FIRST rule of DUI arrests: Do NOT take a swig of Scotch in front of the arresting deputy.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving in Florida, leaving teammates stunned and concerned about the slugging first baseman less than a week into spring training.

The 27-year-old Cabrera has struggled with drinking-related problems in the past, but he's coming off perhaps his best season. He hit .328 with 38 home runs last year and finished second in the American League MVP vote.

Cabrera was spotted by a deputy in a car with a smoking engine alongside a road in Fort Pierce. Inside the vehicle, Cabrera smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and took a swig from a bottle of scotch in front of a deputy, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. He refused to cooperate and more deputies were called to the scene.

The arrest occurred about 110 miles southeast of Lakeland, where the Tigers hold spring training. Pitchers and catchers began workouts earlier this week, but position players don't start until Saturday.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/17/miguel-cabrera-arrested-dui_n_824455.html

[msongs]

1. Lucky for Babe Ruth that he rode on trains instead of driving lol nt

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Well, really, why not?

I mean, if you're busted anyway. Might as well go for broke. Gonna be a long night.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. You're right, they probably limit the swigs after they lock them up

:rofl:

:toast:

[bareed]

3. sorry

i try to reach number of replies to post here

[WillyT]

6. Welcome To DU, bareed !!!

:bounce::toast::bounce:

Glad ta have ya aboard !!!

:hi:

[Sonoman]

10. bareed is from Bahrain.

How cool is that?

Sonoman

[Poboy]

17. Pretty cool I say.

[tekisui]

18. Well, keep posting!

How are things in Bahrain?

[Luciferous]

24. Welcome to DU!

[Earth_First]

4. Was he on his way back home after dropping off Wade Boggs? n/t

[stevedeshazer]

7. And he pulled the "Do you know who I am?" card

Bad idea.

[TheKentuckian]

8. The real first rule is not to pour out bottles of booze in a drunken effort to hide the evidence.

True story. Not me because I had "the sense" to keep working on my buzz at the party.

[Recovered Repug]

9. So what is the correct alcohol to swig when stopped for a DUI?

Is this along the same lines as what wine to serve with dinner?

[mediator]

23. Pure ethanol really does not have any easily detectable odor.

Most testimony that amounts to "I smelled alcohol on his breath" is erroneous...what the cop smelled was other chemicals that are mixed in with it whether it's distilled spirits, fermented beverages or cough syrup.

[cloudbase]

11. Dumbass.

Everybody knows that scotch is for sippin', not for swiggin'.

[taterguy]

12. What's the SECOND rule of DUI arrests?

[former9thward]

15. Refuse any field sobriety tests is the second rule and the first IMO.

Actually concerning the 'first rule' I had a client who threw out the keys to his car as the officer approached and then drank as the officer watched from a whiskey bottle. He had no control of the car at that point so they couldn't prove DUI. The drinking of the alcohol invalidated his blood tests. They couldn't prove he had alcohol in his system at the time he was driving his car.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Since his engine was 'smoking', if I were his lawyer, I might try something like that

Say "the car had broken down, he knew he couldn't drive it anywhere, he turned to the bottle in frustration, and was just about to call a pickup truck when you guys came along". Argue that his blood tests were invalidated, that the smoking engine shows the car was unable to be driven, and so he wasn't then in charge of a vehicle that could move.

[mediator]

19. That's a rather famous 'jailhouse lawyer' piece of advice. It works about as often as

the insanity or the twinkie defense. :D

[former9thward]

20. I was his attorney. He worked with him.

It does not work often because most people in a DUI condition don't have their heads together enough to do all the right things. Also most people don't have a bottle of whiskey in the car for that purpose. Try again.

[mediator]

22. I might need to retain you, my attorney tragically died last month...

an ambulance backed over him.


You may have noticed, I took some pains to note that it doesn't often work, as you have verified. Thanks for the confirmation.

[former9thward]

25. In the criminal defense field I stay as far away from ambulances as I can.

[Cirque du So-What]

26. I would guess the 2nd rule is...

don't run away, as you'll get caught anyhow, and the cops will be bringing along an ass-beating for when they catch up to you.

[RandomThoughts]

13. .

Error of person not concept to support people.

[Demoiselle]

14. 328? He hit 328 last season?

All the best to him!

[JackDragna]

21. But..I like scotch!

eom

[Union Scribe]

27. Sad, seemed like the dude had his stuff together.

Rehab, Miguel. Run, don't walk (or drive).

[Motown_Johnny]

28. good thing he can afford a full time chauffeur