Comedian Kevin Hart, 32, was arrested for driving under the influence after nearly crashing his Mercedes into a tanker truck. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, he was arrested on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles. Officials say he was traveling at speeds close to 90 mph when he nearly slammed into a gas tanker.
He allegedly failed a field sobriety test and was booked for misdemeanor DUI. Later that day, the comedian took to Twitter to discuss his situation. He wrote: “Drinking and driving is not a game or a laughing matter. People have lost lives.” He also tweeted: “This is a wake up call for me, I have to be smarter and last night I wasn’t.”
The penalties for driving under the influence are severe in Los Angeles – whether you are a celebrity or the common man. Even first-time DUI offenders can end up facing serious consequences. Penalties for a misdemeanor DUI can include a jail sentence of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, driver’s license suspension and mandatory participation in an alcohol education awareness program. Other possible penalties include community service, the installation of an ignition interlock device and substantially higher insurance premiums.
The Los Angeles DUI defense lawyers at Sitkoff & Hanrahan, LLP offer free consultations to anyone who is facing drunk driving charges. We have successfully challenged breath tests, blood tests and field sobriety tests on behalf of clients in the past. Please do not enter a plea without talking to us. Please contact us at (888) 579-4844 today for a free consultation.