Acclaimed environmental activist, Erin Brockovich, was arrested on Friday, June 8 near Boulder City, Arizona and booked with operating under the influence charges. The Nevada Department of Wildlife released information that one of their game wardens stationed at Lake Mead observed Brockovich straining to dock her boat. Upon approaching Brockovich at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor, the game warden also noticed that the 52-year-old woman was struggling with her sense of direction. Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman Edwin Lyngar expressed that being under the influence of alcohol made it difficult for Brockovich to dock her boat stating, “It’s a simple thing if you can think clearly. But if you add alcohol and unfamiliarity of the area, it can all cause serious problems.” At the time of the arrest, Brockovich’s blood alcohol content was .08, almost twice the legal limit in Nevada.
Brockovich is famously known for her impressive work bringing about environmental awareness, which was depicted in the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich” starring Julia Roberts. The movie tells the real-life story of Brockovich, an unemployed single mother who became a legal assistant and single-handedly brought down a California power company for polluting the water supply of a city. While her story has inspired many environmental activists after her, this arrest shines a negative light on her impressive impact on environmental regulation.
Brockovich was detained at the Clark County Detention Center and was later released after posting $1,000 bail. Local authorities reported that Brockovich was cooperative throughout the investigation and her arrest. Two days after her arrest Brockovich issued a statement apologizing for driving her boat drunk stating, “At no time was the boat away from the dock and there was no public safety risk. That being said, I take drunk driving very seriously, this was clearly a big mistake. I know better and I am very sorry. After a day in the sun and with nothing to eat it appears that a couple of drinks had a greater impact than I had realized.”
Many DUI and OUI cases start out as innocent fun that leads to poor decision-making and unfortunately often results in an arrest. If you or a loved one are facing DUI charges, the Leslie Legal Group and his team highly recommend speaking and attaining an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can help you attain a desirable result.
Sources:
“Erin Brockovich Arrested for Drunk Boating”– Examiner, June 10, 2013