When University of Pittsburgh running back Jason Douglas was ordered out of his car by police after he hit a pedestrian in September 2010, he stumbled out to the street, clearly intoxicated.
He was charged with DUI after his blood alcohol test measured at .178, more than double the legal limit of .08.
Douglas was immediately suspended from the football team and, along with the DUI, faces other charges, including causing an accident resulting in serious injury, aggravated assault and underage drinking. Douglas is only 19.
The pedestrian suffered severe injuries, and the episode again demonstrates the dangers of underage people drinking and driving.
Underage drinking is a major health problem in the U.S., according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. More than 10 million people younger than age 20 drink alcohol, and 17 percent of drivers involved in drunk-driving crashes are underage drinkers.
A BAC of .08 or higher is considered above the legal limit in most states, including Arizona. But some treat drunk driving harsher than others. Arizona, which had the sixth most drunk-driving deaths in the nation in 2007, now has some of the toughest drunk-driving laws on the books. Anyone with an "extreme DUI" or a BAC higher than .15, such as Douglas, would face possible jail time, fines and driver's license suspension. Those with a "super extreme" conviction, with a BAC higher than .200, receives at least 45 days in prison and thousands in fines and other penalties. A second "super extreme" conviction can net a minimum of six months in prison.
Experts urge parents to counsel their older teens against drinking and driving. Should your child be charged with a DUI, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.
