Justin Blackmon incriminates himself.

Mr. Torvik normally handles the sports news around here but I noticed this story about former Oklahoma State Cowboy and future Jacksonville Jaguar Justin Blackmon.  Mr. Blackmon was arrested in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  Stillwater, of course, is the home of Oklahoma State University.



According to the Tulsa World, Mr. Blackmon is charged with aggravated driving under the influence.  Around 3:00 in the morning on Sunday, a Stillwater police officer pulled over a white Chevy Tahoe for going 60 on a street where the speed limit is 35 and for driving on the left side of the road.  Apparently the office had to follow the car for about four blocks before it pulled over.  


Mr. Blackmon was identified as driving the Tahoe (and the only occupant) and the officer claims to have smelled alcohol and observed that Mr. Blackmon had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and was unsteady on his feet.  Mr. Blackmon allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and, after being taken to jail agreed to take a breathalyzer test.  Mr. Blackmon registered a .24 on the test.  Which, unfortunately for Mr. Blackmon, is three times the legal limit in Oklahoma.  As an aside, I always thought bloodshot eyes were a side effect of being awake at 3:00 a.m., rather than a side effect of drinking.  Live and learn, I guess.


Mr. Blackmon has pleaded not guilty and was released on a $1,000 bond.  According to Adam Schefter, Mr. Blackmon's arrest will cost him money in his contract negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  


I do not really want to pick on Mr. Blackmon for doing a very stupid, irresponsible, dangergous, and possibly financially disadvantageous thing.  Although if the allegations are true, then Mr. Blackmon did a very stupid, irresponsible, dangerous, and possibly financially disadvantageous thing.  After all, Mr. Blackmon is only 22 and I suspect that 22-year-old kids on every college campus in America do the same stupid thing that Mr. Blackmon allegedly did every weekend.   On the other hand, you would think that there would not be a shortage of people willing to be a football star's designated driver.  


I am not a criminal defense lawyer and have never defended someone accused of drunk driving.  However, the Minnesota Litigator has this post on five things you should know about drunk driving in Minnesota.  The post makes some good points.  For Readers™ not in Minnesota, the first two points are not specific to Minnesota.  First, do not drive if you have been drinking.  Second, if you have been drinking and are pulled over, you have to cooperate with the sobriety tests but you do not have to give statements to the police.  For example, Mr. Blackmon gave a statement to the police when he said he had been drinking.  That said, following the second point may be difficult to do. I suspect that if your judgment is poor enough to not follow the first point on the post, your judgment is also too poor to follow the second point.