USA: Police arrest Al Gore's son speeding in eco-friendly car, later releasing him on bail

The 24-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore was released on bail after being arrested for drug possession on Wednesday (July 4). The arrest took place after he was stopped for speeding in his hybrid Toyota Prius, a sheriff's official said. Al Gore III -- whose father is a leading advocate of policies to fight global warming -- was driving his environmentally friendly car at about 100 miles (160 km) per hour on a freeway south of Los Angeles when he was pulled over by an Orange County sheriff's deputy at about 2:15 a.m, police said. The deputy smelled marijuana and searched the car, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino. "They found some additional marijuana. They found some Vicadin, Valium, Xanax, Adderol, Soma which is a muscle relaxant. Mr. Gore was placed under arrest. He did not have a prescription for any of those narcotics," said Amormino. Gore was arrested on suspicion of drug possession and booked into the Inmate Reception Center in Santa Ana, about 34 miles (55 km) south of Los Angeles, on 20,000 U.S. dollar bail. Gore was granted made bail and was released at 2 p.m., Amormino said. He will receive notice of a court date within 30 days. According to Amornimo the drug experts who examined him said that the drugs were not enough to influence his driving. Neither was he under the influence of alcohol. The youngest child and only son of the former vice president, Gore has had previous brushes with the law. He was arrested in 2003 for marijuana possession and in 2002 for suspected drunken-driving. His father, the former presidential candidate, is one of the organizers of the Live Earth concerts taking place around the world on July 7. The concerts are designed to raise awareness of global warming.

ITN Source | July 12, 2007

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