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Details emerge of Greg Monroe’s DUI that resulted in two-game suspension

Detroit Pistons v Atlanta Hawks

ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 03: Greg Monroe #10 of the Detroit Pistons against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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The NBA announced that Pistons big man Greg Monroe had been suspended two games for pleading guilty to driving while visibly impaired, which is the state of Michigan’s way of describing a DUI charge.

But we hadn’t heard anything about it before now, and it was unclear what the extent of Monroe’s violation actually was.

The details of the February incident have emerged, and while all DUI situations should be taken very seriously, Monroe’s infraction was about as minor as possible under the circumstances.

From Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press:

Monroe was cited Feb. 13 by the Huntington Woods Public Safety Department after a traffic stop and charged with operating while intoxicated, court documents show. The citation noted that a headlight was out and the vehicle had expired plates/insurance.

Monroe was pulled over driving a silver 2007 Pontiac G6 northbound on Woodward Avenue near Concord just before 2 a.m. and registered a blood-alcohol level of .09.

The legal blood-alcohol limit in Michigan is .08.

The Pistons hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers hours before the incident in the last game before the All-Star break.

Contrast this with the “super extreme DUI” that got the Suns P.J. Tucker similarly suspended -- one where Tucker had registered a blood alcohol level of .222 -- and it’s easy to see how this could have simply been some poor decision-making by the 24-year old, and not much more than an honest mistake.