As per Joanne Ireland in the Sun, Nikolai Khabibulin is now facing "extreme DUI" charges. His pre-trial court appearance has been scheduled for March 16. According to the Arizona Revised Statutes on Extreme DUI:
A. It is unlawful for a person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle in this state if the person has an alcohol concentration as follows within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle and the alcohol concentration results from alcohol consumed either before or while driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle:
1. 0.15 or more but less than 0.20.
So the arresting officer alleges that Khabibulin's blood-alcohol level was above .15, but below .20. It doesn't seem to match with the statement from Khabibulin's camp about a glass of wine with dinner, though one can't expect a suspect to convict himself in the press. If convicted, the statute directs punishment to include:
D. A person who is convicted of a violation of this section:
1. Shall be sentenced to serve not less than thirty consecutive days in jail
2. Shall pay a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars,
3. Shall pay an additional assessment of two hundred fifty dollars.
4. May be ordered by a court to perform community restitution.
5. Shall be required by the department, on receipt of the report of conviction, to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device pursuant to section 28-3319. In addition, the court may order the person to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device for more than twelve months beginning on the date of reinstatement of the person's driving privilege following a suspension or revocation or on the date of the department's receipt of the report of conviction, whichever occurs later.
6. Shall pay an additional assessment of one thousand dollars
7. Shall pay an additional assessment of one thousand dollars
So he'll lose his Arizona license and have an interlock device on his car. At least the Oilers made that fine a non-issue.
Khabibulin has also been charged with excessive speeding and driving under the influence. What's does this mean for the Khabibulin and his future with the Oilers? Not much, it would seem. The NHL has a long history of looking the other way on DUI offenses in which someone doesn't die. Current NHL stars like David Legwand, Jay Bouwmeester haven't had any trouble finding or keeping employment after being arrested for driving under the influence. Of course, if there's a death involved, then the NHL takes things very seriously, as in the case of Craig MacTavish's one-year suspension, or the "Steve Chiasson Award" or the NHL's close partnerships with Tim Horton's programs. There will be no great revelations with this DUI, so the NHL will likely serve Khabibulin with 10-20 game suspension papers and the Oilers will hide yet another Khabibulin injury in that suspension.
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