Being arrested for drinking and driving is the worst nightmare for anyone who has ever tried to get away with this bad behavior. However, it is all too common. It costs the United States over $130 billion dollars each year, and more than a quarter of a million people were injured in drunk driving accidents in 2015. Someone who kills others while driving under the influence can end up spending many years in jail in many states. It's not worth the risks on any level, yet many people do it. Here are three Hollywood legends who made the wrong choice and got busted for it.
John Denver
Few singers have ever achieved what John Denver did. Tunes like "Annie's Song" and "Rocky Mountain High" are still played on radio stations every day decades after they catapulted John Denver to mega-stardom. He reached great heights, yet also had steep falls. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, and he had to go to trial for the offense twice when the first trial resulted in a hung jury. His DUI attorney felt Denver was unfairly targeted for a second trial because of his celebrity status, and tragically John Denver passed away in a plane crash before going to court a second time.
John Stamos
Fans adore John Stamos as the endearing and utterly wholesome Uncle Jessie on Full House, and his career has gotten a resurgence with the mega-success of the shows sequel Fuller House. However, something must have been troubling Stamos beneath the surface in June of 2015, when he was arrested for driving under the influence, and he was later charged with DUI when drugs were found in his system. He pleaded no contest and escaped jail time, but he did face three years of probation.
David Cassidy
"Come on, get happy" are lyrics to the song that fans of The Partridge Family may forever hear when they see David Cassidy. However, the star who once famously portrayed Keith Partridge was not feeling so happy about things when he took the risk of driving under the influence and was caught in 2013. Within six months, he got a second DUI arrest. Although he had been sober for some time, he fell off the wagon due to alleged financial and career pressures. He was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident in 2015, so it is unclear if the star's woes are behind him.
Finally, no matter how successful these entertainers are, they should never have taken such a big risk. They could have killed someone. There is no way to sugar coat the fact that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts the driver at risk, and it also risks their freedom, the lives of innocent people of all ages who share the road with them, and even their financial stability. In the real world, it can also threaten someone's career. Although these celebrities were largely able to take attention away from their DUI, most people aren't so lucky. If you have been arrested on a drunk driving charge, it's important to see a DUI attorney to find out how you can move forward from here and make better choices in the future.
