RSSResidents of L.A. are certainly not unaccustomed to hearing about the legal troubles of young Hollywood stars. One of the most frequent types of trouble these inexperienced and privileged residents get into is drunk driving. The most recent case is of Billy Unger, an 18-year-old actor who stars on Lab Rats, a popular show on the Disney XD channel.
Late last month, the young star was cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway when an officer pulled him over for speeding in Malibu. His sobriety test recorded a result of .08, which is just at the legal limit in California and most other states. However, due to the fact that Unger is not yet 21, he was subjected to an automatic arrest. In California, drivers who haven’t yet reached their 21st birthday must adhere to a blood-alcohol content limit of .01. Just a single drink, then, can put one at risk for criminal penalties.
Unger has since been released from jail, though, and it was not immediately reported when his next court appearance would take place. The actor did release a statement, though, thanking fans for their support.
Being arrested for DUI is always intimidating, but for a young driver the process can be even more overwhelming. Whether they’re acting in Hollywood or preparing for college or a job, young people across Los Angeles can see their futures jeopardized by a DUI arrest. A conviction can severely harm a young person’s reputation, and in today’s digital age it can be very difficult to repair the damage to someone’s image.
Making matters worse for young defendants is the case that, most of the time, these suspects are not familiar with their rights under the law. As a result they may make unintentionally incriminating statements or may simply go along with whatever police on the scene suggest. Moreover, inexperienced drivers may also be reluctant to go up against authority figures if their rights may have been violated.
Still, regardless of one’s age, the stakes are simply too high to passively allow a DUI arrest to become a life-altering conviction. To obtain further information on your own DUI case, contact Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Jonathan I. Kelman immediately at 310.286.1218.