DUI Arrest Complicates New Cowboys Stadium

DALLAS (CN) - Liquor sales at the Dallas Cowboys' new $1.15 billion retractable-roof stadium in Arlington are under investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission after the stadium's general manager was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. If it is determined that Jack Hill was intoxicated at the stadium, penalties could include fines and suspension of the stadium's liquor license.

Hill, 53, was arrested early in the morning on June 7, several blocks from Cowboys Stadium after his vehicle was involved in a minor collision on Randol Mill Road. The arrest occurred hours after the stadium's inaugural event, a George Strait country music concert. According to Arlington police, no one was injured in the collision and the other driver appeared to be at fault, but Hill was arrested after he failed a field sobriety test. He was released from the Arlington jail later that morning on $1,000 bail.

Sgt. Terry Parsons with the Fort Worth district office of the TABC told the Dallas Morning News the investigation is in the early stages and a field agent is awaiting the release of Arlington's police report.

Parsons said that since there were no serious injuries in the accident, it is being looked into as a possible employee intoxicated on a licensed premise. He said that any penalty imposed would be a civil rather than a criminal one.

Under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, a first-time offense of an employee being intoxicated on a licensed premises carries a $300 fine and suspension of the license for up to 25 days. Longer license suspensions and the cancellation of the permit are possible for repeat offenses.

Hill was previously employed as the stadium's construction manager.

Follow @davejourno

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