Starting Over Talk

I wondered why Little People, Big World has not been airing in my area for the last couple of weeks. They aren't even showing previews or anything. I saw today that Matt was charged with DUI on June 19. I wonder if there is any connection.

They said he failed a sobriety test, but with his legs, there is no way he could walk a straight line, with or without crutches. I wonder if he was indeed impaired. I'm sure it wouldn't take much to hit him with his small body size.

I'll try to find the _link_. I think it was on TMZ.

Wow!

I did a quick search and found a news report complete with mug shots! Matt looks like he's amused more than upset.

Maybe it got filmed and they'll have it on the show! If he's found guilty of it, (it happened in June) that is going to hurt his show.. Although with some of the garbage and drama they've had on the show, it's definitely not your typical American Family. Even a lesson on drinking can be relevant for Little People.

It says he refused the breathalyzer test.. They may have been assuming..

Wonder if he was driving his 'bug'..

Here's a _link_... http://www.koin.com/Global/story.asp?S=6864478

another _link_

http://www.kxl.com/ArDisplay.aspx?SecID=22&ID=55018

forum discussion thread at TLC (one of many at that site)

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7531921028/m/4801995119?r=7411968119#7411968119

Looking around the Discovery/TLC site last night I saw some other threads and also a sales offer at the Discovery Store a book that was published in April. The _title_ of the book is 'Little Family, Big Values'.

Reading the de_script_ion of the book is rather ironic... especially seeing what we do during the course of the normal shows..

Someone mentioned on a thread that there are numerous ways to check for impairment besides walking a straight line. I know I've seen the tests (on Cops) where they have to do the fingers to their nose and also usually have to be able to do some verbal instructions.. Which could be simple for the unimpaired. Law enforcement are typically trained to be able to screen handicapped drivers..

Matt will have his day in court.. at least now he can afford to have a driver if his license is taken away!

Some of the forum threads at Discovery/TLC suggest that they use it as a teaching experience for the viewers..

Oops.. I forgot the _link_ to the info about the book.

http://shopping.discovery.com/product-65589.html?jzid=40587982-0-0

Post edited by: KPW1956, at: 2007/08/01 12:48

Thanks for those _link_s KPW. It is mentioned that he was driving a van when stopped.

It will be interesting to hear his side of the story. It was kinda smart to refuse the breathlyzer. Without the results, it will be difficult for the state to prove impairment with just the sobriety test. His handicapps are so substantial, I think it will difficult to prove that he was impaired. The only bad driving was something about driving in his lane, but it doesn't say that he was charged with driving left of center. That tells me he was probably swerving within his lane which is not a crime.

I have tried many "Driving while Impaired" cases, as we call them in out state. Your best chance of winning is when there is no breath or blood test and the sobriety test are not really bad or if there is a reason for them being not perfect, such as illness or lack of sleep. He was arrested late at night. I wonder if he had just gotten home on a flight and had a few drinks on the plane and was tired. Just speculating. I really doubt he was falling down drunk. I just can't see him doing that.

I wonder what approach he will take. With the weak case they may offer him a deal on a plea of a lesser charge.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall when he called Amy from jail to come pick him up!!!!! LOL. It's sad, but this could create new interest in the show. I don't think people will dislike him for it, if he comes off as honest and admitts any wrong doing. That might be tough if he doesn't think he was driving drunk. He could have called his lawyer and his lawyer advised him not to take it. Who knows. You know he will get his license revoked for the refusal. In our state you can't even get a driving permit to drive to work if you refuse for one year.

I must admitt when I heard it, my first thought was that Amy had driven him to drink. I know, I know, that is completely crazy. Nobody can make you drink, but I can just see how living with all that criticism over the years could cause you to cope in some unhealthy ways. Well, now he has given her something to complain about for the next 20 years. LOL.

I guess I'll wait and see how this all comes out before getting my soapbox out and going on a tirade. It's so hard having been a responding EMT to drunk driving accidents..................and the common misconception so many still hold onto that you have to be roaring drunk to be DUI. Well.........I hope the truth, whatever it is, does come out and there is no special treatment. But if he truly was NOT impaired by any substance.......then that needs to be made known also!! Just sad indeed!!

Hey Grizz! Good to see you. I hope your knee is well.

I agree with you. I didn't mean that you had to be roaring drunk to be impaired, only that with minimim impairment of the faculties, it may be difficult to prove that he was driving over the legal limit. I don't know what it is in Oregon. It' .08 in NC.

It will certainly be interesting to see what he ends up doing. His career could be effected.

A poster said on another site that Matt had a previous charge of DWI a few years ago. I don't know if that is true or not. If it is true, it makes me more skeptical of this new charge. A previous DUI could also explain a refusal of a breathalyzer. Punishment is much worse on repeat offenders...that is unless you are a young, rich, beautiful, celebrity. LOL. Just kidding.

Post edited by: Debby, at: 2007/08/13 09:10