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Bieber’s DUI Arrest

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Teen pop singer Justin Bieber has made a number of highly publicized events since the beginning of his career as a young singer, but perhaps none of these events have been quite so closely watched as his trial, which has been rescheduled from March to May 5, 2014. Bieber, 20, is facing several charges, including driving under the influence, after his recent arrest in Miami, Florida. DUI attorneys in Sanford say that the case has been made extremely public, and highlights the consequences of driving drunk while underage. 

On January 23, Bieber and his friend, R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff, were arrested after police caught them racing in their rental cars through a residential neighborhood. The teens were driving 55 to 60 mph, nearly 30 miles over the posted speed limit, and led the officers on a short chase before pulling to the side of the road. During the stop, Bieber exhibited signs of intoxication, including slow, exaggerated movements, and reacted belligerently when the officers attempted to perform a field sobriety test and search his person and car. He reportedly turned around several times after being asked to face the car, and swore frequently at the officers, refusing to comply with their directions. 

A Breathalyzer test showed that Bieber’s blood-alcohol level was below the legal limit of 0.08, as well as the 0.02 limit for underage drivers, but he failed to pass the field sobriety tests. He also submitted a urine sample that tested positive for marijuana and Xanax. Although he was under the legal limits for driving, Bieber is still underage, and cannot legally drink in Florida. Underage drinking has different consequences across the country, and because underage drunk drivers cause a high portion of car accidents, Sanford DUI lawyers say that this will be factored into the pop singer’s sentencing. 

Florida law makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink, let alone drink and drive. The blood alcohol limit for an underage driver is 0.02, but signs of drunkenness and a positive urine sample can fuel a conviction, even if the BAC is lower. A first-time underage drunk driving conviction can lead to a six-month license suspension, and potential fines. If an underage drinker is convicted a second time, his license will be suspended for up to 12 months and could spend anywhere from 10 days to 12 months in jail, and pay heavy fines. 

Although no one was injured by the singer’s reckless behavior, DUI lawyers in Sanford say that the risk involved in drunk driving often is not so fortunate. Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol do not always have complete control over their vehicles or their reaction times, and often cannot avoid dangerous situations, such as weaving between lanes, or failing to obey traffic signs, and threaten the well being of other drivers and pedestrians in their path.

The DUI attorneys at the Law Offices of Ryan N. Yadav represent drivers in Florida who have been charged with driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you are facing DUI charges, contact Ryan N. Yadav for a free, no-strings consultation today.