Blog Post

Another One Bites the Dust(in)

Posted by: Zach Peagler
April 21, 2009
Topic: Even the Famous Aren't Immune

Most of you don't follow golf the way that I do, but a friend of mine sent me this story (http://www.golfweek.com/story/johnson-dui-news-033109) recently after I dubbed Dustin Johnson to be "The Ray Lewis of the PGA Tour." I say that tongue in cheek obviously, as Johnson may be the closest thing to a bad boy on Tour, now that John Daly has been suspended and has presumably taken his bus to Europe (http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3801877 ). As the article mentions, this is not Johnson's first brush with the law, as he apparently purchased bullets for a stolen gun that was later used in a gruesome murder. You don't hear that story on the driving range of the PGA Tour every day. Having stared down involvement in a case of that nature, the pressure of winning on the PGA Tour was child's play for Johnson, and I'm sure this DUI charge will pale in comparison as well.

There wasn't much to notice in the short article from a legal standpoint. However, I did note that the article goes to the length of mentioning that Johnson allegedly committed an unspecified "traffic violation" that resulted in the stop by the State Trooper. This serves as a reminder that law enforcement must have the requisite probable cause to stop your vehicle before they can charge you with DUI. (This begs the question of how they get away with road blocks, an issue we'll tackle in a future blog.) If you are arrested for DUI, make sure you, or preferably legal counsel, reviews the ticket or questions the officer at trial regarding probable cause for both your being pulled over and for questioning you about drinking and driving.

Drive Safely,

Zach