2002 Diana Ross arrested for drink-driving

Motown singer Diana Ross has been arrested by police on suspicion of drinking and driving after her car was seen swerving across a road.

The 58-year-old performer was pulled over by police in Tucson, Arizona after a motorist reported seeing a white Honda Accord driving erratically the wrong way down a road in the early hours of the morning.

The star failed a “field sobriety test” which included walking in a straight line and touching the tip of her nose. When asked to stand on one leg she fell over, according to the officers. She was also unable to recite the alphabet or give the correct time and date.

A breath-test taken on the roadside revealed Ms Ross had a blood alcohol level of 0.20% – more than twice Arizona’s legal limit of 0.08%.

Police sergeant Judy Altieri, of Arizona police, said: “This is what would be considered extreme DUI (driving under the influence).”

Ms Ross, who was described by the officers as “polite and cooperative” even though she denied she had been drinking, was charged with three driving offences.

She was later released into the custody of a friend and will appear in court on 13 January.

Diana Ross rose to stardom in the 1960s with the Supremes with hits such as Stop in the Name of Love and Where did our Love Go?

She embarked on her solo career in the 1970s. Two of her biggest hits included Chain Reaction and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

In May this year Ms Ross, a mother of five children, voluntarily checked into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in California before the start of her summer tour.

Three years ago the star was arrested at Heathrow airport in London after a fracas with a security guard. She was released with a caution.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Diana Ross was sentenced to two days in jail in February 2004 after she admitted drinking and driving.

She was also sentenced to two years’ unsupervised probation for the offence. Two further charges against her were dropped.

She served her sentence almost immediately but in March 2004 it was revealed she had served her time in bursts of six to eight hours and had been given a free rein to come and go as she pleased.

She was then ordered to return to jail to serve 48 consecutive hours but the following month that decision was overturned.