Erin Brockovich (AP)
Erin Brockovich is a far cry from her days as a perky blonde environmental activist.
The 52-year-old’s booking photo was released today after she was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated at Lake Mead near Las Vegas, authorities said Sunday.
Brockovich, portrayed by Julia Roberts in the 2000 movie, was arrested late Friday night after breathalyzer tests showed her blood-alcohol level was just over twice the legal limit of .08, said Edwin Lyngar, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
A game warden noticed she was struggling and needed assistance while trying to moor her motor boat at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor, he said. Brockovich had been out on the boat with a male companion but was alone when she tried to dock it.
“She was not sure how to maneuver the boat into the dock,” Lyngar told The Associated Press. “It’s a simple thing if you can think clearly. But if you add alcohol and unfamiliarity of the area, it can all cause serious problems.”
Brockovich, of Agoura Hills, Calif., was released from the Clark County Detention Center after posting $1,000 bail.
She apologized for her actions yesterday but stressed that she did not operate the boat in open waters. She only moved the boat within its own slip, she said.
“At no time was the boat away from the dock and there was no public safety risk,” Brockovich said. “That being said, I take drunk driving very seriously, this was clearly a big mistake, I know better and I am very sorry.
“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 added.
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. Authorities were unsure whether it was Brockovich’s first arrest on the charge.
WITH AP