“Bieber Fever” Increases as Details of the Pop Star’s DUI Arrest Continue to Filter In

After suffering some serious PR bumps in the road over the past year, Justin Bieber, the 19 year-old pop singer, has seemingly just run into a veritable wall of trouble. While initially charged with driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving on an expired license from Georgia, more charges could be pending. According to Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez, Bieber was booked into a Miami jail after being stopped at 4:10 a.m. and failing  field sobriety tests. Bieber’s arrest report states his face was flushed, his eyes were bloodshot and there was a distinct odor of alcohol on his breath. Bieber allegedly made statements to officers that he may have also been smoking marijuana and had taken prescription meds as well.

A residential Miami area—with a posted speed limit of 30 mph—was where Bieber, in a yellow Lamborghini, and Khalil Amir Sharieff, an “associate” of Bieber’s, driving a red Ferrari, were spotted by police, racing against one another, reaching speeds as high as 60 mph. Both cars—worth over half a million dollars together—were rented by Bieber for one night. Bieber was reportedly uncooperative with police, questioning why he had been pulled over and why the police officer was questioning him at all. Bieber apparently ignored the officer’s request to keep his hands on the car and was allegedly belligerent and using profanity during the stop. Sharieff was booked for DUI as well.

Although Bieber was recently accused of egging his California neighbor’s home—causing an estimated $20,000 in damages—no charges have yet been filed regarding that incident. There have also been reports by Bieber’s California neighbors that the teen has been racing another expensive sports car down community streets, and deputies have responded to complaints about loud parties on at the singer’s house on numerous occasions.

Thursday morning, both Bieber and Sharieff were taken to a Correctional Facility located northwest of Miami International Airport where they will be held a minimum of eight hours from the time of their arrests. Bieber could face first-degree misdemeanor charges which could bring penalties of up to six months in jail and a six-month license suspension should he be convicted.   Even though Miami Dade has a diversion program for first time DUI offenders, more than likely Bieber will not be eligible for that program since the “driving pattern” is considered to be “Bad”.

While driving under the influence is always a bad idea, keep in mind that all the facts of this case may not be in. Field sobriety tests are notoriously unreliable and it appears that Bieber blew BELOW the legal limit of .08.   Should you ever find yourself in a similar position, it is important that you refrain from talking at all, until you have had the opportunity to discuss your situation with an experienced Florida DUI attorney.