Celebrities are not immune from the watchful eyes of the law when it comes to drinking and driving. These past few weeks were no exception. Baseball and football players and reality television stars alike have recently taken to the road after having a few drinks.
The headline star of TLC channel's Cake Boss was arrested on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) in New York City. Buddy Valastro, known as the “Cake Boss,” was pulled over for driving erratically at about 1 a.m. in Lower Manhattan. The television show Cake Boss follows Valastro's day-to-day running of his bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey. Last week, his yellow Corvette was reportedly swerving through traffic. After the car was stopped, the police stated he was unsteady when Valastro stepped out of his car, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face flushed. Valastro apparently failed a breath test, and was arrested by police.
Meanwhile, across the river, the MetLife Stadium is preparing for the return of the Giants' Aldon Smith. Linebacker Smith is returning following a suspension for violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policies. Last year, Smith was arrested for a DUI. He was later sentenced to 12 days in jail on DUI and gun charges. His sentence also included a $2,000 fine and 235 hours of community service.
The NFL further levied penalties on Smith. He underwent treatment at an inpatient facility. Smith was forced to sit out for a 9-game suspension. During that time, he attended meetings and workouts, but was not allowed to practice. Smith said he is looking forward to returning to the game, to earn back the trust of fans, teammates and his coaches. However, he has stated that he enjoyed doing the community service and spending time with his family during the suspension.
In the Dominican Republic, a St. Louis Cardinals' players decision to drink and drive turned tragic, resulting in a fatal accident. Oscar Taveras, the rookie outfield for the Cardinals was killed when his car crashed in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. According to the country's attorney general's office, Taveras was “legally intoxicated” at the time of his crash.
Spokeswoman Tessie Sanchez reported toxicology reports showed Taveras had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.287 percent, over five times the legal limit in the Dominican Republic of 0.05 percent. To reach that level of alcohol, he would have had to consume the equivalent of 15 drinks in two hours. Taveras was driving with his girlfriend, Edilia Arvelo, in their home country. He lost control of his 2014 Chevy Camaro when his car ran off the road and struck a tree. They were both killed in the accident.
This was not the first time alcohol was blamed for taking the life of a St. Louis Cardinal. In 2007, pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident, with tests showing his BAC was almost twice the legal limit. As a result, the team banned alcohol from their clubhouse. They have since banned alcohol on team charger flights.
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