Hunter S. Thompson fined for drunken driving

Here's a look at the past. Items have been culled from The Chronicle's archives of 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago.

1985

June 13: Hunter S. Thompson, the founder of gonzo journalism, was fined $800 yesterday after pleading no contest to a drunken-driving charge in San Francisco. Municipal Court Judge Lenard Louie also ordered Thompson to pay damages and medical bills for three people who suffered minor injuries when he hit a car while driving drunk. The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of Highway 101 at 3.05 a.m. May 16. Thompson's speech was described as wandering, repetitive and slurred by the CHP, which said he failed several coordination tests at the scene. The alcohol in his blood was 0.16, which is 0.06 above the legal limit. He was also given a six months' suspended sentence, placed on probation for three years and had his license suspended for six months. Thompson, 45, the author of seven books, including "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72," and long associated with Rolling Stone magazine, is in San Francisco to research a book to be titled "The Night Manager." He is working as a night manager at the Mitchell Brothers Theater, a Tenderloin porno palace.

~ San Francisco Chronicle ~