Lions President Tom Lewand Pleads Guilty to Driving Impaired

Although Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand pleaded guilty to driving impaired, the matter also is still being reviewed under the league's personal conduct policy.
Detroit Lions exec Tom Lewand was arrested in June on suspicion of drunk driving but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of operating while visibly impaired, the Detroit News reports.
The incident has raised some questions about whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will discipline an NFL executive as the personal conduct policy applies to everyone who works for the league.
According to officials, Lewand's car was seen crossing from one lane to another after leaving a bar's parking lot. He had a 0.21 percent blood-alcohol level, more than twice the legal limit. In addition, Lewand refused several times to be tested by police when he was pulled over.
Lewand was sentenced to six months probation and fined $532. Also, he is required to attend an outpatient recovery program and is not permitted to drink alcohol while on probation.
Originally Lewand told authorities he was a designated driver picking up a friend, but later apologized and said he will make sure there will be no similar incidents in the future.
In general, DUI laws make it unlawful for a person to operate a car, truck, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle if:
- The driver's ability to safely operate the vehicle is impaired by the effects of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescribed medications such as painkillers, or even over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines; or
- The driver is intoxicated at a level above established DUI standards, such as blood-alcohol concentration (BAC).
Related Resources:
- What are field sobriety tests? (FindLaw)
- DUI Convictions: Criminal Penalties (FindLaw)
- State DUI Laws (FindLaw)