Ohio fans of the “Happy Gilmore” television show may be interested to learn that actor Christopher McDonald was charged with DUI on Sept. 28. He was reportedly taken into police custody at 9:27 p.m. by the California Highway Patrol.
It was reported that the actor was driving on the highway when he veered off the road and crashed into a gas meter. It was confirmed that he was booked into Big Bear Jail just before midnight and had a blood alcohol content that was higher than the legal limit. As a result, he was facing drunk driving charges for the incident.
The actor has previous drunk driving offenses. In 2013, for example, he was charged with drunk driving in North Carolina after he was pulled over. He reportedly failed a breathalyzer test. He was released after making bail. At the time, the actor had claimed that he was not actively driving when he was taken into custody and charged. However, North Carolina drunk driving laws allow authorities to hold a person responsible even if the person is found in a vehicle that was not in motion.
For those facing their first drunk driving offense, the penalties can include a loss of their driving privileges, jail time and a stiff fine. Additionally, they may find that their insurance premiums go up. If they face additional drunk driving charges later on, the punishments they could be even more severe. A criminal law attorney may be able to help a person facing DUI charges understand the severity of the situation and what to expect. Potential defenses could include biological factors, improperly conducted field or breath tests and a lack of probable cause for the person to be stopped in the first place.
Source: ET Online, “‘Happy Gilmore’ Actor Christopher McDonald Arrested on Charges of Drunk Driving“, Zach Seemayer, 10/29/2017
