Nashville, TN (My Sportsbook) - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was arrested early Thursday on a DUI charge after allowing his brother-in-law, Jamie Cartwright, to drive his vehicle while allegedly intoxicated.

In the state of Tennessee, it is illegal for the owner of a vehicle to knowingly allow its operation by a driver under the influence of an intoxicant.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the 31-year-old Cartwright was driving McNair's 2003 Dodge pickup truck at 45 mph in a 35 mph zone with McNair as a passenger.

Officer Harold Taylor pulled over Cartwright and McNair and detected an "obvious odor of alcohol" and also noticed that Cartwright's eyes were "red and glassy." Cartwright admitted to Taylor he drank at least two beers earlier in the evening. A field sobriety task was administered to Cartwright and the results indicated impairment as Cartwright was taken into custody for DUI. He was asked to undergo a breath alcohol test and he refused.

Since McNair was the owner of the truck and a passenger, he also was charged with DUI.

"I was trying to act responsibly. I have to go through the court process now, and I understand that. I was planning to be in Baltimore for most of the remainder of this month to work out with my teammates, and anticipate that I will be doing that," said McNair in a statement released through the Baltimore Ravens.

"We are aware of the situation involving Steve McNair. We have talked with Steve and persons in Nashville familiar with what happened this last night," said team president Dick Cass in a statement. "We have also been briefed regarding the Tennessee law. We do know that Steve was a passenger in a car he owns that was stopped for speeding. Steve was not arrested for drinking, or driving the car irresponsibly. There is a court process that will now take place, and Steve will participate in these procedures."