Lakers' Buss gets probation for DUI

[Warhawk]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/09/04/lakers.buss.ap/index.html

VISTA, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor drunken driving.
Buss was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $1,900. He was not required to appear in court.
He also admitted he drove with a blood-alcohol level of .13 percent, above the state limit of .08 percent.
Buss owns a home in northern San Diego County and was arrested in nearby Carlsbad in May after being stopped for driving his gold Mercedes-Benz on the wrong side of the road.
Buss was under the influence of an unspecified drug but refused to take a chemical test, according to a criminal complaint filed by the district attorney's office. He was arrested after failing a field sobriety test.
Prosecutor William Wood said Tuesday there was no evidence that Buss had used any drugs.
The 74-year-old Lakers owner entered his plea in state court through defense attorney David Manning Chodos.
Chodos declined to comment after the hearing.
Buss released a statement through the team after his arrest saying he drove only a short distance but recognized it was a bad decision.
"I was wrong to do it. It was a mistake I will not make again," he said in the statement.
Judge Martin Staven ordered Buss to take part in a first-conviction program and attend a program administered by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
A telephone message left for a Lakers spokesman was not immediately returned.

 

[PurpleHaze]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/09/04/lakers.buss.ap/index.html

VISTA, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor drunken driving.
Buss was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $1,900. He was not required to appear in court.
He also admitted he drove with a blood-alcohol level of .13 percent, above the state limit of .08 percent.
Buss owns a home in northern San Diego County and was arrested in nearby Carlsbad in May after being stopped for driving his gold Mercedes-Benz on the wrong side of the road.
Buss was under the influence of an unspecified drug but refused to take a chemical test, according to a criminal complaint filed by the district attorney's office. He was arrested after failing a field sobriety test.
Prosecutor William Wood said Tuesday there was no evidence that Buss had used any drugs.
The 74-year-old Lakers owner entered his plea in state court through defense attorney David Manning Chodos.
Chodos declined to comment after the hearing.
Buss released a statement through the team after his arrest saying he drove only a short distance but recognized it was a bad decision.
"I was wrong to do it. It was a mistake I will not make again," he said in the statement.
Judge Martin Staven ordered Buss to take part in a first-conviction program and attend a program administered by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
A telephone message left for a Lakers spokesman was not immediately returned.

This sounds almost identical to what happened to Musselman. The "first-conviction program" sounds like the part Muss skipped out on by saying he had a medical excuse - so much B.S. Thus he avoided picking up trash along highways like 99.9% of everyone else who is convicted of DUI. Will Doctor Buss get another M.D. to give him an excuse too?

 

[6th]

The "first conviction program" is a class that he must pay for and attend once a week for 3 months. It is mandated by the California Vehicle Code.

 

[PurpleHaze]

The article appears to be a small synopsis of penalties Buss received from the judge and mandated by law. It does not mention that first time DUI offenders are suppose to have their drivers license suspended for 6 months, although one can apply for a restricted license if they enroll in DUI class, etc. I have no personal experience with a DUI (thank goodness) but I just wonder if the esteemed Dr. Buss is going to get some preferential treatment like the wonderful Mr. Musselman did.

 

[VF21]

I think a 74-year-old man might make a much more legitimate request to be excused from picking up trash because of physical/medical limitations than Musselman did.

 

[PurpleHaze]

But the 74-year-old man apparently had enough energy or enough Viagra on hand to be out in the wee hours of the morning with a 23-year-old woman who was in his vehicle when busted

 

[VF21]

A 23-year-old? That's way older than his usual companions.

 

[PurpleHaze]

A 23-year-old? That's way older than his usual companions.

No way he's ever taking after 62-year-old Phil Jackson who has or had a girlfriend who happened to be the almost 50-year-old bosses daughter.

 

[Gargamel]

This sounds almost identical to what happened to Musselman. The "first-conviction program" sounds like the part Muss skipped out on by saying he had a medical excuse - so much B.S. Thus he avoided picking up trash along highways like 99.9% of everyone else who is convicted of DUI. Will Doctor Buss get another M.D. to give him an excuse too?

He has a doctorate in organic chemistry or something similar.

Not that we're ever gonna see a 73 year old trimming iceplant on the Pomona Frwy, much less a multi-millionaire 73 year old.

 

[Gargamel]

But the 74-year-old man apparently had enough energy or enough Viagra on hand to be out in the wee hours of the morning with a 23-year-old woman who was in his vehicle when busted

That's different.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Not that we're ever gonna see a 73 year old trimming iceplant on the Pomona Frwy, much less a multi-millionaire 73 year old.

Having been on that awful, choking, polluted, Pomona Frwy a few times I would say that might be cruel and unusual punishment. Still, he shouldn't be treated any different than the rest of us and ordered to pick up trash somewhere - like maybe around the Staples Center after Laker games.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Having been on that awful, choking, polluted, Pomona Frwy a few times I would say that might be cruel and unusual punishment. Still, he shouldn't be treated any different than the rest of us and ordered to pick up trash somewhere - like maybe around the Staples Center after Laker games.

LA is the home of unequil treament based on status. (I know it goes on everywhere but READ aobut it in LA all the time) Where a sleezebag heris or starlet can get multiple DUI's, possesion charges, and other offenses and prety much walk while the LA county jail is filled with people who comited similar or leser crimes. Dr. Buss is just the latest installment of the same old story.

 

[hoopsfan]

LA is the home of unequil treament based on status. (I know it goes on everywhere but READ aobut it in LA all the time) Where a sleezebag heris or starlet can get multiple DUI's, possesion charges, and other offenses and prety much walk while the LA county jail is filled with people who comited similar or leser crimes. Dr. Buss is just the latest installment of the same old story.

Kinda like Muss?? What was that medical excuse anyhow?

 

[HndsmCelt]

Kinda like Muss?? What was that medical excuse anyhow?

Mental Retardation