24 star Kiefer Sutherland has been videotaped, photographed and witnessed in various compromising drunken situations, including performing karate in a restaurant, attacking a Christmas tree, and subsequently passing out on the floor of a hotel lobby, and taking his pants off at a restaurant. He’s pretty straightforward about his issues, and calls the Christmas tree incident his most embarrassing moment.

Now Sutherland has been popped for DUI for a second time in five years. He was pulled over at 1:34 AM in Hollywood after making an illegal U-turn last night and blew over twice the .08 limit on the breathalyzer. He was booked at 4:09 AM and got out about an hour an a half later after meeting bail of $25k. He was said to be cooperative in jail. Sutherland is due to appear in court on October 16:

TMZ has learned that “24″ star Kiefer Sutherland was busted on suspicion of DUI in West Hollywood last night, after allegedly blowing more than twice the legal limit of .08. This is the actor’s second DUI in the past five years — he was arrested in 2004. By California law, if he’s convicted, he must serve a mandatory minimum of five days in jail.

Police sources tell TMZ 40-year-old Sutherland was pulled over around 1:35 AM PST on the corner of La Cienega and Beverly. Sutherland was at the FOX Fall Eco-Casino party at Area nightclub earlier that evening. The photo in this story was taken at the event.

Sutherland, who was stopped after making an illegal U-turn, was arrested for misdemeanor DUI and transported to the Hollywood Police station. He was booked at 4:09 AM and released at 5:42 AM on $25,000 bail.

We’re told Sutherland was “cooperative and mellow” while he was in custody.

According to the L.A. Sheriff’s Dept. website, the actor is 5′10″ and weighs 150 lbs.

Sutherland is scheduled to face a judge on October 16.

[From TMZ.com]

If Sutherland is convicted or pleads guilty he faces a mandatory minimum of five days in prison. It seems like he’ll be the next celebrity to go to rehab in the hope of avoiding a stricter penalty for DUI. He should stay the hell away from Cirque Lodge in Utah. Lohan already has her hands full there with Richie Sambora, and another celebrity will just add to her already heavy workload.

Seriously, he could have killed someone and should face the penalty for his actions. It’s one thing to engage in drunken hijinks harming flora, it’s another to put people’s lives at risk.

Thanks to CityRag for the header image.