It lessens it in the sense that he can make jokes about it.

I got a DUI, but its okay, I was in a barbie jeep. Lol.

That its posted here is proving my point, its been treated as a joke. We are both sensible people, we know its serious, but others will just see it as a joke. I'd rather they charged him with something else. He's just as much a hazard if he was sober.