Brian France

NASCAR Boss Avoids Florida DUI Arrest

Brian France witnessed driving drunk but makes it home before police

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France escaped being charged with a Florida DUI last month. He was seen driving erratically on US 1 in Daytona Beach and was followed by a witness. A local woman called 911 and described a motorist driving on curbs, striking a parked car and then scraping a tree. She and her passenger saw the driver “fall over his own feet” when getting out of thee car and only learned from a condo security guard later that the driver was France. France admitted to police to having “a few (alcoholic beverages) over at the Chart House.” According to a police report, around 9 p.m. France hit a tree with his Lexus in front of his condominium on Marina Point Drive. Officers arrived at what was considered an accident scene at 9:51. France had already entered his apartment and it was approximately 20 minutes later when police officers knocked on his door. France appeared in clean clothes. When the officers realized the incident involved France they expressed concern about following the law precisely and contacted their superior. “I think that when everyone found out this was Brian France, they knew they had better dot their I's and cross their T's,” Police Chief Mike Chitwood said. France told officers he was drinking a soda when he “bumped into something.” Police found evidence of a spilled soft drink in the car and a half-eaten hamburger. Police were not able to find damage to a parked car during an area search. There were mixed opinions as to whether France smelled of alcohol and a breath test was not requested. Though a police report was prepared for the 911call made by the witness, that detail did not appear in the accident site paperwork because the officers were investigating a crash, not a Florida DUI. Purportedly that information came out in detail during an internal affairs investigation. Chitwood said, “The bottom line is, he (France) was out of his car, he was inside his apartment and he could have had the alcohol there and hours before. But since we didn't stop him in his car, we can't touch him.” Police said that neither the Chart House nor representatives from the Marina Pointe condos would cooperate with the investigation of the incident. Several police procedures were amended following a lengthy internal review though the officers were found to have responded properly to the accident scene. It was also confirmed that an arrest of France that evening for DUI would have been illegal. www.nascar.com
Tags: DUI