Paul White
The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Pro football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith was charged with drunken driving for the third time in 12 years early Friday. Neither of the first two charges led to convictions.
Smith, 45, who lives in Virginia Beach, was stopped for speeding at 1:42 a.m. on Interstate 264 near the Independence Boulevard exits, a police spokesman said. Smith was arrested and charged with drunken driving, refusal to take a DUI test and speeding, said the spokesman, Officer Jimmy Barnes. Smith was released on bond about 4 a.m.
On Friday night, through his attorney, Lawrence Cardon, Smith released a statement:
"I regret the events that took place on May 14. I apologize to my family, friends and fans. I acknowledge my responsibility as a role model, and drinking and driving under any circumstances is wrong. I plan on taking steps to ensure that this never happens again."
The first time Smith was accused of drunken driving, in 1997, the charges were dismissed. The second arrest was in 2003; Smith was acquitted.
After graduating from Norfolk's Booker T. Washington High School, Smith became an All-American at Virginia Tech. In 1985, he was the top overall pick in the 1985 NFL draft. He made the Pro Bowl 11 times and helped the Buffalo Bills reach four consecutive Super Bowls. He left the Bills after the 1999 season and played with the Washington Redskins, retiring after the 2003 season.
In January, in his first year of eligibility, Smith was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted in August in Canton, Ohio.
Smith is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. In a Virginian-Pilot poll of the all-time greatest athletes from South Hampton Roads, Smith came in second behind only multi-sport star Clarence "Ace" Parker.
Smith has also earned acclaim off the field, serving on the boards of St. Jude's Hospital and Operation Smile, among others. He spent time as a member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia Tech.
In February, Smith was honored by the state General Assembly, where he was given floor privileges in the House and Senate and got a standing ovation after the reading of a resolution commending his career and charitable work with youths in Hampton Roads.
"Bruce has done a lot for his community," Cardon said. "And this is not the image he wants to leave with his fans."
Paul White, (757) 418-1447, paul.white@pilotonline.com
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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much a do, about nothing
I'm not a big fan of the over zealous DUI laws due to the massive marketing blitz by MADD. I think they're way over the top and officers have no on-scene judgement calls to make like "hey you're borderline, call someone to pick you up, I'm towing your car for $500".
Actually refusals bring more harsh punishmnet than DUI's. Is that just? Get convicted of refusal and you automatically lose your license for one year with no restricted driving privelages no ifs ands or buts. 1st offense DUI's are nothing and can usually beat it with a good "DUI" lawyer, but your punishment will be spending big bucks to do it. Punishment enough in my mind.
In Bruce's case I'm curious as to where he was and what he was doing to be driving on Thursday night at 1:42am, than I am of his charge. Bet his wife was ticked off.
Leader of the Sack
Bruce Smith is a good person as well as a fine role model for young athletes to look up to. A mistake should not define anyones entire life or career. I'm surprised at the eagerness to attack and slander a man that has not had his day in court. I also wonder how many of you "commentors" have had a drink or two at dinner then preceded to drive home and were lucky enough not to be stopped. I'm guessing most of you. If and when your name is on the front page of the paper I hope people will give you an opputunity to explain yourself and/or go before a judge before they take your license and throw you in jail. Shame on you!
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!!!
Right now, Bruce Smith is ACCUSED of DUI. He has not been convicted. Therefor, according to the U.S. Constitution (do you people remember that document? You all seem to want to throw it out.) he does not need help, and does not deserve jail time. The reason the rich "get away with things" is because taey can affor to hire lawyers who will fight for their rights under the Constitution. The rest of us get stuck with public defenders, who are a part of the Liberal Takeover, and tell us the Constitution doesn't matter, we should plead guilty.
I, too, have had people in my life affected by drunken driving. My aunt served 7 years in prison for manslaughter, a result of a DUI accident. She was convicted of killing a man while driving under the influence, even though the bruising on her body left by the seat belt at the time of impact CLEARLY showed that when the wreck happened, she was in the PASSENGER SEAT! Thanks, mister public "defender."
If you are accused, and innocent, do NOT really on a public defender. Sell everything you own if you must, to pay for a REAL lawyer.
Between
the ages of 16 & 50, I was stopped,, by police at least 50 times, on suspicion of various possibilities, including DUI. I was arrested only a few times,(although I was detained on numerous occasions). I was never convicted of any charges, as all were made up by the arresting officers, & the judges could see through the haze. At least 30 of the times I was stopped, I was working in law enforcement myself. I was even stopped & questioned once while on my own front lawn, adjusting my lawn mower blades. People have to admit that some people can be & are stopped, questioned & sometimes detained or arrested, by police, for less than real reasons. Who one is, how one looks, what one is wearing, what type car & in what area one is driving, has, whether some wish to admit it or not, more to do with a person being stopped than anything else, for too large a number of LEOs. I really don't know if Mr. Smith has a drinking problem or not, neither do most of you other posters.
Mr. Smith
Wow..Here we go again,people say this,people say that,Mr. Smith indeed need some help and we should support that and thank god that no one got hurt,because when Mr. Smith is at the pizza shop on shore dr. he talks to people,when he's at the movie he just like the rest of us and yet you down him and he's a hometown guy,hell they got a statue of him at the ball park that many of you walk past.Mr. Smith please get some help because these are the same people that cheer you when you'll on top and dislike you when you fall,Watch out for them
Good one, Dragren!
Have it your way, buddy. Don't blow into the tube to incriminate yourself. See the two big officers hold you immobile while the nurse takes a passive blood sample!!!
Bruce Smith
All the GOOD that Bruce Smith has done will NOT matter to the PARENTS of the Child he KILLS!
3 times in 12 years isn't
3 times in 12 years isn't bad luck. It means the person has a problem. And they keep getting caught. How many times did he drive drunk and not get busted?
Drinking and driving hits close to home for a few of us, hence we sound so hateful. Like my drunk relative who keeps testing the waters.... it's so embarrassing to see her sloshed out in public and know she's kin. Thankfully she's been busted twice, so at least after the 3rd time, she'll do some jail time and maybe get forced into rehab but at least she won't have a license.
If I sound hateful, I guess it's the demons talking. Sober up Bruce!
Well...
he's been arrested 3 times now, with the first 2 resulting in no convictions. He is innocent until proven otherwise. Thankfully, no one has been injured or worse here, or in his other incidents. I have to wonder though, why do such people, and by that I mean people who apparently have considerable financial means, put themselves, and others, at such risks? Regardless of how the case turns out, the police had reason to pull him and arrest him. Why, if he and others like him, wish to indulge themselves in such a mannner, do they not employ a driver to haul them around? I certainly would. Have a good time, and help the economy by employing a fellow citizen to be your driver. Heck, this is a Hall of Fame player here, I'll bet there are any number of people who would haul him around for nothing, just for a chance to hang out with him. But either way, having someone do so is a win-win for everyone!
Statement Release......
Why is it always through an attorney? If he was sincere he would face the camera and say it himself. Money talks! Give it time and a few delays by his attorney with a few contributions here and there and he will walk.