A big fan of places like Clarke's and The Florida Room, Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan was arrested for alleged drunk driving in Miami on July 12. According to the police report, Donovan's car swerved to avoid hitting the police car. He also told cops he had three drinks at the Fontainebleau, claiming he was "only borderline and not too drunk," failed a sobriety test and after posing for this mug shot, was released several hours later. "The only mistake I made tonight was drinking Benadryl with 3 glasses of wine," Donovan told the cops as he was taken into custody. Benadryl! Borderline drunk! Oy! Is it part of a star's Miami street cred to be busted for DUI here? Perhaps, but what this really says about our fine city is that not all celebrities get preferential treatment down here so don't be surprised if Burn Notice tries to burn us back for this and take their show back to LA.
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Your article implies that this star should have been given preferential treatment because of his star status, in order to appease his show's producers, and to encourage them to keep their show in Miami. Yeah, sounds logical to me
Posted by: John | July 20, 2009 at 03:29 PM
John, it's called sarcasm! It's no secret that authorities have been known to cover up things from higher caliber celebrities to keep them happy down here..
Posted by: Lesley Abravanel | July 20, 2009 at 03:31 PM
He could always take it to court and get acquitted like Pit Bull, then say something stupid afterward like "I learned my lesson." Wasn't Pit Bull just acknowledging the fact that he was drinking & driving even though he was acquitted? Celebretards.
Posted by: Slap Chop | July 20, 2009 at 03:43 PM
So, are we going to get any local reporting or just TMZ? I see "taken into custody" but not "charged." Was he charged?
Posted by: Curious | July 20, 2009 at 03:43 PM
THIS IS THE REASON WHY THE LAW AS WE KNOW IT ISN'T WORKING. I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY 25 YEARS AGO WHEN TWO PEOEPL WERE BOTH ARRESTED FOR HAVING A LARGE QUANTITY OF DRUGS. ONE PERSON WAS ALLOWED TO BOND OUT ON A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR BOND. THE OTHER PERSON WHO WAS WITH HIM COULDN'T MAKE BOND AND HAD TO STAY INCARCERATED. TO ME THIS WAS VERY SICKENING DUE TO THE FACT IT WASN'T THE FACT OF THE CRIME THAT KEPT HIM IN JAIL IT WAS THE LACK OF MONEY TO BOND OUT. IN MY OPINION, THEY BOTH WERE CAUGHT WITH THE ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE. THEY BOTH SHOULD HAVE REMAINED IN JAIL UNTIL THE COURT MADE A DECISION. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE NORM IN OUR COUNTRY. DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE MONEY AND A GOOD LAWYER. WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS HAS TO SAY AT THE JUDGEMENT. ST. MATHEW 10:26
Posted by: RICK THE TRUTH SPEAKER | July 20, 2009 at 03:45 PM
What I do not understand is why these guays with lots of money don't take a taxi home after a drinking orgy.
Posted by: toni | July 20, 2009 at 04:16 PM
"Somebody please remove Rick's caps lock key. For the love of God."
Ezekiel 14:4
Posted by: Slap Chop | July 20, 2009 at 04:16 PM
he was charged with DUI. and FYI, it's not TMZ, it's the police report we are citing.
Posted by: Lesley Abravanel | July 20, 2009 at 04:27 PM
I like Donovan, I think he is a talented guy. Hopefully he will get a good result in this case and move on. Burn Notice also does a good job of showing Miami in an attractive and exciting light. I hope the show sticks around.
Pitbull got the acquital because he had the cojones to go to trial. Most DUI trials are relatively easy to win, if the defendant has the wherewithal to go to trial.
BTW, Lesley, Pitbull was free to admit to drinking and driving because there is no law against drinking and driving, only driving with a BAL of over.08 or impaired.
Posted by: miaminative | July 20, 2009 at 04:39 PM
fortunately he didn't kill someone-- then he'd have to spend 24 days in jail here in the Banana Republic
Posted by: harbourcay | July 20, 2009 at 05:19 PM
If he was smart he'd have had Garbielle Anwar for a designated driver---- if she isn't the most desireable woman in the world--- then I'd sure like to meet the woman who is
Posted by: harbourcay | July 20, 2009 at 05:21 PM
In the words of Michael Weston, "When you're a spy, you never combine Benadryl and two glasses of wine. It impairs your judgement and your reaction time. The benefit is when you combine them, you poop out C4, a powerful explosive."
Posted by: Fern Notice | July 20, 2009 at 06:01 PM
does this news paper (and the palm beach post) get some sick thrill out of posting people's booking photo on the internet?
i dont get what purpose they are trying to server other than to humiliate whomever it is.
Posted by: lorenzo | July 20, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Too bad the Herald has to resort to TMZ to cover local news
Posted by: Lv | July 20, 2009 at 07:39 PM
He definitely got preferential treatment! He wasn't charged, taken to Dade County Jail, or arraigned. Check the Dade Clerk of Courts site.
Posted by: Benny | July 21, 2009 at 01:57 PM
hey Miaminative you said,"BTW, Lesley, Pitbull was free to admit to drinking and driving because there is no law against drinking and driving, only driving with a BAL of over.08 or impaired." This is not true. The Law is laid out two ways, one to be above the prescribed legal limit, and then a second to catch you under the influence. DUI can be anywhere between 0.0 and 0.079, once you go above the .08 you are DWI this is a sperate charge. Now you will also be punished for the same offence twice. Using symantics to seperate the punishments and claim it is not being placed in double jeopardy you are punished administratively and then criminally. No you do not have to be drunk to be made a DUI Criminal. No you do not have to be .08 to be arrested. No the machine used to measure BAC is not accurate and yes your rights and abilities to defend yourself have been stripped from you like seven vails, one thing at a time and in amanner to attract the eyes and mind from what is really happening.
Posted by: Bruce McGuire | August 07, 2009 at 09:47 AM