Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps became the most recent celebrity to be arrested for DUI in Baltimore. He was charged with DUI for the second time in 10 years.
According to police officers, Phelps was stopped for speeding when he was going at 85 mph, in a 45 mph zone. When police officers administered a standard field sobriety test, Phelps failed the test. According to officers, he also failed a breathalyzer test. Phelps was cooperative, and was charged with excessive speeding, DUI, and other traffic violations.
Phelps’ last DUI arrest was back in 2004, when he was 19 years old. Phelps is expected to swim at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro although he has not confirmed this yet. It is too early to tell whether his most recent arrest for DUI will affect his appeal to sponsors, as he attempts to make a comeback to the sport.
If this had been a first-time DUI arrest, it would probably not have made much of a difference to sponsors. However, according to advertising and marketing executives who work closely with sports athletes and sponsors, a second DUI very often tends to make sponsors a little nervous.
The 2016 games is still a long way off, and it is very likely that this arrest will be forgotten before the marketing push for Rio actually begins. If Phelps can avoid another arrest for DUI between now and the time the Games begins, it is quite likely that his second DUI arrest will not affect his appeal at all.
The public frowns on DUI, and sponsors know this. There is very little tolerance for drunk driving, especially by celebrities. However, a DUI arrest can have plenty of consequences for you, even if you are not a celebrity. If you are arrested for DUI, get in touch with a Los Angeles DUI lawyer.
