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News broke today that Jessica Simpson’s father, Joe Simpson, was arrested last Saturday for a DUI. While it’s a sad turn of events for the 54-year-old former minister, it’s by no means the only celebrity we’ve heard about drinking and driving lately. We’ve rounded up the DUI news from Hollywood over the past few months, just to confirm our suspicions. You just might be surprised who made the list.
Amanda Bynes made headlines in April when she was charged with a DUI after side-swiping a cop car. She also tweeted, asking for President Obama to fire the officer at the scene. Really?
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Former porn star turned author Jenna Jameson had her run-in with the law in May, when she slammed her car into a light pole in California. While she tested above the legal limit, she still pled not guilty last month. WTF?
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Rick Springfield was also arrested in May 2011 after a traffic stop in which an officer smelled booze and Springfield allegedly threatened to kill him if he had his 1963 Corvette Stingray towed. He just settled the case this month, cutting a bargain deal for three years probation and a two month driving program. Well, he got off lucky, didn’t he?
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Celebrity chef Cat Cora got her DUI in June when she rear ended a car full of “nerds” (her words, not ours). When she was tested, she was found to be twice the legal blood alcohol limit.
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Big Brother’s Willie Hantz fought the Sheriff in July when he ran from the scene of a bar fight. While the police found him in his car initially, it was under the suspicion of drunk driving that he was arrested. He made bail, so what’s next? We’ll have to wait and see for sure, but one thing we do know … he got kicked off of Big Brother.
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NBA star Jason Kidd got behind the wheel after drinking in July, but not before he was carried out of the club after partying half the night away. Cops charged him with a DUI after he was involved in a single vehicle accident (that means he wrecked his own car). He has pleaded not guilty. Go figure.
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Randy Travis, who was already in trouble for public intoxication earlier this year, got a DUI earlier this week. He was arrested after crashing his car and threatening the police who arrived at the scene. Incidentally, he was also buck naked. Yes, you read that right. Why? Well, no one is sure just yet.
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So what’s with all the DUIs? Do celebrities just figure that they can get off easy because of who they are? Drinking and driving can have serious consequences. Do you know anyone whose life has been changed because of a drunk driver? Consider the following facts before you even think about drinking and driving:
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- The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or taking a cold shower will not help.
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- Every day in America, another 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes.
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- In 2010, 211 children were killed in drunk driving crashes. Out of those 211 deaths, 131 (62%) were riding with the drunk driver.
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- Teen alcohol use kills about 6000 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.
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No matter what your story is or what you’ve heard, there’s no excuse. It’s not “cool” because your Hollywood role model does it. Play it safe. Be smart. Please, just don’t drink and drive.
:)