Posted by the Charleston DUI Lawyers at Anderson & Schuster, Attorneys at Law, LLC. Our Charleston DUI lawyers help those charged with DUI in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and across the South Carolina lowcountry. If you are charged with DUI, our Charleston DUI Attorneys will discuss your case with you free of charge.
Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd entered a plea of guilty today to a misdemeanor DUI charge and was placed on probation. Last year he was charged with DUI after he ran into a utility pole on eastern Long Island. In exchange for the guilty plea to DUI, Kidd agreed to speak to Long Island high school students about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Kidd retired as an NBA player after last season and was recently hired to coach the Nets, the team he took to two NBA Finals as a player when the franchise played in New Jersey.
Kidd could have received three years' probation for the DUI, but a better alternative was reached, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said outside court.
"He's a role model to kids and other people. And he's going to have the opportunity to talk to them about the foolish mistake that he made and the fact he took responsibility for his actions," Spota said.
Kidd was returning from a charity function before the crash according to Kidd's DUI defense attorney. A Southampton Town Police report noted the 10-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist was unsteady on his feet, smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot and glassy eyes.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving issued a statement expressing concern that Kidd was allowed to reach a plea agreement in his DUI case that will preclude him from being required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle. MADD noted that New York law does not require the use of such devices in DUI cases like Kidd's.
"MADD urges every state to demonstrate that they take drunk driving seriously by passing all-offender ignition interlock laws and prosecuting drunk driving to the full extent of the law," the statement said. MADD leads the charge in persuading state lawmakers to pass DUI laws requiring first-time DUI offenders to install ignition interlock devices. Currently 18 states have DUI laws requiring interlocks after a first-time DUI conviction.
The Charleston DUI Defense Lawyers at Anderson & Schuster, Attorneys at Law, LLC help those arrested for DUI in Charleston, North Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Moncks Corner, James Island, West Ashley, Folly Beach, Sullivans Island, Isle of Palms, Awendaw, McClellanville and the surrounding areas. Contact our North Charleston DUI Defense Lawyers to discuss your case today.
Source: ESPN, Jason Kidd on Interim Probation for DUI
