Nocioni arrested on suspicion of DUI

#31
Where the hell was he getting plastered at at 2am in Downtown Sac?? Maybe one of the Hawks players was having an aftergame party at the Park or something. One thing I've always wondered: why the hell would you put both your life and other innocent people's lives when you're a millionaire and have big houses, and I'm sure you could play gracius host at your place...then everyone could sleep it off and drive home sober and safe! Or, you're rich, why don't you get the Playa's Suite at the Hyatt or something?? You could party and drink if you wanted and sleep it off there!
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
#35
I'm going to wait until all the facts come out to make a judgement. BAC of .08 would be different then say 1.4-1.8(which would be flat out drunk), although its not an excuse.

My other concern though, is was he drinking with teammates? Did they knowingly let him drive drunk? Were other guys on the team drinking and drove home, but just didn't get caught? Again, not an excuse, but if the team was out drinking together and they all drove home seperately, thats not a good situation at all, regardless of Noc being the only one who got caught. I highly doubt he was out drinking until 2 or 3 am on a wednesday night by himself, especially since his family is back in argentina.
 
#36
I know the DJ at the club where Noc was, and other friends that were present. He left at closing and my friends were right behind him. They said he did not seem intoxicated at all. People have to remember that while .08 is the law, .08 is not drunk. .08 is barely a buzz. Get yourself a pocket breathalyzer and have a drink and blow you'll be surprised.
 
#37
I know the DJ at the club where Noc was, and other friends that were present. He left at closing and my friends were right behind him. They said he did not seem intoxicated at all. People have to remember that while .08 is the law, .08 is not drunk. .08 is barely a buzz. Get yourself a pocket breathalyzer and have a drink and blow you'll be surprised.
He was pulled over because his car was weaving. Sounds like he was more than buzzed. And even if it's not DUI because his bac is too low to charge him, he could still be guilty of reckless endangerment, which is just as serious an indictment on him as a member of society. I'm not trying to bang on him; could just be a careless mistake, and I don't think it makes him a bad person. But as a public figure with tons of money, he: a) should know better; b) has the resources to hire a car service to take him and his car home.
 
#38
I guess playing for the 2009/10 Kings and losing almost everyday is tough for Andres. I was very surprised; he looks like a smart guy. The only question is was he completely drunk, buzzed or had just one glass of wine?
 
#39
.8 is dead haha

The cop said weaving... don't make it the case that he really was though...

With the economy the way it is cops are pulling a lot more people over to get ticket revenue up.... DUI being the most lucrative. Easiest thing to do is pull people over in DT at bar closing times... even if you are not swerving.... .08 really is not very high. Just the other day i saw a motorist doing at the most 68 get pulled over for speeding on a 65.

Not saying he wasn't swerving... but I'm not the type to believe a cops story just because he is a cop. I'm brown though... so it's genetic that I don't trust cops lol.
 
#41
He was pulled over because his car was weaving. Sounds like he was more than buzzed. And even if it's not DUI because his bac is too low to charge him, he could still be guilty of reckless endangerment, which is just as serious an indictment on him as a member of society. I'm not trying to bang on him; could just be a careless mistake, and I don't think it makes him a bad person. But as a public figure with tons of money, he: a) should know better; b) has the resources to hire a car service to take him and his car home.
Cops can say whatever they want, it really isn't that hard. He very well could have been weaving, but he also could have just been pulled over because it was 2:00am. I have been pulled over because it was 2:00am, they said reason they pulled me over was because I was driving down side streets to get to my house and that was "suspicious". Of course I wasn't speeding or driving reckless, but I got pulled over anyways.
 
#42
What happens now? What is the usual routine? Will he be suspended now?
Muss was suspended 2 games by the NBA but not until he pleaded no contest to DUI over 3 months after he was busted. I don't recall the Kings organization sanctioning him in anyway, but big controversy was escaping a lot of typical punishment for everyday DUI offenders.
 
#43
He was pulled over because his car was weaving. Sounds like he was more than buzzed. And even if it's not DUI because his bac is too low to charge him, he could still be guilty of reckless endangerment, which is just as serious an indictment on him as a member of society. I'm not trying to bang on him; could just be a careless mistake, and I don't think it makes him a bad person. But as a public figure with tons of money, he: a) should know better; b) has the resources to hire a car service to take him and his car home.
I understand what you are saying, but you can not automatically assume that

car weaving = weaving because of intoxication

What if he was text messaging (Also not legal, but peopel still do it constantly)

What if he reached to get something on the floor board, or rear floor board?

There are a number of reasons he could have been pulled over for, then they detected the presence of alcohol. I know someone who was pulled over for going 5 mph over the speed limit at 3 am in tahoe. A case of bored Tahoe City police. Then they detected the presence of alcohol and he blew a .09.

To be quite honest I could have a bac of .08, drive and not have anyone in danger. A decent strength liquor based drink will put you at 08. It's what people do at dinner every weekend.
 
#44
Oh and just in case anyone is in that situation, hopefully you never are, but if you are...

You do not legally have to take the field sobriety tests.

You do not legally have to submit to a breathalyzer in the field.

If the officers have reasonable suspicion that you are under the influence you will be arrested. So if you refuse realize you are most likely being arrested.

By siging for a license you are consenting to take a blood, breath, or urine test, but that's the official one at a hospital or a breathalyzer at the station. That is the one you have to take, or you will lose your license regardless, because you agreed to do that by signing for a license.

But by not taking tests, or breathalyzer in the field it can buy you time if you are just barely over the limit, or at the limit. By the time you get to the station you may be below and they have to release you and you will have nothing on your record. If the tests are inconclusive the whole thing has to be dismissed.

Officers will not give you that option in the field, or let you know your legal rights about taking field tests. They know that most people who want to be compliant with the officers will do whatever they are asked to do.
 
#45
How did this thread turn into a "Defend DUIs because .08 isn't that drunk" thread. :confused:

So, back to the point. The Kings most likely will not suspend him. The league however will. I've noticed in the past, the league seems to deal with players differently than coaches when it comes to DUIs. Players usually get suspended right away, once there is an arrest. Coaches usually only get suspended after a guilty verdict or plea. I believe it is because of the player personal conduct policy. Even getting arrested looks bad on the NBA.
 
#46
I understand what you are saying, but you can not automatically assume that

car weaving = weaving because of intoxication

What if he was text messaging (Also not legal, but peopel still do it constantly)

What if he reached to get something on the floor board, or rear floor board?

There are a number of reasons he could have been pulled over for, then they detected the presence of alcohol. I know someone who was pulled over for going 5 mph over the speed limit at 3 am in tahoe. A case of bored Tahoe City police. Then they detected the presence of alcohol and he blew a .09.

To be quite honest I could have a bac of .08, drive and not have anyone in danger. A decent strength liquor based drink will put you at 08. It's what people do at dinner every weekend.
We're playing the "what if" game now. I am assuming - perhaps wrongly - that the report is accurate, that his car was weaving, and that he was pulled over at two in the morning because the officer really did suspect that he was intoxicated. I don't have any problem buying the officer's story because I see this happen all the time, and it doesn't even have to be 2 a.m. I saw a car weaving like this on the way home from work yesterday at 6 p.m., and wondered if the driver was under the influence. It's not like this is some wild accusation that we've never heard before.

I have been pulled over for no reason more than a few times myself, at all hours of the day (and night). One cop pulled me over in a residential area and said that they were cracking down in the area because of some recent break-ins, and that one of the cars associated looked like mine. It sounded and felt like hogwash to me. Another officer pulled me over (this was at two in the morning) for changing lanes without signaling, but I actually did signal; he let me go. The times I've been pulled over for specious reasons, it was clear what was going on. But I was never charged with anything, and was never driving under the influence.
 
#47
I understand what you are saying, but you can not automatically assume that

car weaving = weaving because of intoxication

What if he was text messaging (Also not legal, but peopel still do it constantly)

What if he reached to get something on the floor board, or rear floor board?

There are a number of reasons he could have been pulled over for, then they detected the presence of alcohol. I know someone who was pulled over for going 5 mph over the speed limit at 3 am in tahoe. A case of bored Tahoe City police. Then they detected the presence of alcohol and he blew a .09.

To be quite honest I could have a bac of .08, drive and not have anyone in danger. A decent strength liquor based drink will put you at 08. It's what people do at dinner every weekend.
Actually they have done test with all kinds of drivers on a course of pylons. Everybody could pass the course sober. After one drink, not one single person got through the course without knocking over at least one pylon. Not one. And among those tested were professional race car drivers.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#48
How about we drop the "how to beat a DUI" rap stuff?

If anybody is running around picking up DUIs, or beating them when they should have picked them up, its not funny, its not cool -- you could kill somebody. Sorry, but I've known people to whom its happened and lost friends/acquaintances. Just dumb. If Noc was above the legal limit, then that's that and there really is no excuse. In fact maybe even less so in the case of a professional athelte with all kinds of resources to get him home. I'm not going to annoint him evil and demand his removal from the team, but it certainly was stupid.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#49
Some comments here are really disappointing. You may feel fine at .08 but that doesn't mean your motor skills aren't slightly impaired enough that it just couldn't be the difference between life and death. I won't get all santimonious but advocating driving at or around the limit is disgusting.
 
#50
We're playing the "what if" game now. I am assuming - perhaps wrongly - that the report is accurate, that his car was weaving, and that he was pulled over at two in the morning because the officer really did suspect that he was intoxicated. I don't have any problem buying the officer's story because I see this happen all the time, and it doesn't even have to be 2 a.m. I saw a car weaving like this on the way home from work yesterday at 6 p.m., and wondered if the driver was under the influence. It's not like this is some wild accusation that we've never heard before.

I have been pulled over for no reason more than a few times myself, at all hours of the day (and night). One cop pulled me over in a residential area and said that they were cracking down in the area because of some recent break-ins, and that one of the cars associated looked like mine. It sounded and felt like hogwash to me. Another officer pulled me over (this was at two in the morning) for changing lanes without signaling, but I actually did signal; he let me go. The times I've been pulled over for specious reasons, it was clear what was going on. But I was never charged with anything, and was never driving under the influence.

The report said he was weaving slightly. We're playing the what if game, because not even the police know if Noc being intoxicated caused him to weave. Only Andres knows that for sure, and he won't be saying at the advice of the attorney I'm sure. So, yes, I'm throwing out options. Just because an officer said Noc weaved, it doesn't automatically mean he weaved because of intoxication. Now if it comes out that is bac was .2 or something ridiculous well then we know what we're dealing with.

Again, I had friends that left when he did and he didn't seem that intoxicated. if he was high like .18 to .2 it would have been visible.

And to others asking if this turned into a beat a dui rap, I appreciate your sarcasm, really I do, but these are my opinions and on topic. Sorry, if you dont' like it, but online forums are a forum for opinion.
 
#51
The report said he was weaving slightly. We're playing the what if game, because not even the police know if Noc being intoxicated caused him to weave. Only Andres knows that for sure, and he won't be saying at the advice of the attorney I'm sure. So, yes, I'm throwing out options. Just because an officer said Noc weaved, it doesn't automatically mean he weaved because of intoxication. Now if it comes out that is bac was .2 or something ridiculous well then we know what we're dealing with.

Again, I had friends that left when he did and he didn't seem that intoxicated. if he was high like .18 to .2 it would have been visible.

And to others asking if this turned into a beat a dui rap, I appreciate your sarcasm, really I do, but these are my opinions and on topic. Sorry, if you dont' like it, but online forums are a forum for opinion.
If you drink enough to blow a .08 and drive a car you deserve every penalty our society will throw at you and more. It's despicable to me and I hope they catch Mike Lamb and Grant at it after listening to them downplay it on the radio.

I am not sure of your logic anyway. If the ticket was for "weaving due to intoxication" then you would have to prove the weaving was because of intoxication.

But - and I'm not a laywer or a cop but I watch them on TV - weaving is just the probable cause to pull him over and make him blow. Nobody has to prove a relationship to convict on DUI I don't think?

It is however a little surprising that anybody is defending "buzzed driving" in 2009.
 
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VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#52
And to others asking if this turned into a beat a dui rap, I appreciate your sarcasm, really I do, but these are my opinions and on topic. Sorry, if you dont' like it, but online forums are a forum for opinion.
You've crossed out of the "opinion" and into the "dispensing legal advice without a license" when you talk about legal rights and how to exercise them IMHO. Especially when you're talking about circumventing legal restrictions on driving while impaired.

And I think you're trivializing this although I'm not sure why.

Am I ready to run Noc out of town? No. Do I think he was pretty stupid to drink and drive? Hell yes. The Maloofs are busily promoting a designed driver program, complete with special tokens you can get at most bars, and one of their own players goes out and gets arrested for DUI? That's just dumb.

If you're going to drink, designate a driver. It's not that hard to do and this all would have never been an issue if Nocioni had.
 
#53
its california

its suspected drunk driving

$5,000 to a good lawyer and its wet reckless driving, no league suspension, no DUI, no story.
 

6th

Homer Fan Since 1985
#55
its california

its suspected drunk driving

$5,000 to a good lawyer and its wet reckless driving, no league suspension, no DUI, no story.

It may be wet reckless to the courts but it is still treated as a DUI by DMV and will be suspended accordingly. It's called Admin per se. When you blow .08 or higher you are under the influence by law. Period.

And to the person who said .08 is not drunk....define drunk. .08 is under the influence by California law.
 
#56
Listen, as a social drinker I understand the whole .08 is not drunk thing. Bottom line is that if you are not 100% focused on driving, you are running a higher risk of injuring someone. Your reflexed at 40 mph are important, and even one, just ONE drink is too much if you are driving. We've all done it, legality be damned - but there is no reason, NONE, that Nocioni should be defended here, by ANYBODY. It is stupid to drink and drive, not matter how little. Those of us that were personally affected by it know this. I wish someone would have punched me in the face when I did it, I wish they would have punched the guy who killed my friend. Nocioni had all the means in the world to avoid this. He didn't. He needs to be reprimanded. Nobody is saying kill him, jail him for 10 years. Reprimand him. It's the right thing to do.
 

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#57
Listen, as a social drinker I understand the whole .08 is not drunk thing. Bottom line is that if you are not 100% focused on driving, you are running a higher risk of injuring someone. Your reflexed at 40 mph are important, and even one, just ONE drink is too much if you are driving. We've all done it, legality be damned - but there is no reason, NONE, that Nocioni should be defended here, by ANYBODY. It is stupid to drink and drive, not matter how little. Those of us that were personally affected by it know this. I wish someone would have punched me in the face when I did it, I wish they would have punched the guy who killed my friend. Nocioni had all the means in the world to avoid this. He didn't. He needs to be reprimanded. Nobody is saying kill him, jail him for 10 years. Reprimand him. It's the right thing to do.
Um, no "we" haven't. I agree with your sentiment in general, but not everyone has made that particular poor decision before.
 
#58
Um, no "we" haven't. I agree with your sentiment in general, but not everyone has made that particular poor decision before.
whoops my mistake there was supposed to be sentence there about my friends. ignore that particular statement. too lazy to edit, using quick response.

btw, to clarify, I meant take ONE drink before driving, not get hammered and drive. sorry for not clarifying.
 
#59
Um, no "we" haven't. I agree with your sentiment in general, but not everyone has made that particular poor decision before.


I was about to say the same thing....not even one drink, oprostaj.
I too have had friends killed by drunk drivers, so I was the one who refused to get in a car with someone who had been drinking and were too stubborn to hand over the keys. Did people think I was over-reacting?? Yes! Did that make me change my mind? No!
I was always the DD when we all went out, and drank soda and smoothies all night and STILL had fun! I always told my friends to call me for a ride home no matter what time it was...because even one drink may be one too many. You just never know!
 
#60
I've never driven drunk or "buzzed." Of course, I've never been much of a drinker either. Consequently, I have been the designated driver many times in my life. One drink does impair a person, unless they wait long enough for the alcohol to be metabolized.

Unfortunately, people's judgement about how impaired they are gets worse as they drink. Alcohol makes good, responsible judgement depart.