Former NBA star Paul Pierce has been formally charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, Los Angeles authorities announced Monday. The charges stem from an incident late on Oct. 7 in which Pierce was found asleep at the wheel of his SUV on the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 following a multi-vehicle crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Paul Pierce Incident
At approximately 10:38 p.m., CHP officers responded to a crash south of Lankershim Boulevard that closed four of six lanes. After the lanes were being reopened around 11:35 p.m., the officers spotted a Range Rover SUV stopped in a traffic lane, and “found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep at the wheel.”
According to the CHP spokesperson, officers “noted signs of alcohol impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.” Pierce was booked at the CHP Central Los Angeles Area office; the case will be reviewed by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.
On social media two days later, Pierce posted a photo of stand-still traffic and wrote:
“Imagine being stuck in stand still traffic for 45 mins and falling asleep 🤦🏾♂️ I took this picture that night because I never been in stand still traffic for this long.”
“I’m old, I’m tired, and I fell asleep 🤷🏾♂️ I’m good y’all thanks for the love.”
He did not address the impairment allegations or the investigation into blood alcohol levels.
Pierce was a 10-time NBA All-Star who won the 2008 championship and Finals MVP with the Boston Celtics. He retired from professional basketball in 2017 after playing 19 seasons. Post-retirement, he worked in sports media, including stints with ESPN and Fox Sports, and currently hosts a podcast titled “The Truth After Dark.”
California law prohibits operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 % or higher under Vehicle Code § 23152.
Pierce’s arraignment and formal court proceedings are expected to follow after the City Attorney’s review. If convicted of a first-offense DUI in California, penalties may include fines, license suspension, mandatory DUI education and possibly an ignition interlock device.
A spokesman for Pierce did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.