Football fans in New York as well as across the country may want to know more about former New York Giant Lawrence Taylor’s guilty plea in connection with a drunk driving case in Florida. On June 19, news sources reported that the plea deal will allow Taylor to avoid jail time for DUI. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in September 2016 near Palm Beach Gardens.
In a statement made to authorities during processing, Taylor indicated that he had been drinking prior to hitting a motorhome and sideswiping a police vehicle. Media sources cited Palm Beach County Court records in their report. In an earlier incident, the longtime NFL player pleaded guilty to patronizing a prostitute and sexual misconduct. Taylor was sentenced to six years of probation in that case, which was filed in 2011.
According to sources, the 1999 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee has been sentenced to 12 months of probation in the 2017 case. Taylor must also install and maintain an ignition interlock device on his vehicle for six months and do community service. He must deal with a license suspension of nine months as well as $1,476 in fines and court costs.
Although this plea deal was negotiated in another state, motorists may want to be aware that penalties for a conviction on DWI charges in New York may also be severe. Drivers who are detained on suspicion of drunk driving may find it beneficial to seek a case evaluation with a criminal defense lawyer. Dependent upon the circumstances surrounding each unique situation, the attorney may be able to negotiate with the prosecutor and achieve reduced charges or penalties on the client’s behalf. Source: CBS Sports, “Giants legend Lawrence Taylor avoids jail time after pleading guilty to DUI,” John Breech, 06/19/2017