Lindsay Lohan's lawyer blasts USA Today for featuring the star's mug shot in a drunk driving advertisement Friday, May 2.
- May 3, 2008
AceShowbiz - Lindsay Lohan is on the attack after learning her image has been used in a drunk driving ad featured in the USA Today. Her lawyer Blair Berk is blasting the publication for running a full-page advertisement Friday, May 2 that uses her client's mug shot to rail against a petition by activists to try and get a breathalyzer installed in every car in America.
The full-page black-and-white ad, which was paid for by the American Beverage Institute, a trade group that supports the interests of the alcohol industry, reads "Ignition interlocks are a good idea for" above Lindsay's mug shot from her July 24, 2007 arrest and "But a bad idea for us" above smaller photos of people drinking. The ad, as claimed by various news media, opposes the mandatory use of ignition interlocks or in-car breathalyzers, which require drivers to breathe into a tube to test their blood-alcohol level, cutting off the ignition if the driver is above the legal limit.
It, furthermore, argues the devices are only necessary for hard-core drunk drivers, like Lindsay. Yet, "activists now want to put one in every car in America. That means the end of moderate and responsible drinking prior to driving. No more champagne toasts at weddings, no more wine with dinner, no more beers at a ballgame."
Lohan's criminal lawyer Blair Berk opposed the idea though, saying "USA TODAY is idiotic for running such an irresponsible advertisement, suggesting that drinking and driving is some kind of American 'tradition' we should protect. Not identifying that this ad was paid for by the liquor industry is profoundly reckless. Drunk, old, white businessmen, drunk cougars out for girls night out, and drunk wedding parties should be kept off the roads of America. Lindsay Lohan fully endorses ignition interlock devices that have been well-proven to save lives."
American Beverage Institute managing director Sarah Longwell told the Associated Press, "The reason that we used Lindsay Lohan is because she's had multiple DUIs that have been high profile. We needed to create the distinction for the public what someone with multiple DUIs looked like versus a low blood-alcohol-level first-time offender."
As for Lindsay, she reportedly has already hired lawyers to determine if the ad violates the trademark laws, which prohibit businesses from using someone's picture for commercial gain without their consent.
