College students who drink and drive are not always aware of the serious consequences they could face if they are convicted of a DUI. DUI charges in Virginia can lead to hefty fines, license suspension, enrollment in alcohol abuse programs and jail time. Student athletes have even more to lose, as their whole future can be affected by a DUI conviction. One William and Mary athlete has started his season off with a suspension after being charged with a DUI in late October.
The senior guard for the men’s basketball team has been suspended for violating the team rules. The length of the suspension has not yet been determined but will be decided after an administrative process is conducted.
Records from the district court show that the young man was charged after he was stopped for allegedly crossing the center line several times while driving. Police pulled the man over and the officer reported smelling alcohol on his breath and his eyes seemed glassy and bloodshot. The athlete was taken to jail and was given a breath test to determine his blood alcohol level. The reading cannot be revealed until the case goes to court, but according to the patrol officer, it was above the .08 legal limit.
Virginia residents facing drunk driving charges should know that there is hope to lighten their sentence or have the charges dropped completely. There are many mistakes that can occur during the investigation. In many cases, the officer did not have probable cause to stop the driver in the first place, leading to an improper stop. The officer could also have made a mistake in the administration of the Breathalyzer test. Defending against a DUI charge is possible and can be very successful if done properly.
Source: The Virginia Gazette, “W&M suspends guard Brandon Britt following drunk driving charge,” John Harvey, Nov. 7, 2013