Erin Brockovich Arrested for DUI While Boating
Erin Brockovich, the environmental activist made famous by Julia Roberts, was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated over the weekend.
It was Brockovich's involvement in 1993's case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and the movie about the case, that made her famous.
Despite her lack of legal training, the legal clerk constructed a winning case against the PG&E for the contamination of drinking water in Southern California.
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Then in 2000, Brockovich went on to share her story in the Julia Roberts-starred film "Erin Brockovich." Roberts earned an Oscar Award for her portrayal of Brockovich.
Today, the 52-year-old is facing a legal issue of another nature. Brockovich was arrested while boating at Lake Mead near Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"She was not sure how to maneuver the boat into the dock," said Edwin Lyngar, a spokesman for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, reported the Associated Press.
"It's a simple thing if you can think clearly," he continued. "But if you add alcohol and the unfamiliarity of the area, it can cause serious problems."
Brockovich's breath tests revealed a blood-alcohol level of just over twice the legal limit of .08, according to authorities on Sunday.
The well-known environmentalist was released from the Clark County Detention Center after posting a $1,000 bail.
Meanwhile, Brockovich has apologized for the incident in a statement on Sunday, but denied that she had operated the boat in open waters.
"At no time was the boat away from the dock and there was no public safety risk," said the president of Brockovich Research & Consulting, according to AP. "That being said, I take drunk driving very seriously, this was clearly a big mistake, I know better and I am very sorry."
Brockovich added that her judgment was skewed due to Nevada's powerful sun and lack of food.
"After a day in the sun and with nothing to eat it appears that a couple of drinks had a greater impact than I had realized," she noted.
Nevertheless, under Nevada law, a first-time offense of boating while intoxicated is a misdemeanor that draws fines from $1,000 to $2,000 but no jail time. It is unknown if the incident was Brockovich's first arrest on the charge.
