Florida DUI Lawyer :: Barbara Walters’ Daughter Arrested for DUI in Naples

May 23, 2013

Barbara Walters’ daughter, 44, was arrested Sunday in Naples for a misdemeanor DUI offense involving drugs and/or alcohol.

According to police, officers responded to a call about an SUV parked on I-75 in the center lane, almost causing multiple collisions.
When police arrived they suspected the woman and her male passenger were intoxicated.

Police claim they helped the male passenger out of the vehicle and handcuffed him so he would not wander into oncoming traffic. Police apparently found a small trace of marijuana and a pipe on the male passenger. He was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Walters’ daughter allegedly got out of the SUV and started screaming at the officers. She was eventually handcuffed as well after she allegedly grabbed an officer and was tackled to the ground.

After she refused to take a field sobriety test, she was placed under arrest.

A Breathalyzer test later revealed her BAC was 0.218, well over Florida’s legal limit. She was booked and released a few hours later on $1,000 bail.

Walters has yet to comments on her daughter’s arrest. Recently, however, Walters openly talked about her adopted daughter’s problems with drugs and alcohol. Walters adopted the woman in 1968 when she was an infant. She was in quite a bit of trouble in her teenage years with drugs and alcohol, and even spent some time in boot camp for troubled girls.

Due to the fact that Walters’ daughter has a clear history of substance abuse problems, it is actually surprising that this is her first DUI arrest. While DUI charges are very serious legal matters with very real consequences, sometimes, for those with substance abuse problems, getting arrested for DUI can allow those who need help the most to get the treatment they need either voluntarily or by court order. Depending on the circumstances, a DUI defense lawyer may be able to arrange for someone convicted of DUI to attend a substance abuse program instead of serving time behind bars.

The penalties for a DUI in Florida are quite strict and include the mandatory suspension of your driver’s license, possible jail time and large fines. Following a conviction for DUI, most offenders will be required to take alcohol and drug education programs in order to prevent future incidents of impaired driving. Additionally, you could be facing community service and the installation of an ignition interlock device on your car.

After you or someone you love has been arrested for DUI in Florida, it is very important to you hire a DUI defense lawyer. DUI laws are constantly changing and you could find yourself facing severe penalties even if this is your first arrest for intoxicated driving. A Florida DUI Defense Attorney at Whittel & Melton can aggressively fight to protect your future and help you get your charges reduced or dropped. Our main goal is to help you achieve a successful outcome for your situation so that you can move on with your life as quickly as possible. For a free consultation regarding your DUI case, contact us today online or call us statewide and toll-free at 866-608-5529.