OT- Leon Hall Arrested for DUI

Well, that sucks.

The arresting officer said Hall was polite and cooperative during the arrest. At least there's that.

Personally, I don't count a DUI as a bad offense, whether it's a wolverine, a buckeye, a sparty or whatever. Unless I hear some crazy shit about it, but who hasn't driven home from the bar when they shouldn't have? It's the shit about people jumping on cars and shooting themselves in the leg that I frown upon. Getting a DUI is like the jaywalking of pro athlete offenses.

typical spartans! oh he played for us you say?

I think we've reached the point where a pro athlete's first DUI offense should no longer be news. FTR, I have no idea if this is Hall's first; it's just a general point.

I'm just trying to understand the mindset/thought process of the wealthy individual who goes out for a night on the town but chooses to drive him or herself. From my perspective it seems painfully obvious that if you're making over a million dollars a year to take a cab or hire a limo or driver for the night and yet DUIs among athletes/celebrities seem to happen all the time.

You can be charged and convicted of a DUI with a BAC of 0.05-0.08%. It's unlikely you will be convicted in a jury trial, but the impact on your life -- the stress, lawyer fees, other fines -- are severe. A conviction will follow you and restrict employment opportunities for years. No, you are not drunk at that level, but you may still be impaired. Any alcohol consumption combined with a traffic violation will likely get you arrested if you blow above a 0.05% (they can't let you go since your BAC may still rise over the next 90 minutes). Most Michigan fans watching a game at an alumni bar are probably in the 0.05-0.08 level. 3 drinks of good beer -- and I assume Michigan alumni drink good beer -- will put the average male at around 0.07%. Since you are allowed to drink and then drive, most people think they are ok to have a few, wait 1/2 hour and drink some water, and then drive. But those same people, if pulled over, will still be arrested and possibly charged even if there was no accident, only traffic violations. Most DUIs people have consumed more than that, but you are at risk with a couple of drinks. This is why it's too subjective to label every DUI a potential murderer. It would be great if the DMV would do things like mail you a chart showing how many drinks you can consume at your weight and be 0.05-0.08 on average when they ask for registration renewal. Civilly, there is a lot more we can do to prevent impaired driving -- most alcohol education stops in high school, and it's not really comprehensive education -- and there are things like free cab rides or call ride programs that can be better advertised and endorsed by groups like MADD. Hall was at 0.149%, which is 8-9 beers for an ordinary person, and a 12 pack for someone his size, over 4 hours (Stallworth and Barkley were also at that BAC). It's a lapse of judgement to drive after 2 drinks. Hall, given his money and the likelihood that the Bengals probably have a call service specifically designed to give rides (in towncars) in these instances, exercised several lapse of judgements. That is not a lapse of judgment or a mistake. To have a BAC that high takes INTENT. I wish him the best in learning from this experience, but for everyone who typically just has 2-3, I hope you understand that you can still be arrested and convicted with less than 0.08%. Being pulled over may be unlikely, and a conviction also unlikely unless there was an accident, but a DUI will cost you $10-20k and restrict employment opportunities. Even the $$ and legal steps to argue for dismissal should be enough to prevent sensible people from ever drinking and driving again. Sadly, it does not, as repeat offenders are common. Have a DD or take a cab if you drink more than one drink. Public service announcement over. Go blue. And in full disclosure, I am awaiting arraignment for a 0.06% BAC, no traffic accident, no wreckless driving, just speeding 9 mph over the limit, going 59 in a 50. I was unlucky, but really, I am lucky to have not hurt anyone and to realize that anything more than 1 drink, and I should not drive, period.