FORMER PHILADELPHIA EAGLE JEVON KEARSE VIOLATES IMPLIED CONSENT LAW

Jevon Kearse, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles and now a member of the Tennessee Titans, was arrested over the weekend on the campus of Vanderbilt University, charged with Driving Under the Influence and Violating Tennessee’s Implied Consent Law. Kearse was stopped by campus police when an officer observed his vehicle swerving and traveling in excess of the 30 mile per hour speed limit on campus. According to the police report, the officer detected that Kearse had red, watery eyes, was slurring his speech, and that his breath smelled of alcohol.

The NFL star submitted to a field sobriety test when asked by the officer; however he refused to take a breathalyzer test, a violation of Tennessee’s implied consent law. Most states, including Pennsylvania, have implied consent laws which state that when you are stopped while operating a motor vehicle and suspected of being intoxicated, you must submit to a form of chemical testing if requested by the officer. Refusal to submit to chemical testing, in Pennsylvania, carries an automatic 1-year driver’s license suspension.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence in Pennsylvania is a serious matter, as it is in every state, and carries minimum penalties, if convicted. The mandatory minimum is based on elements of the conviction, with increases in the mandatory minimum based on any previous conviction for DUI or comparable offense within the past ten years. Penalties can range from 6-months probation to up to one year in prison; along with other fines and penalties.

If you have been arrested for Drunk Driving, DUI, DWI, or Underage Drinking, contact a Philadelphia Criminal Defense Attorney immediately.