If there are two things you can count on during a sports league’s offseason, it’s rumors about player movement and some players getting in trouble with the law. Here are two interesting DUI cases involving players from the NFL and NBA.
Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker was arrested in May for a “super extreme DUI” by Scottsdale police. Tucker’s blood alcohol content registered at .201 on a preliminary breath test in the field on May 10, according to Scottsdale police. A driver is considered legally drunk for a DUI charge in Arizona at .08 blood-alcohol content. A blood test administered after Tucker was taken to jail and later analyzed by Arizona DPS showed his blood alcohol-content to be .222, according to the police report. A super extreme DUI is .20 or more.
Keeping with the Arizona theme, John Abraham of the Arizona Cardinals was arrested June 29 on a charge of DUI in DeKalb County, Georgia. Abraham was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and “stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified place.” This isn’t his first run-in with the law, when it comes to drinking. Abraham was arrested in 2012 in Atlanta on charges of obstruction and in 2003 on charges of driving while intoxicated.
Regular citizens will probably see these two athletes get away with nothing more than some community service and fines, and think that they too can walk away unscathed from a DUI charge. Not so. A DUI conviction could mean a loss of your driving privileges. Not to mention very expensive fines, lengthy probation, an extended suspension of your license or maybe even jail time. You might also have to pay higher rates for your auto insurance, and maybe lose your coverage all together. DUI conviction is not expungeable, which means it will remain on your record for life and can prevent you from getting a certain occupation.
