Lawrence Taylor Is Found Innocent of Drunken Driving in New Jersey

Linebacker Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants was acquitted Wednesday of drunken driving charges stemming from a March arrest on the Garden State Parkway.

“The justice system works and I’m happy for myself,” the eight-time All-Pro said shortly after he was found innocent of the charges against him.

Municipal Judge John Conte found Taylor innocent based on testimony from two doctors who said the National Football League star suffered from acute food poisoning on the night of his arrest.

Authorities alleged Taylor was found sleeping at 3:30 a.m. March 24 behind the wheel of his Jeep, which was parked on the shoulder of the Parkway. He was charged with drunken driving despite two blood alcohol level readings of .09 percent. Under New Jersey law, .10 percent is considered legally drunk.

But food poisoning, and not alcohol, was the reason the NFL star felt ill, said two physicians called as expert witnesses by Taylor’s attorney.

Dr. Alan Lupinacci of West Paterson said Taylor became sick from an organism contained in poorly prepared fettuccine Alfredo eaten on a flight from Atlanta to Newark the day before his arrest.

Taylor has undergone drug rehabilitation twice in the last three years.