Minnesota changes BAC from .08 to .8, Robinson fine

[LaFours]

Notebook: Robinson readies for court

He's expected to plead not guilty at today's hearing in Minnesota

By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com


Green Bay Packers wide receiver Koren Robinson is expected to plead not guilty to alcohol- and traffic-related charges stemming from an August incident when he appears today in court in St. Peter, Minn.


Robinson, 26, missed part of practice on Monday afternoon and was scheduled to leave for Minnesota on Monday evening.


Though Robinson wouldn't get into specifics, he indicated he had no intention of pleading guilty or entering into a plea bargain with prosecutors.


Robinson was a member of the Minnesota Vikings when he was arrested Aug. 16 after police allege he was driving more than 100 mph on his way back to training camp in Mankato, Minn. He was charged with one felony count of fleeing in a motor vehicle, two counts of driving under the influence and three other misdemeanors. A sobriety test measured his blood-alcohol content at 0.11 percent. Minnesota's legal limit is 0.8 percent.


Robinson was suspended by the NFL for four games in 2004 after a drunken-driving incident in Seattle while a member of the Seattle Seahawks.


Shortly after the Packers signed Robinson last month, the NFL told Robinson he will be suspended for one year, pending an appeal. He'll be allowed to play until his appeal is heard. Robinson's lawyer, David Cornwell, told the Press-Gazette last week he's trying to get the appeal hearing postponed until after the charges in Minnesota are resolved.


Robinson said he could skip today's proceedings and let his lawyer enter his plea but said he wanted to attend so he could "show his face and smile."


Today is the players' day off, and Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he expected Robinson to be back at practice on Wednesday and play in Sunday's game at Miami.


Woodson's status: Cornerback Charles Woodson spent most of Monday getting treatment for his injured ribs and knee and probably won't know his status for Sunday's game until later in the week.


He's unlikely to practice before Thursday, McCarthy said.


If Woodson can't play against the Dolphins, it would create a hole not only in the secondary but on special teams because he's the primary punt returner. One option for the Packers is rookie cornerback Will Blackmon, who could make his NFL debut this week.


Blackmon missed all of training camp with a broken foot sustained during a minicamp practice on May 21 but appears set to return. The Packers used him in the secondary and as a punt returner in practice on Monday.


Even if Woodson plays, Blackmon could get some playing time as either the nickel or dime defensive back.


"I don't know exactly what my role is," Blackmon said. "That's why I'm taking reps everywhere – at returner, at corner and at nickel."


More time off: McCarthy said he believes the team and the coaching staff were sharp when they returned Monday from the bye week, but admitted he may have erred in keeping the players around through Thursday of last week.


"In hindsight, I probably could have given them a little more time off," McCarthy said.


Several players and McCarthy experienced travel problems over the weekend. McCarthy said he was scheduled to fly to Austin, Texas, on Thursday to see his daughter but couldn't leave until Friday.


"We had some travel difficulties with a number of individuals going out and coming back," McCarthy said.


All players were back in time for Monday's practice.


Odds and ends: Running back Ahman Green, who hasn't played since the Sept. 24 game against Detroit, made it through all of Monday's padded practice and is expected to play against the Dolphins. He missed the last two games with an injured hamstring.


Others who missed practice because of injury: linebacker Abdul Hodge (knee), defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (ankle) and receiver Robert Ferguson (foot). Both Jenkins and Ferguson are on crutches.


The NFL trading deadline is at 3 p.m. today.

[LaFours]

According to Mr. Demovsky Robinson was well below the newly established BAC of .8 in Minnesota. His .11 leaves him in good shape from a legal standpoint. He should be able to play out the remainder of the year and the NFL should think about rescinding their suspension too.

[Rastak]

So Rob thinks Minnesota limit is .8? Yikes....is that Wisconsin's by chance....you'd have to be dead of alchohol poisoning to be found guilty!

[LaFours]

So Rob thinks Minnesota limit is .8? Yikes....is that Wisconsin's by chance....you'd have to be dead of alchohol poisoning to be found guilty!

I would venture to say that you would be dead well before you could even dream of reaching .8. Somebody would have to pump your lifeless body full of alcohol to assist you in obtaining such a spectacular BAC level.

[Bretsky]

So Rob thinks Minnesota limit is .8? Yikes....is that Wisconsin's by chance....you'd have to be dead of alchohol poisoning to be found guilty!

Oh stop being bitter about the fact that us Wisconsinites can drink 10x as much as Minnesotians :wink: :mrgreen:

[Iron Mike]

So Rob thinks Minnesota limit is .8? Yikes....is that Wisconsin's by chance....you'd have to be dead of alchohol poisoning to be found guilty!

I'm guessing the confusion might be due to the fact that there are two ways to report BAC--mg/dL and %(g/dL). ETOH concentration is usually measured in percent.......where most states have a 0.08% legal limit.

and here's the % effects:

Effects At Specific B.A.C. Levels

The effects of alcohol intoxication are greatly influenced by individual variations among users. Some users may become intoxicated at a much lower Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level than is shown.

0.02-0.03 BAC: No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded.

0.04-0.06 BAC: Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions, sensation of warmth. Euphoria. Some minor impairment of reasoning and memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior may become exaggerated and emotions intensified (Good emotions are better, bad emotions are worse)

0.07-0.09 BAC: Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired, .08 is legally impaired and it is illegal to drive at this level. You will probably believe that you are functioning better than you really are.

0.10-0.125 BAC: Significant impairment of motor coordination and loss of good judgment. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction time and hearing will be impaired. Euphoria.

0.13-0.15 BAC: Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control. Blurred vision and major loss of balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria (anxiety, restlessness) is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired.

0.16-0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk."

0.20 BAC: Felling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented. May need help to stand or walk. If you injure yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people experience nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level so you may not remember what has happened.

0.25 BAC: All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. Increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falls or other accidents.

0.30 BAC: STUPOR. You have little comprehension of where you are. You may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken.

0.35 BAC: Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia.

0.40 BAC and up: Onset of coma, and possible death due to
respiratory arrest.


At the Medical Examiner's we will usually consider .40% to be adequate for alcohol toxicity, but there are cases where alcoholics will be brought to an Emergency Department above .40% and walk out refusing treatment.

[Rastak]

According to Mr. Demovsky Robinson was well below the newly established BAC of .8 in Minnesota. His .11 leaves him in good shape from a legal standpoint. He should be able to play out the remainder of the year and the NFL should think about rescinding their suspension too.


Or exchange it for a personal conduct suspension for the felony..... :shock:



Iron Mike, thanks for the explanation...sounds like .7 to .9 might be the way to go..... :mrgreen:

[Iron Mike]

Iron Mike, thanks for the explanation...sounds like .7 to .9 might be the way to go..... :mrgreen:

I'm guessing his BAC was .011%......which makes you wonder why he felt like he needed to run from the cops....must have something to do with the fact that he was supposed to maintain sobriety or something like that.

[Rastak]

Iron Mike, thanks for the explanation...sounds like .7 to .9 might be the way to go..... :mrgreen:

I'm guessing his BAC was .011%......which makes you wonder why he felt like he needed to run from the cops....must have something to do with the fact that he was supposed to maintain sobriety or something like that.


Yea, he literally drove as fast as he could straight to the Vikings camp. Then gave himself up when he ralized the Vikings camp wasn't an embassy whcih provides safe haven... :roll:


The whole thing was caused by him doing over 100 trying to get back to camp before the cops even saw him. He's got a few issues he needs to hammer out so he can enjoy the rest of his life....

[LaFours]

Iron Mike, thanks for the explanation...sounds like .7 to .9 might be the way to go..... :mrgreen:

But .10 to .125 doesn't sound that bad either.

[prsnfoto]

Here in LaCrosse .30 seems to be the level that causes young college students to believe they are walking on water until they realize there is only one god and they promptly drown in the mighty Mississippi. Eight in the last 9 years serial killer or alcohol the killer?

[Rastak]

Here in LaCrosse .30 seems to be the level that causes young college students to believe they are walking on water until they realize there is only one god and they promptly drown in the mighty Mississippi. Eight in the last 9 years serial killer or alcohol the killer?

Serial stupidity.

[Iron Mike]

Here in LaCrosse .30 seems to be the level that causes young college students to believe they are walking on water until they realize there is only one god and they promptly drown in the mighty Mississippi. Eight in the last 9 years serial killer or alcohol the killer?

I'm thinking it's drink specials at the Alpine Inn.... :razz:

[Patler]

Here in LaCrosse .30 seems to be the level that causes young college students to believe they are walking on water until they realize there is only one god and they promptly drown in the mighty Mississippi. Eight in the last 9 years serial killer or alcohol the killer?

That's a great topic for its own Romper Room thread. The numbers are huge if you go back 25-30 years. Something like 18, as I recall. All males. All young.

Lots of towns have rivers, and its not like they have to cross the Mississippi in LaCrosse to go from bar to bar, from campus to bars, etc. They can hit as many bars as they want and stay a block or more from the river. Why are so many ending up in the river????

I thought it was the oceans that had Sirens whose beautiful songs lured sailors to their deaths? Is there a Mississippi River Siren, too?

[Rastak]

In a related note...aye yi yi


ST. PETER, Minn. -- Green Bay Packers receiver Koren Robinson pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of drunken driving and fleeing police stemming from a high-speed chase in August.

Robinson was then taken into custody because of a warrant in Blue Earth County for a previous traffic violation. He was released a short time later, after his attorney went to a bank to withdraw $1,000 to post bond.



The more serious charges came when Robinson was with the Minnesota Vikings. His car topped 100 mph as police chased him from St. Peter to the Vikings' training camp headquarters in Mankato on Aug. 15. Police say Robinson's blood-alcohol content was 0.11 percent, well above the legal limit of 0.08.



The Vikings cut Robinson, and he signed with the Packers in September. He said Monday he planned to play Sunday against Miami.



This month, Robinson was sentenced to three months in jail for violating probation on a separate drunken-driving case in Kirkland, Wash., last year. He plans to serve the sentence after the season.



He could face a one-year suspension by the NFL because he already has been suspended for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy in 2004.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

[mmmdk]

I've been giving it some thought - what is K-Rob trying to accomplish here? I will be baffled if K-Rob is not suspended for 1 year, so why let it drag out? I know, he believes he'll walk. How will K-Rob handle next season...sitting at home? I like the guy but when will he grow up!?