georgemicahel.jpgGeorge Michael, the bad boy of British pop, plays a cooler customer than Paris Hilton. While he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and banned from driving for two years for driving under the influence of drugs, he kept his smiles after appearing from court. He paid the same lip service as Paris Hilton but in a more convincing and remorseful style. He said to reporters: ‘I had done something really wrong in putting other people at risk.’ He immediately defended himself by saying in the next breath: ‘In reality I have been sentenced on the basis of unfit driving through tiredness and prescription medicines, which I fully accept responsibility for.’

In view of the high number of cases involving famous celebrities and the publicity they generate, shouldn’t a new and tougher law be drafted for celebrities who commit driving offences in the United States? Perhaps mandatory jail sentences and a ban from driving be adopted as law. This will surely send out a strong message to the public, particularly youngsters, that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is neither sexy nor cool. And they must not have the option to complete the sentence in their luxury homes. This is not discrimination for with fame comes greater responsibility and a higher price to pay for abusing it. What makes celebrities think that they can get away with a crime that puts other people’s lives including their fans’ in danger?