Springsteen "visibly swaying" before drunken driving arrest, police say

[pnwmom]

Source: NYTimes

The park ranger who arrested Bruce Springsteen was on foot patrol when he said he watched the rock icon drink a shot of Patron tequila.

He stopped Mr. Springsteen not far from the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in a national park on the northern coast of New Jersey, according to a report filed after the musician's Nov. 14 arrest.

"Springsteen claimed that he had two shots of tequila in the last 20 minutes," the officer, identified as R.L. Hayes, wrote. The musician, he added, smelled "strongly of alcohol" and had "glassy eyes."

The National Park Service ranger reported conducting a series of field sobriety tests. Mr. Springsteen was "visibly swaying back and forth," Ranger Hayes wrote, and took 45 steps during a walk-and-turn test rather than the 18 he'd been instructed to take.


Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/nyregion/bruce-springsteen-dwi-arrest.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage

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I don't trust this police officer's actions here. According to the article, Springsteen had been speaking to his fans, when he took a shot of tequila, and then got on his motorcycle. It sounds like that's when the police officer approached him. Springsteen said it was his second shot. The officer said he smelled like alcohol, and had "glassy eyes," whatever the heck that means, so he ran him through sobriety tests -- which weren't designed and aren't reliable for people over age 60.

Initially, Springsteen refused a breathalyzer, but he had the blood test.

Springsteen's anonymous source is saying his blood alcohol was .02%.

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. Just feelin the music.

[Nocturnowl]

40. He was dancing in the dark

Wha, that's illegal now???

[msongs]

2. would a local cop lie to bag a celebrity? does a bear s***in the woods nt

[Crowman2009]

19. Well ever since Bruce released that song "41 Shots" I wouldn't be surprised if any police officer..

...would want to make up something to get him arrested.

[Yeehah]

20. Cops lie more than they tell the truth

A great example: "The dog alerted to the presence of drugs."

[Deuxcents]

3. Me, either

He blew a 0.02 n the limit is 0.08 n he’s swaying back n forth? He was with a bunch of people so I guess he’ll have witnesses..the park is considered federal property so is this a federal case?!

[pnwmom]

5. Yes, it's a federal case to be held in federal court -- which isn't good.

He is also 71 years old. Even if he's in good shape for 71, that in itself could affect his balance.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Weenie Trumper taking out a superstar lib

I can almost hear him panting.

[Chainfire]

7. If he was driving drunk he needs to pay the price.

He is not important enough to kill other people with impunity.

[pnwmom]

8. The article seems to say that he drank two shots while not driving, while standing with fans,

and then sat on his motorcycle, where the cop stopped him.

And the claim is his blood level was only .02.

[marble falls]

9. .02%. Really.

[pnwmom]

11. Per 2 anonymous sources.

"Two people close to Mr. Springsteen who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly said that it was 0.02 percent, well below New Jersey’s 0.08 percent legal limit."

[marble falls]

13. That won't even get a ticket for impaired (.05 - .08%) in Illinois. But with the 'buzzed driving ..

... drunk driving' campaigns, who knows?

[LiberalArkie]

23. Does that include him just sitting on the motorcycle?

on edit: I had a friend busted for DUI while sitting on his tailgate. .01%

[marble falls]

28. If the key is in the ignition or if there's an open container (even 30yrs old) will get you jamed.

[pnwmom]

29. But not with a .02, normally. n/t

[marble falls]

30. I've never heard of anything under .05%. It's a new one on me.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Famous rock star on drugs or drunk. This is news?

[pnwmom]

12. If his blood level really was only .02, it would be news to arrest somebody like that, yes. n/t

[Irish_Dem]

14. Thanks I didn't understand the issue. If he blew only a .02 then he should be under the state

limit.

[pnwmom]

17. Somebody explained elsewhere that they look at the totality of the evidence,

but it is very unlikely that with such a low blood level, that he would be ultimately convicted, no matter how much he "swayed" or how "glassy" his eyes looked.

[Irish_Dem]

18. Maybe they thought he had been smoking dope or taking some thing else.

Right, I don't see how they can convict with subjective evidence of "glassy" eyes.

[CatMor]

15. Who administered the blood test....

is it done at the police station within a short period of time. If the level was 0.02 wouldn't the case be dismissed.

[orangecrush]

16. Sounds like bullshit.

[George II]

21. 71 years old and as far as I know not a single drug or alcohol problem.

[LiberalArkie]

24. 73 here and can't walk a straight line.

[PatrickforO]

38. The Boss is a great musician. Good guy, too.

I'm 62 and doubt I could do the balance test. Thing is, I don't drink.

[Miguelito Loveless]

22. Reports I read say he blew a 0.02% BAC

0.08% is the limit, so why was he arrested?

[pnwmom]

35. Because the police officer in the park watched him talk to his fans,

accept an offered shot of Tequila from a fan (who probably feels terrible now) and then get back on his motorcycle. Before he could drive anywhere, the cop stopped him and demanded he do the field sobriety tests and a breath test. Springsteen said no to the optional breath test, but had the mandatory test.

[IronLionZion]

25. If he was tired or sleep deprived,

that would make it worse even with no alcohol.

[pnwmom]

34. Also, he's 72. Older people don't have as good balance as younger people. nt

[PJMcK]

26. Is there a defamation suit in this case?

The cop was way off the ranch with this arrest.

By the way, isn't it curious that Republicans often appropriate Springsteen's song, "Born In The USA," but they don't realize what the lyrics actually mean?

Republicans are idiots.

[irisblue]

27. a rocker from all the way back to the 70s can't do 2 shots of tequila?

I'm betting Bruce has lawyered up

[0nirevets]

31. Hey DU stone throwers. Get off his ass.

This is Springsteen, liberal democrat, union supporter, a rock legend and true renaissance man, who also happens to be a drunk, like me and many of you.

[Archae]

33. Can I still say he mumbles too much?

[Hekate]

32. That cop better have a helluva good body cam evidence. Point zero two percent? I don't think so...

Something smells here, and it isn’t tequila.

[JeaneRaye]

36. Why now?

This supposedly happened 3 months ago. Why am I reading about this now?!

[tirebiter]

37. Yesterday's papers

[diverdownjt]

39. Opportunity missed....

He could have had a shot with the boss...but seriously you can offer a ride home for a celeb or wait till
someone comes to pick 'em up.....It's effin new jersey and this is the Boss...WTH.
It doesn't always have to end in arrest.

I would have drove him home.