Football
Associated Press 17y

Charges against McNair dropped in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The drunken-driving charge against
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was dropped Tuesday
because a related DUI charge against his brother-in-law was reduced
to reckless driving.

"It's good. I'm glad it's over," McNair said as he left the
court room.

When asked whether he would change how he handles himself when
he goes out at night, McNair did not answer.

The Ravens had no immediate comment.

McNair was a passenger when Nashville police stopped his pickup
truck May 9 for speeding. The former Tennessee Titan was charged
because police said McNair allowed his vehicle to be driven by
someone who was inebriated, brother-in-law Jamie Cartwright.

Cartwright refused to take a breath test and was charged with
drunken driving. Police said he acknowledged drinking two beers,
smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test. Cartwright
will serve two days in jail within a month, pay a $350 fine and
attend DUI school.

Because Cartwright's DUI charge was dropped with his plea
bargain, the charge against McNair was dismissed.

A woman who got on the courthouse elevator with McNair
recognized the quarterback and started taking pictures with her
camera phone.

The player's lawyer, Roger May, said his client in this case
"tried to do the right thing, what he thought was the right thing
in this situation, without knowing that it was a violation of
Tennessee law." May said McNair is now clear on Tennessee's DUI
laws.

"He is not an individual I think will be in trouble again,"
May said.

McNair was arrested on DUI charges once before in Nashville in
2003, when he also was charged with illegal gun possession. But a
judge dismissed those charges a year later, ruling police didn't
have sufficient reason to pull over McNair.

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