serve his sentence in segments so he could continue working on the current season of 24 that was filming at the time.
While celebrities with DUIs are common, it’s important to remember that stars are also charged with all number of crimes aside from drunk driving, including domestic violence. They’ve even been involved with strange Hollywood sex cults and college bribery scandals. It’s important to remember that you don’t need to be rich and famous to afford the kind of top quality representation you can get from someone like Rancho Bernardo DUI attorney Peter M. Liss. If you have been accused of driving under the influence, please call (760) 643-4050 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Image by Steve Smith
