The arrest Thursday morning of Sacramento Kings assistant coach, and former NBA player, Mario Elie for driving under the influence has several important lessons. Elie was charged with DUI after he was pulled over in downtown Sacramento by a CHP officer for having a broken taillight.
The first lesson is that it's easy for a person to misjudge whether the amount of alcohol he is consuming is enough to bring his blood alcohol content to the legal limit of 0.08%. Elie said that he had had "a couple of drinks" and his "blood alcohol level was slightly over the legal limit." The amount of alcohol a person can consume and remain below the legal limit depends on each person's physical characteristics. It's best to play it safe and not drink if you have to drive, or arrange for someone else to take the wheel.
Second, this incident highlights that there is no particular profile of someone who gets arrested for DUI. We've represented people from all walks of life. Certainly, there are some people who unfortunately are multiple offenders. But many people have never been charged with any other offense.
Third, with more bars and restaurants opening in downtown and midtown Sacramento in recent years, the Sacramento Police Department and CHP have stepped up efforts to enforce DUI laws, including increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
Finally, if you're facing DUI charges, it's to your benefit to have an experienced defense attorney who knows California DUI law and will fight to protect your rights. All aspects of each case need to be reviewed. Was the traffic stop legal? Were the field sobriety tests (FSTs) administered properly? Is there conflicting evidence in the police report? Your defense lawyer should be able to advise you on these issues and build the best defense possible.
