# Bush DUI **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919 "2003-06-14T23:51:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/1 "2003-06-14T23:51:43Z")
Was George W. Bush convicted of a DUI after his drunk driving arrest? Was DUI a felony at the time/in that state? If so, is he the first convicted felon to serve as President? ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/2 "2003-06-14T23:54:11Z")
Is a DUI a felony? I can’t say I know great deal about the US legal system. It appears he paid a $150 fine and was temporaily suspended from driving: [http://uspolitics.about.com/library/bldui.htm](http://uspolitics.about.com/library/bldui.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/3 "2003-06-14T23:58:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC Master of Ceremonies \* > \*\*Is a DUI a felony? I can’t say I know great deal about the US legal system. > > It appears he paid a $150 fine and was temporaily suspended from driving: > [http://uspolitics.about.com/library/bldui.htm](http://uspolitics.about.com/library/bldui.htm) \*\* That link states > [@](#): > > plead guilty to a **misdemeanor** of driving under the influence of alcohol DUI may not have been a felony in that state and/or Bush was able to plead to a lesser misdemeanor charge instead of going to court. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/4 "2003-06-14T23:59:45Z")
Seems in Maine it’s only considered a felony based on prior convictions. [MADD site.](http://www3.madd.org/laws/law.cfm?LawID=DFEL) ---
**Author:** ![the\_skeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@the\_skeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_skeptic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/5 "2003-06-16T03:09:48Z")
G. W. Bush’s conviction record? its an interesting history… in 1999, bush was asked about alleged cocaine use. his comment was that he had committed “no felonies in the last twenty-five years.” seems like this is a tricky response. so, what about before 1974? now, we know for a fact that G.W. has 3 known arrests on his record. one was for DUI. he was also arrested in college when he and some frat. brothers were caught trying to steal a Christmas wreath. the third arrest was for disorderly conduct at a football game. you have to stop and think about this last one. as michael moore noted, “You’ve gotta work pretty hard to get noticed in a crowd of drunken football fans.” this is a little curious as well. we all know that G.W. was a member of the texas national guard. however, he went A.W.A.L. without any backlash. according The Boston Globe of May 23, 2000, the president simply left his post for about a year and a half. strange, no? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/6 "2003-06-16T03:44:49Z")
To me the AWOL is more disturbing then anything else on that list. A DUI from the 1970’s that he plead guilty to? Nobody was hurt and he accepted punishment. A couple stupid college pranks? Youthful stupidity. However, ducking out of a post that you got into the avoid going to Nam? That’s more then just a tiny bit slimely. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/7 "2003-06-16T03:51:18Z")
HPL: What’s even more disturbing is that you’re saying he was AWOL when the military didn’t charge him with that. Who are you…Judge, Jury, & Executioner? ---
**Author:** ![samboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@samboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samboy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dui/181919/8 "2003-06-16T07:06:17Z")
Aussie Dopers, just FYI Bush was drinking with Newks, Australian tennis player John Newcombe. Why, I do not know.