Basketball Player Arrested for “Super Extreme DUI” in Arizona
According to a police report, Arizona Suns basketball star PJ Tucker was arrested in May in Scottsdale, AZ, and charged with super extreme DUI, an actual charge based on high blood alcohol content.
Reportedly, when Tucker was pulled over, the 29-year-old had a registered BAC of .222. The threshold for super extreme DUI – the actual name of a level of driving while intoxicated in the state of Arizona – is .200.
Police noticed Tucker’s erratic driving around 12:30 AM on May 10th, when he ran a stop sign, and took two wide turns, straddling both lanes. Officers pulled Tucker’s vehicle over and noticed that he had slurred speech and watery, unfocused eyes, so they conducted a field sobriety test which Tucker failed. He had no ability to maintain his balance during the test, and officers said he smelled of alcohol. When they conducted a Breathalyzer, police said he blew a .201.
Tucker was taken to jail and given a blood test for his blood alcohol content, which came back even higher than the Breathalyzer – .222, over three times the legal limit of 0.08.
The super extreme DUI charge came just after Tucker signed a $16.5 million contract for three years with the Arizona Suns basketball team.
South Carolina Felony DUI Law
A driver can be charged with SC with felony DUI for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both, if while operating the vehicle under the influence, the person causes “great bodily injury” or death to a person other than himself including a passenger, pedestrian, another driver.
Upon conviction of a felony DUI by jury, the accused faces a minimum mandatory prison sentence and fine. A DUI conviction that includes a felony conviction for causing the death of another includes a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 1 year in prison with a maximum 25 years imprisonment, and a minimum mandatory fine of not less than $10,100 nor more than $25,100. Additionally, the convicted person’s driver’s license is suspended for the term of imprisonment plus five years.
A felony DUI conviction for causing great bodily injury includes a mandatory minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 15 years imprisonment, plus a mandatory fine of at least $5,000, not to exceed $10,100. Also, the DMV must suspend the convicted person’s driver’s license for the term of imprisonment plus three years.
A part of the mandatory sentences required to be imposed under the felony DUI law must not be suspended, and probation must not be granted for any portion.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Felony DUI Charges in South Carolina
Based in Columbia, SC, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm collectively have over 30 years of experience with South Carolina law. The firm was founded in 1996 by former US Attorney and Assistant Solicitor Pete Strom. If you face felony DUI charges in South Carolina, we can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Do not let DUI or felony DUI charges prevent you from pursuing opportunities. Contact us today. 803.252.4800.
