Most DUIs are caught by officers long before they can get into an accident. This also means that most DUIs are misdemeanors. Even though most DUIs are misdemeanors, getting subsequent DUIs within ten years of one another comes with escalating penalties. Beginning with a second offense, a person is facing a license suspension of up to two years, up to 1 year in county jail, 18 to 30 months of DUI school, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock, and 3-5 years of DUI probation. These penalties only get worse the more DUIs a person has until they reach a 4th DUI in 10 years, where the DUI will be a felony.
The NY Daily News reports on actor Michael Madsen being ordered to attend AA meetings prior to his arraignment, which has been delayed.
On Monday, May 20th, a judge ordered Michael Madsen to attend AA Meetings twice a week as a condition of bail.
The actor was due to enter a plea in a Los Angeles Courtroom. However, celebrity lawyer Perry Wander requested a delay so that he could review the case. The judge granted the delay as long as Madsen attends the AA Meetings.
According to authorities, the 64-year-old star of such movies as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill lost control of his vehicle and hit a pole on March 24th. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on the scene, where a field sobriety test was administered. Madsen was subsequently arrested.
Madsen was charged with one count each of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol within 10 years of another offense and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% within to years of another DUI offense.
Madsen is facing 364 days in jail if convicted. Madsen has a previous conviction in 2013 that stemmed from an incident in 2012 where Madsen was arrested after driving erratically on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
