On April 28, 2011, Atlanta Braves pitcher Derek Lowe, 37, was charged with DWI, reckless driving, and unsafe lane change in Atlanta, after he apparently engaged in a race with another driver on an Atlanta street. Lowe was pulled over by the Georgia State Patrol, and the officer allegedly smelled a strong odor of alcohol, and Lowe apparently failed Field Sobriety tests.
According to the Los Angeles Times, several sources, Lowe refused to take a chemical test, was booked and taken to an Atlanta jail. He was released on bail of $2,944.
If Lowe was convicted in New York on these same offenses, he would be facing fines of up to $900.00 on the misdemeanor charge, a suspension of his driver’s license for six months, along with the requirement to obtain alcohol abuse assessment, attend the drinking Driver program (“DDP”), attend a Victim Impact Panel, install an ignition interlock device in his vehicle for up to one year, and pay $750 in fines to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. For the misdemeanor reckless driving charge, he would be facing fines, and 5 points on his driver’s license. For the unsafe lane change traffic infraction, Lowe would be assessed 3 points on his driver’s license.
