Bart Durham Personal Injury News & Blog

Ex-Miss USA Rima Fakih accused of DUI

Written by Bart Durham Injury Law | Dec 9, 2011 9:08:55 PM

In yesterday's post we discussed the drunk driving allegations brought against Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih. The beauty pageant winner was stopped last weekend after a police officer observed her speeding in a 2011 black Jaguar. The beauty queen was allegedly weaving in and out of traffic without signaling. This is common poor driving behavior exhibited by people who are intoxicated. Drunk drivers are more likely to speed, less likely to wear seatbelts and also more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents than the general population.

Fortunately the police officer was able to safely stop and arrest Fakih before she killed anyone. Fakih allegedly introduced herself as Miss USA when she was stopped and exhibited disorientation and slurred speech. The police officer says that Fakih fumbled around for her purse and then claimed that she had not been drinking at all. This turns out to have been a blatant lie because breath tests results indicated that Fakih had a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit.

Another problem for Fakih emerged when the officer discovered a half empty bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne behind her seat.

"I swear, I didn't know it was open," Fakih reportedly said.

The officer hauled Fakih to a cell where she was kept "until she was sober for her safety and the safety of others," according to a police report obtained by the Associated Press.

The beauty queen was eventually released and faces charges of careless driving, intoxicated driving, and driving with an open container of alcohol.

Source: Associated Press, "Police: Ex-Miss USA Rima Fakih speeding, weaving in traffic with half-empty bottle of champagne in vehicle," David N. Goodman & Jeff Karoub, Dec. 7, 2011