04/25/24
November 22, 2010
Bucs Receiver Mike Williams Arrested for DUI: Mike Williams, a rookie wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was arrested early Friday morning for DUI after being stopped for speeding in the Tampa area. Williams tested at 0.065 and 0.061, below Florida's 0.08 legal limit for alcohol while driving, but he failed a field sobriety test, police said. A fourth-round pick, Williams has started every game this season and leads the team with 40 catches for 627 yards.
I thought a field sobriety test was given just to see if a breathalyser is necessary. Field tests I've seen are walking the straight line, alphabet, checking pupil movement like following a pen with your eyes so they can see if their reaction is slow. I was given a field sobriety test once and not asked to take the breathalyser. I was caught speeding at 3am.....I would have suspected drinking if I was the cop, so I had no problem with it, but I had just worked late.
And why would you get a DUI if you're below the legal limit? Anyone know the law on that one? Anyone could be nervous during a traffic stop and screw up the field test.
posted by kcfan4life at 09:55 AM on November 22, 2010
Blood alcohol levels are set at a level where everyone is considered impaired.
Actual impairment varies ... some people are legally impaired well below the limit, the physical tests are in place to test general abilities after consuming alcohol.
It's conceivable an athlete who has spent the day getting whacked by 300 pound defensive lineman being bruised enough to fail the tests without consuming any alcohol.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:11 AM on November 22, 2010
All day long Seattle sports radio guys were prefacing the story with "THIS STORY IS NOT ABOUT SEAHAWKS RECEIVER MIKE WILLIAMS..."
posted by vito90 at 11:43 AM on November 22, 2010
Isn't the .08 limit a pretty low threshhold? If he's only at .065, I can't see how he wouldn't pass a sobriety test unless it was being applied overly strictly.
posted by tron7 at 11:56 AM on November 22, 2010
Actual impairment varies ...
So I could get a DUI if I blow and come up at .001? Seems that too many things could factor into failing a Field Test. I could just be clumsy, tired, etc. And what if he would have registered a zero?
Isn't the .08 limit a pretty low threshhold?
Yes.
posted by kcfan4life at 01:23 PM on November 22, 2010
It's conceivable an athlete who has spent the day getting whacked by 300 pound defensive lineman being bruised enough to fail the tests without consuming any alcohol.
My exact thoughts.
posted by cjets at 01:35 PM on November 22, 2010
Out of curiosity, what does a field sobriety test consist of? The one I always see on COPS in the walking in a straight line, which I cannot do regardless because my feet are whacked and I cannot physically make them go straight forward.