Miami DUI Defense Attorney :: Justin Bieber Charged with Drunk Driving in Miami

January 24, 2014

Justin Bieber was arrested and charged with DUI, resisting arrest and driving without a valid license after police allegedly witnessed the 19-year-old pop star street racing early Thursday morning in Miami Beach.

According to the arrest report, when stopped by a Miami Beach police officer just after 4 a.m. Bieber asked “What the f*** did I do? Why did you stop me?”

Bieber was released from a Miami jail an hour after he made a short appearance through a video link before a Miami judge. His bail was set at $2,500 Thursday afternoon.

Bieber was apparently booked into a Miami jail after failing a sobriety test, according to the Miami Beach Police chief.

The chief said that Bieber “made some statements that he had consumed some alcohol, and that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication.”

A Miami Beach officer alleges he saw Bieber driving a yellow Lamborghini in a race against a red Ferrari in a residential area of Miami Beach. Reports indicate the cars were speeding at about 55 to 60 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Bieber allegedly ignored a police officer’s request to keep his hands on the car while he did “a cursory patdown for weapons,” according to the report.

The arrest report goes on to describe Bieber as having a “flushed face, bloodshot eyes, and the odor of alcohol on his breath.”

The Ferrari’s driver, identified as 19-year-old Def Jam recording artist Khalil Sharieff, was also arrested for DUI, according to police.

Bieber arrived in Miami on Monday.

While most people are aware that the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) legal limits in Florida and throughout the rest of the country are .08, many do not realize that drivers under the age of 21 must meet different requirements. Florida’s “zero tolerance” policy states that a driver under the age of 21 must have a BAC of less than .02. If a young driver is pulled over after being suspected of driving under the influence, the officer can request for the person to submit to a field sobriety test. If the test confirms the officer’s suspicions, the driver could then be asked to submit to a breath, blood or urine test. If the BAC results are .02 percent or higher, then the officer can arrest a young driver for DUI.

There are significant penalties attached to underage DUI convictions. A young driver could be forced to face time behind bars, significant fines, license suspension, probation, community service and substance abuse treatment programs. Even worse, a DUI conviction could leave a permanent mark on a young person’s record, which could impact whether or not they get into the college of their choice or find a good job.

If your son, daughter, niece, nephew or even grandchild has been arrested for DUI in south Florida, a Miami DUI Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you fight these charges. We understand just what is at stake for your child and will aggressively defend his or her rights. Our ultimate goal is to secure a positive outcome so that your child can move on from this unfortunate experience unscathed. For a free consultation to learn more about your legal options, please call us today at 561-367-8777.