Pierce pulled over for erratic driving in LV

[kgiessler]

Hope there isn't something else wrong with him that is causing him issues with his balance.


Very glad he wasn't drinking and driving.

Same.

Who said there was something wrong with his balance?  He was driving 'erratically' (apparently switching lanes without a blinker is good reason to pull someone over). 

On top of that, given that he passed 3 sobriety tests, my guess would be that his balance was just fine.  It looks they were also trying to nail for him a DUI to justify pulling him over.  They gave him *3* sobriety tests.

He could have been making a phone call, could have been tired at the wheel, could have felt sick, or any of a number of other things.

My guess is that he was driving just fine and got pulled over for the _wrong reasons_.  3 sobriety tests?  They did everything they could get a charge on him.

[rondofan09]

Some of you people need to calm down. Paul did absolutely nothing wrong. It's almost like some of you are looking for something to complain about or a reason to throw Paul under the bus. Well, this isn't it. Having been screwed over by the cops before, I can tell you that when they pull you over for "not signaling while changing lanes" and they "smelled alcohol coming from the car" they were just looking to get somebody in trouble who was doing nothing wrong whatsoever. Cops have to meet their quota, and this sounds like a routine "looking for trouble when there isn't any" traffic stop.

I was pulled over for "rolling" through a stop sign on my way to the bowling alley one night. When the cop came over, the first thing out of his mouth was "can I search your vehicle?" I told him he couldn't because I was in a hurry to meet my buddies to go bowling. He decides to stick a drug dog on my car and the dog ends up alerting the cop that there was something in the car. The cop then searches my car and found a small little one hitter on the floor, but no pot. I wasn't drunk or high and I wasn't speeding or driving recklessly. The cop pulled me over hoping he'd find something so he could say he's "fighting drug crime," even though I didn't have any drugs in the car. Technically I broke the law for having a pipe with residue in it, I get that. What I don't understand is how busting me when I'm not under the influence or doing anything wrong is putting tax payer money to good use. The fact that a cop is willing to waste 45 minutes of his time on a Saturday night when there is plenty of bigger fish to fry to find that pipe is the reason why the "War on Drugs" is an epic failure.

Back to Paul's incident...It's not much different from mine. The cops post up waiting to bust drunk drivers and ruin their lives instead of trying to prevent the problem by making sure people that are hammered don't drive home from bars. In this case, Paul wasn't drunk or speeding, but forgot to signal to change lanes. That to me isn't a legit reason to pull somebody over and say they're driving erratically. Not even giving him a ticket when they realized Paul was sober is proof that they had no legit reason to pull him over in the first place. They were simply looking for trouble where there wasn't any. If you're going to pull somebody over under suspicion of a DUI, you better be pulling them over because they did something ticket worthy like driving 10+ over the speed limit or swerving...

[action781]

How many of you have drank too much but still think you could pass the field test?  Not a breathalyzer or blood test, but a "field test".  Thought so. 

Hey Paul, time to quit partying and telling the world you're the world's best player and start getting ready for next year.  Party's over, get back to work.

  How many of you actually passed field tests as opposed to just "thinking" you could? Thought so.

I have.

And I also once failed one when I was 18 without having a sip of alcohol.  They are remarkably inconsistent, mostly because the results aren't subjective, but judged by an officer who might already have desired results made up before you take the test.

If he really wasn't drunk, I wonder why he'd decide to take a cab.  But good news that he passed the breathalyzer.

[EJPLAYA]

If they could just convince these guys that 2-4 am in the morning is not the smartest time to be anywhere except at home in their own bed we'd have a lot less of this mess. My mom had a saying growing up. "Nothing good happens after midnight". If you want to party and get your drink on then be smart enough to do it in your hotel room, or your house. At least be smart enough to take a cab.

If you drink more than one drink then it shouldn't make any difference whether you are .79 or .80. .79 is just as irresponsible. Stay off the roads drinkers! That includes you PP.

[EJPLAYA]

Some of you people need to calm down. Paul did absolutely nothing wrong. It's almost like some of you are looking for something to complain about or a reason to throw Paul under the bus. Well, this isn't it. Having been screwed over by the cops before, I can tell you that when they pull you over for "not signaling while changing lanes" and they "smelled alcohol coming from the car" they were just looking to get somebody in trouble who was doing nothing wrong whatsoever. Cops have to meet their quota, and this sounds like a routine "looking for trouble when there isn't any" traffic stop.

I was pulled over for "rolling" through a stop sign on my way to the bowling alley one night. When the cop came over, the first thing out of his mouth was "can I search your vehicle?" I told him he couldn't because I was in a hurry to meet my buddies to go bowling. He decides to stick a drug dog on my car and the dog ends up alerting the cop that there was something in the car. The cop then searches my car and found a small little one hitter on the floor, but no pot. I wasn't drunk or high and I wasn't speeding or driving recklessly. The cop pulled me over hoping he'd find something so he could say he's "fighting drug crime," even though I didn't have any drugs in the car. Technically I broke the law for having a pipe with residue in it, I get that. What I don't understand is how busting me when I'm not under the influence or doing anything wrong is putting tax payer money to good use. The fact that a cop is willing to waste 45 minutes of his time on a Saturday night when there is plenty of bigger fish to fry to find that pipe is the reason why the "War on Drugs" is an epic failure.

Back to Paul's incident...It's not much different from mine. The cops post up waiting to bust drunk drivers and ruin their lives instead of trying to prevent the problem by making sure people that are hammered don't drive home from bars. In this case, Paul wasn't drunk or speeding, but forgot to signal to change lanes. That to me isn't a legit reason to pull somebody over and say they're driving erratically. Not even giving him a ticket when they realized Paul was sober is proof that they had no legit reason to pull him over in the first place. They were simply looking for trouble where there wasn't any. If you're going to pull somebody over under suspicion of a DUI, you better be pulling them over because they did something ticket worthy like driving 10+ over the speed limit or swerving...

Funny how the guys drinking and driving, or the one's with drug paraphernalia in their cars are always complaining that the cops were just trying to meet a quota. That they did nothing wrong...

[no kidding]

I agree, a high-profile guy like Pierce should be particularly careful where he is, and what he's doing at the odd hours of the night.  I'd advise the same to anyone.

But I'm also aware that some cops can be overzealous in checking people out.  And yes, I do believe at times they're trying to fulfill the expectations of their superiors (whether there're actual quotas or not). I know I've been stopped four or five times in my life, and told by the cop that I was driving erracticly, all the while they were carely observing my eyes and sniffing for alcohol. And I'll note, I'm a non-drinker and on none of these occasions did I believe I was driving incorrectly.  

[incoherent]

The fact that he took a cab home proves to me he was drinking.  Why else would he pass the tests but then take a cab home.  Makes no sense.  Celtics fans owe the LVPD a favor, it seems.

[crownsy]

Some of you people need to calm down. Paul did absolutely nothing wrong. It's almost like some of you are looking for something to complain about or a reason to throw Paul under the bus. Well, this isn't it. Having been screwed over by the cops before, I can tell you that when they pull you over for "not signaling while changing lanes" and they "smelled alcohol coming from the car" they were just looking to get somebody in trouble who was doing nothing wrong whatsoever. Cops have to meet their quota, and this sounds like a routine "looking for trouble when there isn't any" traffic stop.

I was pulled over for "rolling" through a stop sign on my way to the bowling alley one night. When the cop came over, the first thing out of his mouth was "can I search your vehicle?" I told him he couldn't because I was in a hurry to meet my buddies to go bowling. He decides to stick a drug dog on my car and the dog ends up alerting the cop that there was something in the car. The cop then searches my car and found a small little one hitter on the floor, but no pot. I wasn't drunk or high and I wasn't speeding or driving recklessly. The cop pulled me over hoping he'd find something so he could say he's "fighting drug crime," even though I didn't have any drugs in the car. Technically I broke the law for having a pipe with residue in it, I get that. What I don't understand is how busting me when I'm not under the influence or doing anything wrong is putting tax payer money to good use. The fact that a cop is willing to waste 45 minutes of his time on a Saturday night when there is plenty of bigger fish to fry to find that pipe is the reason why the "War on Drugs" is an epic failure.

Back to Paul's incident...It's not much different from mine. The cops post up waiting to bust drunk drivers and ruin their lives instead of trying to prevent the problem by making sure people that are hammered don't drive home from bars. In this case, Paul wasn't drunk or speeding, but forgot to signal to change lanes. That to me isn't a legit reason to pull somebody over and say they're driving erratically. Not even giving him a ticket when they realized Paul was sober is proof that they had no legit reason to pull him over in the first place. They were simply looking for trouble where there wasn't any. If you're going to pull somebody over under suspicion of a DUI, you better be pulling them over because they did something ticket worthy like driving 10+ over the speed limit or swerving...

Funny how the guys drinking and driving, or the one's with drug paraphernalia in their cars are always complaining that the cops were just trying to meet a quota. That they did nothing wrong...

how bout this one for you EJ, i was pulled over 7 times at UMASS between 10-2 am, i dont drink and drive. ever. here's how all the stops pretty much went.

"L & R please"

give it to him

"I noticed you were driving erraticly"

" I don't believe i was, but i'll be more aware of it"

"do you mind if search your vehicle?"

(legal studies major, you can say no) "yes, i mind"

"slow it down and quite the swerving, alright?"

"will do"

twice i got asked out to do field soberity tests, which i passed.

bottom line, yes the police do pull people over with very little suspicion at later hours, i.e random stops. i for one don't blame them at all, its very hard to identify drunk drivers, not everyone helps you out by driving like an idiot before the kill someone. The pull you over and get you talking to see if you smell like booze. no problem with this from me.

A fine strategy to me, but not everyone pulled over between the hours of 10-whenever in the morning was asking for it. the only thing i did wrong at collage with relations to driving is drive a beater. Ive noticed now that i have a much more respectable car, this has not been a problem while visiting friends up at umass 

EDIT: i should mention this was over all4 years, not one crazy stretch of time heh.

[BudweiserCeltic]

The fact that he took a cab home proves to me he was drinking.  Why else would he pass the tests but then take a cab home.  Makes no sense.  Celtics fans owe the LVPD a favor, it seems.

Maybe he was tired... they stopped him at 3:30 am, who knows how long the process took.

[BballTim]

The fact that he took a cab home proves to me he was drinking.  Why else would he pass the tests but then take a cab home.  Makes no sense.  Celtics fans owe the LVPD a favor, it seems.

Maybe he was tired... they stopped him at 3:30 am, who knows how long the process took.

  Or possibly he didn't want to have to pass 3 more sobriety tests for switching lanes without signaling...

[BudweiserCeltic]

This is a non story for me.

- Didn't put blinking lights to change a lane = driving erraticly?
- Was under the legal limit of drinking.

This is a bunch of crap. Call me when the guy is actually drunk or is doing something actually illegal of substance, instead of showing me a story the the only thing it shows is that Paul Pierce might be a bad driver.

[Schupac]

Some of you people need to calm down. Paul did absolutely nothing wrong. It's almost like some of you are looking for something to complain about or a reason to throw Paul under the bus. Well, this isn't it. Having been screwed over by the cops before, I can tell you that when they pull you over for "not signaling while changing lanes" and they "smelled alcohol coming from the car" they were just looking to get somebody in trouble who was doing nothing wrong whatsoever. Cops have to meet their quota, and this sounds like a routine "looking for trouble when there isn't any" traffic stop.

I was pulled over for "rolling" through a stop sign on my way to the bowling alley one night. When the cop came over, the first thing out of his mouth was "can I search your vehicle?" I told him he couldn't because I was in a hurry to meet my buddies to go bowling. He decides to stick a drug dog on my car and the dog ends up alerting the cop that there was something in the car. The cop then searches my car and found a small little one hitter on the floor, but no pot. I wasn't drunk or high and I wasn't speeding or driving recklessly. The cop pulled me over hoping he'd find something so he could say he's "fighting drug crime," even though I didn't have any drugs in the car. Technically I broke the law for having a pipe with residue in it, I get that. What I don't understand is how busting me when I'm not under the influence or doing anything wrong is putting tax payer money to good use. The fact that a cop is willing to waste 45 minutes of his time on a Saturday night when there is plenty of bigger fish to fry to find that pipe is the reason why the "War on Drugs" is an epic failure.

Back to Paul's incident...It's not much different from mine. The cops post up waiting to bust drunk drivers and ruin their lives instead of trying to prevent the problem by making sure people that are hammered don't drive home from bars. In this case, Paul wasn't drunk or speeding, but forgot to signal to change lanes. That to me isn't a legit reason to pull somebody over and say they're driving erratically. Not even giving him a ticket when they realized Paul was sober is proof that they had no legit reason to pull him over in the first place. They were simply looking for trouble where there wasn't any. If you're going to pull somebody over under suspicion of a DUI, you better be pulling them over because they did something ticket worthy like driving 10+ over the speed limit or swerving...

Funny how the guys drinking and driving, or the one's with drug paraphernalia in their cars are always complaining that the cops were just trying to meet a quota. That they did nothing wrong...

Funny how the guys lucky enough not to get profiled always think the ones who are are up to no good.

Not that I'm a major victim here.  I don't get pulled over very often at all.  But I've been in the car with friends who maybe "fit the profile" a bit more, and it's funny how often they get pulled over.  For suspicion of anything.  I wonder if Paul "Fits the profile" more than some others?

Look, if the cops hit Paul with three sobriety tests and you still walk away, I see only two likely possibilities here:

1)  Paul was legitimately fine, he just made same type of common driving mistake people make every day, and the cops tried to bust him but couldn't.

2) Paul was legitimately NOT fine, and got three tries to prove he was relatively sober.  His celebrity status got him out of trouble.



We have no idea which one of those, or maybe some other scenarios, this falls into.  But assuming one or the other does say something about you.  I assume #1, and I'll admit that says something about me.  But stop and think what assuming something else says about you.

[incoherent]

Hello, welcome to the real world.

Las Vegas + 3:30 AM = partying

Paul was given a break, he probably wasn't really drunk or anything, but he had definitely been drinking at one point in that long night.

[BballTim]

Hello, welcome to the real world.

Las Vegas + 3:30 AM = partying

Paul was given a break, he probably wasn't really drunk or anything, but he had definitely been drinking at one point in that long night.

  How much of a break was he given if he passed a breathalizer test?

[incoherent]

Show me that he was giving one and I'll retract my statement.