Two professional Arizona sports players are facing DUI charges, according to reports released this week. Phoenix Suns player P.J. Tucker was arrested in May in Scottsdale and is reportedly being charged with a DUI. In a separate incident, Cardinals player John Abraham was arrested in Georgia last month for driving under the influence.
Busted For Drinking and Driving
Tucker is facing a very serious charge called super extreme DUI. A super extreme DUI is when blood alcohol content, or “BAC”, is found to be over 0.20. Tucker’s blood alcohol was reported to be 0.222, almost three times the legal limit. Police pulled Tucker over in Old Town Scottsdale after he allegedly rolled through a stop sign. Seemingly a minor and very common traffic offense, it is still enough to be considered “reasonable suspicion” allowing police to legally pull you over. Other common driving mistakes that can get you pulled over are: not using your signal, swerving in the lane, and driving too fast or too slow. Once pulled over, police can then begin to investigate you for driving under the influence and will quickly find cause to arrest you, such as slurred speech, an odor of alcohol, and bloodshot watery eyes.
If found guilty of super extreme DUI, Tucker faces 45 days in jail, fines in the thousands of dollars, interlock device installation for 18 months, jail fees, and attending alcohol classes and screenings.
Abraham is facing his DUI charges in Georgia, which has different statutes and penalties than Arizona. Both players will have to face the judges for their mistakes, but will also have to answer to their teammates, coaches, and their fans. DUI charges will stay on their records for the rest of their lives, as a reminder to be extremely careful when out drinking. Whether you are a famous sports personality or not, it is always worth the time and money to get a ride home after drinking.
Author Bio
Matthew L. Lopez
Matthew L. Lopez is the Managing Attorney and founder of Matthew Lopez Law, a criminal defense and DUI firm serving clients throughout Arizona. His track record of case dismissals and charge reductions has earned him honors, including a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 nomination, a “Superb” 10/10 Avvo rating, and a Rising Star designation by Super Lawyers.
Matthew is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and holds active memberships with the Arizona Association for Criminal Justice and the Arizona Association for Justice. His firm handles criminal defense, DUI, drug charges, and traffic offenses, offering free consultations and affordable payment plans to make quality defense accessible to all Arizonans.
