Mel Gibson's 2006 drunk driving conviction expunged

[Liberal_in_LA]

Mel Gibson's 2006 drunk driving conviction expunged

October 6, 2009 | 9:48 am

A judge today agreed to expunge Mel Gibson's conviction that followed an infamous Malibu drunk driving arrest in which the actor made anti-Semitic comments to a sheriff's deputy.

As part of his 2006 conviction, Gibson agreed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, perform in public service announcements and pay $1,300 in fines to resolve the drunk driving case.



A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy stopped Gibson in July 2006 on Pacific Coast Highway after he was spotted driving his Lexus sedan over 85 mph. A breathalyzer test showed Gibson's blood-alcohol level to be .12%; the legal limit is .08%.

Sheriff’s officials initially described the arrest as “without incident.”

But after the celebrity website TMZ.com obtained the arrest report detailing Gibson’s profane outbursts, attempt to escape custody and repeated threats to the arresting deputy, critics charged that the actor had received special treatment by authorities.

In his initial report, Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee described how Gibson “bolted” from custody and how he chased the actor back to Gibson’s car and handcuffed him.

In addition, the report detailed repeated threats against Mee made by Gibson, who said he “owned Malibu” and would “get even” with the deputy.

The report also detailed Gibson’s “barrage of anti-Semitic remarks,” in which he said, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” before asking the deputy, who is Jewish: “Are you a Jew?”

Department officials decided to place that portion of the report under lock and key in an effort to prevent immediate public disclosure, while only a narrative of the basic facts was made available to station personnel.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/mel-gibsons-drunk-driving-conviction.html

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. If Mel were treated like everyone else,

he would have been given a taste of "Ol' Sparky" the attitude adjuster. Most cops would have tased the shit out of Gibson if he were your average schmoe.

[spanone]

3. my daughter got a dui and had it expunged...it happens all the time

[elocs]

2. Here is what would have happened in Wisconsin to a first time offender:

1st DUI Offense
First Drunk Driving Conviction

The first time you are arrested for drunk driving in the State of Wisconsin you will be fined up to $300 and your drivers license will be suspended for 6 months or more. If there was a driver under the age of 16 in the vehicle at the time of your arrest all penalties received will be doubled. You may be ordered by the court to pay an additional driver improvement surcharge of $355 in addition to your original fine.

Mel should have been here, we're very understanding of drunk drivers.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Mel Gibson's reputation as a disgusting anti-Semite *not* expunged (nt)