Justin Bieber has been in the news in South Florida – and throughout the country – for all the wrong reasons this week. The 19-year-old was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He is now facing charges for DUI, driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest.
The case is being covered intently by the news media, which means the state’s accusations are spreading like wildfire although Bieber has not yet defended himself publicly.
According to one news report, Bieber was pulled over at about 4 a.m. near West 26th Street and Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach. Bieber was in a rented Lamborghini, and he was reportedly stopped for speeding. A red Ferrari, driven by Crazy Khalil, a rapper, was also stopped, and he was also charged with DUI.
It has been reported that Bieber admitted to police that he had consumed prescription medications and alcohol, as well as smoked marijuana. Police say that he passed a Breathalyzer test, but failed field sobriety tests at the scene of the traffic stop.
NBC has reported that the pop star was partying at nightclubs in Miami Beach prior to the arrest.
Bieber is only 19, and charges for drinking and driving while underage can result in serious consequences in Florida. Whenever someone faces underage DUI charges, it is important that they seek criminal defense counsel. Many teens, and their parents, assume that prosecutors and judges will go easy on them because they are young. Yes, many people drink underage, and a first-offense DUI may be nothing but a youthful indiscretion, but in the eyes of the law these are serious offenses.
Source: NBC 6 South Florida, “Justin Bieber Charged With DUI, Resisting Arrest in Miami Beach Drag-Racing Incident: Cops,” Willard Shepard, Brian Hamacher and Torey Van Oot, Jan. 24, 2014