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Writer's pictureEdward J. Rymsza

Even a professional athlete is not immune from DUI charges

Regular folks tend to believe there appears to be a double standard when it comes to famous people and law enforcement. It’s not enough that celebrities and Pennsylvania professional athletes have significant financial resources to handle anything that comes along, but they also seem to receive the benefit of the doubt and perhaps even preferential treatment by star-struck police officers. The truth, however, may be somewhat different.

Revealed in a recent TMZ video, a major league baseball player was pulled over by police for a traffic infraction. The ball player certainly thought he had some sway with the officer, first handing him a business card identifying himself as an MLB player and then apparently saying how ballplayers do a lot of work with the police. After the officer proceeded to question the player regarding a possible DUI, the player lied about drinking and ultimately refused a sobriety test.

The officer followed department protocol and the player was arrested at the scene. After being cited for three violations and pleading guilty to one count of DUI, his license was suspended, he entered a diversion program, and paid over $1500 in fines, penalties that would be imposed on any other individual, regardless of celebrity status.

A DUI arrest need not always lead to a DUI conviction. Legitimate defenses may be available to any driver pulled over for a DUI depending on the circumstances. For instance, there are two different sobriety tests a DUI suspect may be asked to submit to. One is legally mandatory and one is optional. A DUI lawyer might be able to explain the differences between the two and also examine other potential defenses.

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