by admin on January 18, 2010
Virginia Beach, VA
NFL Hall of Fame member Bruce Smith pleaded guilty to one count of drunken driving in a Virginia Beach, VA court on Thursday.
Smith was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and complete an alcohol-safety program. He also received a 90-day suspended jail term and had his drivers license restricted for one year.
The former Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins defensive end was arrested on May 14 after police pulled his vehicle over and he failed field sobriety tests. Smith also refused to take a breathalyzer test at the time.
He would later admit to drinking wine with his friends in Norfolk, VA before heading home.
“I made the decision I was OK to drive home,” Smith told the court on Thursday per the Virginia Pilot. “That was the first mistake.”
Ironically, the arresting officer was convicted of DUI after crashing his car while off-duty one month after Smith’s incident.
This was Smith’s third DUI arrest in 13 years. His first case was dismissed while he was acquitted of his second.
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Virginia Beach, VA
Former NFL star Bruce Smith was charged with drunken driving Friday morning after a police officer stopped him for speeding, Virginia Beach police said.
Police spokesman Jimmy Barnes said Smith was released on bond a few hours after being charged with speeding, driving under the influence and refusal to take an alcohol breath test. He could not determine whether a hearing date has been set, and it was not immediately clear whether the 45-year-old Smith had an attorney.
Smith, who played for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins, is the NFL’s all-time sacks leader. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year. He played in 11 Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro selection nine times.
Smith played at Virginia Tech before being taken by the Bills as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft in 1985. He is a native of Norfolk but now lives in Virginia Beach.
Barnes said an officer in a special DUI enforcement unit stopped Smith’s vehicle on Interstate 264 at about 1:42 a.m. He said he didn’t know how fast Smith was driving in the 55 mph zone, but it must have been less than 75 mph or he would have been charged with reckless driving instead.
He said the officer reported Smith’s demeanor was positive even though he refused the breath test.
Smith has two previous DUI arrests but has not been convicted. A 1997 charge was dismissed, and he was acquitted in 2003.
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