...after he was pulled over in September?? Looks like the Sonics were trying to delay this as long as possible. I have no sympathy for drunk drivers. He won't get jail time since it's a first offense, but a 50 game suspension would be good for starters... http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2249048 DUI charge against Lewis stems from September arrestAssociated Press SEATTLE -- Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis was charged Monday with drunken driving, resulting from an arrest on Interstate 90 in late September. Lewis, 26, was driving one of five cars speeding eastbound together at about 3 a.m. on Sept. 30, Washington State Patrol Trooper Curt G. Boyle wrote in an investigation report filed in King County Superior Court. Boyle wrote that he tried to pull over all five vehicles, which were traveling at up to 84 mph, but only two stopped. One, a 700-series BMW, was driven by Lewis, whose eyes were watery and speech was slurred, Boyle wrote. Lewis failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Mercer Island Police Department, where he registered a 0.132 and 0.122 on successive breath tests, Boyle said. The intoxication threshold in Washington is 0.08. "I have been charged with a traffic offense involving alcohol. I have cooperated fully with the police during the investigation. Since the charge is pending, my attorney and I are working together to resolve this situation.In the meantime, I do not have any further comment and I look forward to the matter being resolved soon," Lewis said in a statement released by the team. The driver of the other car that stopped, Gregory S. Stern, also has been charged with drunken driving, King County prosecutor's spokesman Dan Donohoe said. Lewis, a forward who has scored 20 points in six consecutive games, faces a maximum year in jail, $5,000 fine and 90-day license suspension if convicted as charged. "This incident happened before the season and we're looking forward to this matter being resolved soon," Seattle general manager Rick Sund added in the statement.
He could've hired a rich lawyer and got off ala Pippen, if he didn't care about his actions. People make mistakes. Trash him if he repeats it.
Good thing this didn't happen in Texas. Only a 90 day license suspension? In Texas it would be 365 days.
First off there is no excuse for drunk driving. Hopefully this was an isolated incident and he won't do it again. That being said I think Seattle needs to ship him to the Rockets for this.
Is DUI drunk driving? I thought DWI was drunk driving and I thought DUI was used when you were under the effects of other drugs or medications. Is that not right?
yeah, youre right. His blood alcohol level was above the legal limit, so it is probly listed as DUI becuase he was drunk AND smoking pot or something like that.
Guys, he is human being like all of us. Peopel make mistakes. It is a crappy thing to do but most of us have driven when we would have blown over a .08. Hopefully he will learn from his mistakes and he is lucky no one got hurt.
Depending on the state that makes the DUI/DWI laws, the difference can vary. In Texas and Washington, a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) means that you weren't deemed to be "legally intoxicated," but you were indeed impaired. If you refused the breathalyzer or something and the state felt that it had no hope of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you were legally intoxicated, you would probably be charged with a DUI. Same goes for minors, whose legal blood-alcohol level is 0.02 - meaning any amount of clearly registered alcohol in their system while driving is illegal. You have to be 0.08 to be legally intoxicated, so a DWI wouldn't work here either. DWI's on the other hand, are when you were driving and legally intoxicated and the state knows they can prove it.
50 game suspension? For that?!? Not only is that crazy talk, but you're trying to destroy my fantasy team!
Umm, huh? Dallas, I'll try to shed a little light on it. Some states use the term Driving Under the Influence while others use Driving While Intoxicated. Most of the time they are synonymous. In Texas -- and you are correct on this point -- a DUI is a class C charge for minors who are driving with ANY discernable amount of alcohol in their system. And the 'method to the madness' behind that law lies in the fact that minors aren't supposed to be drinking anyway, much less driving after consuming alcohol. So, if you're 17 years old and you are driving with a BAC of, say, .03, then you can be charged with DUI. If you are 17 years old and are driving with a BAC that exceeds the legal limit of .08, then you can be charged with 'big boy' DWI. In Texas, as in most other states, 'intoxication' MEANS 'impairment'. There is no differentiation. And let me dispell the myth that DUI is used as opposed to DWI when 'other' drugs are involved along with alcohol. It's still a DWI. You can be intoxicated by consuming ONLY alcohol, OR a mixture of alcohol and another drug. In Texas the way to remember it is that 'DUI' is a charge used exclusively for minors who are driving with any discernable amount of alcohol in their system. And it's only a class C (unless you've been convicted twice before). I'm sure this will be an isolated incident with Rashard. He seems to have his head straight with things in general.
Umm, no it's not. Try again YaoMing Why would you think it's a Class A? I used to prosecute 'em when I was cutting my teeth in JP court when I first began in the D.A.'s office. Class C's until you get a couple, then they're enhanced to a Class B.
