In Arizona, it is illegal to drive a car while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Any amount of alcohol or intoxicant can be a crime but there is a presumption that a driver is impaired if that driver has a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. But the laws in the state do not stop there; additionally, a driver with a BAC of .15 or higher is guilty of extreme DUI and those who drive drunk with additional surrounding circumstances may be guilty of aggravated DUI.
These laws apply to all motorists in the state, regardless of who those drivers are. This is a lesson that former NFL wide receiver Braylon Edwards reportedly learned last week when he was arrested in Scottsdale for extreme DUI.
Local police have confirmed that Edwards was stopped last Monday near Scottsdale Road and Fifth Avenue shortly after 3:00 a.m. It is not clear what actions prompted the stop but arresting officers suspected impairment which allegedly was later confirmed when Edwards was shown to have a blood alcohol content in excess of .20, more than twice the legal limit in Arizona. He was arrested and is facing multiple charges as a result of this incident.
Edwards played football and was a star wide receiver at the University of Michigan before becoming the third overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. During his professional career, Edwards played for the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks and he last played in 2012.
Off the field, Edwards has had several legal issues including multiple speeding-related incidents. Notably, in 2008, Edwards was charged with driving 120 mph in a 65 mph zone. In 2010, Edwards was arrested for driving under the influence in New York and at that time, his blood alcohol content reportedly was .16, or twice the legal limit in New York.
If there is good news to come from this incident, it is that no drunk driving accidents occurred. Rather, police stopped Edwards before an accident happened and before anyone was injured by Edwards’ alleged drunken driving, a crime in Scottsdale.
Unfortunately, the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. know that too often, drunk driving collisions do take place in the greater Phoenix area and they do result in injuries to the drivers and passengers involved. If your life has been affected by a drunk driving collision, we are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you.
When you call us toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER or locally at (602) 819-5191, one of our lawyers will offer you a free case consultation where we will discuss the specific facts surrounding your accident. We offer the consultation without any obligation on your part and everything discussed will always be kept confidential.
If you have questions or if you need relief, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for your right to a recovery following an Arizona car accident.
Prior Blog Entry:
Seven Injured in Phoenix Light Rail Accident, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published May 11, 2015.
Resource:
Ex-NFL player Edwards arrested for extreme DUI in Scottsdale, by Steve Stout, CBS5AZ.com, published May 12, 2015.