Drinking and Driving

[gixxerrider]

This guy somes it up. This is being sent around work. This is why I got banned for speaking my mind when someone messed up.

 

Diary of a Drunk Driver Release Date: November 29, 2006

 

If you do not read anything else this holiday, make sure you read this:

 

Diary of a Drunk Driver: I am a 46 year old Naval Officer stationed here at

the Naval Medical Center San Diego. I have been on active duty for 27 years

that included 16 years of service as enlisted. The following paragraphs lay

out in detail a chronological chain of events that completely changed my

life over the last year from Halloween 2005 to Halloween 2006. Please take a

few minutes to read this diary and hopefully what happened to me will never

happen to you:

 

A few points about myself I want to share before going into the details of

my eventual arrest for Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol. I did not

consume alcohol on a consistent basis. As a matter of fact, I only drank

alcohol occasionally at home or occasional social gatherings. I am an avid

long distance runner and have completed 3 marathons (Rock and Roll here in

San Diego twice and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.) I have

two almost grown children and have very strong religious and moral beliefs.

What happened to me can happen to anybody, anytime, anywhere if you are an

alcohol user. I am not telling anyone not to use alcohol. I am saying

however DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, consume alcohol of any amount and operate a

motor vehicle. Take a taxi, call a friend or walk home. DO NOT DRINK AND

DRIVE!!!!!!!!

 

On 29 October 2005 at about 20:45 I was arrested for driving under the

influence of alcohol on Interstate 8 at the College Avenue exit. I had just

left a social gathering where alcohol was served. While driving home, I was

stopped by the San Diego Sheriff's department because my driving was

impaired by the alcohol and I crossed over the white line that separated the

lanes. I was issued a field sobriety test and failed.

I was placed under arrest at the scene and transported to the San Diego

County Jail. Don't believe what you see on TV where the high priced lawyer

comes and gets you out 15 minutes later. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. You will be

there for a minimum of 8 to 10 hours. You will be searched, fingerprinted,

photographed and then placed in a cell 20 X 20 with 40 of Your Best Friends

that you never want to see again. The only thing in this room is a toilet in

the corner. After the 8 to 10 hours and processing was complete I was

released. I walked out of the jail on the streets of San Diego at about 0800

in the morning and came face to face with at least 75 homeless people. And I

thought I had a bad night. NOW IS WHEN THE FUN BEGINS.

 

I had to attend a 3 months First Conviction Program at SDSU that included 12

1 hour classes each week for 12 weeks and 6 2 hour lectures for 6 weeks. I

attended a mandatory Mothers against Drunk Driving lecture in which 3 moms

told the story of the loss of their children to drunk drivers. A very

emotional and guilt ridden experience. I had to complete 10 days of

community service picking up trash, cleaning parks, etc for the city. I had

to hire an attorney to represent me and contact my insurance company. I went

to court and received a substantial fine.

The combined costs of this was:

 

 

First Conviction Program: $445

MADD: $25

Attorney: $1,700

Fine and Court Costs: $1,950

Total: $4,120

 

 

And I have even talked about the insurance. It does not matter who your

insurance company is, they will cancel you and you will have to obtain a

much less reputable insurance and much higher price. It will cost you

thousands and thousands of dollars over the years.

 

Then comes the DMV. OH JOY. I lost my driver's license completely for 30

days and had a restricted license for 5 more months. And this was before I

ever went to court. The DMV will revoke and suspend your license without a

conviction. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Just being cited is

justification. And then you have to pay to get it back. $195 is the cost.

 

I was selected for promotion to LCDR effective 1 February 2006. My promotion

was withdrawn and I was removed from the promotion listing. I was processed

for administrative separation and will retire involuntarily within the next

6 months. The reason I talk about this is because if I had not been

arrested, I would have continued on active duty for 4 more years and reached

a 30 year retirement. If I lived for 20 more years which is very reasonable,

the loss of this LCDR pay at 30 years vice LT pay at 26 years will end up

being approximately $600,000 over 20 years.

 

As you have noticed, I made a point of the monetary loss. The monetary loss

PALES IN COMPARISION to the shame, emotional pain, grief and guilt that this

will cause YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR CO-WORKERS and just about

every person you come in contact with. It can COMPLETEY DESTORY YOUR LIFE as

you know it. It will have an adverse affect on EVERY FACET OF YOUR LIFE. I

am just so thankful that I DID NOT KILL SOMEONE while driving under the

influence of alcohol. I have only detailed the highlights (if you can call

them that) of this experience.

There are many more smaller painful points but they are too many too

mention.

 

My hope is that for those of you who take the time to read this you will not

drink and drive. If my pain keeps just 1 of you from drinking and driving

and even more if it saves one life then it was worth the pain.

 

Thank You

[geomcrider]

WOW !!

 

Point well taken

[wody]

my brother was busted last dec. 15th for dui. and it affects everybody. even though we have different insurance, my insurance company found out about it and suspended my policy until i had to go down with my brother and sign a contract stating that i would not allow him to drive my truck. and he did have to pick up a second job to pay the bills after that.

 

Alan

[kissfans03ss]

man that truly sucks because i'm like that guy i dont drink that much anymore but i remember driving home some nights feeling no pain,thankfully those days are gone because i drive for a living and CANT loose my license because that means no job.

Edited December 19, 2006 by kissfans03ss (see edit history)

[r8rs4lf]

Good read!

[drako]

Very elnlightening

[06redSSrwd]

great post. definitely got the point through to me.

[ChevyMan23]

My dad got a DUI a few years back. Alot of what he wrote is true, and alot will depend on the location. His insurance didnt drop him, and never found about the DUI, alot of times they wont unless you buy or sell a vehicle. He lost his license for 30 days and was able to get a hardship license for the remainder of his probation. Had to go to all the counseling, and pay all those fines as well too. So i know how he feels, I was quite ashamed of him for a while as he was of himself. He drank and drove for 30 years until he went a different way home 1 Memorial weekend and that was it. He hasnt drank and drove since.

[nixsupersport]

+ =

[Bluestreak04]

All is very true! I got busted a little over 5yrs ago for DUI, and let me tell you it is very embarassing! And not only that all the $$ that goes down the drain for that extra drink!! When I was locked up I didn't sleep one wink, thinking of all the other things that could of possibly happened. I sincerely regret the night! Now I'm married and have my wife drive anytime I get poo pooed!!

 

Very well said!!

[26dub_SS]

damn man...im not gonna drink and drive nomore...thats too much shit you receive...screw that...

[CoolBlueSS]

man that truly sucks because i'm like that guy i dont drink that much anymore but i remember driving home some nights feeling no pain,thankfully those days are gone because i drive for a living and CANT loose my license because that means no.

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Same here. I can make a 6 pack last a year. I drink maybe 2 or 3 times a year, but I'm not driving when I do anymore.

[KJT13]

i've been thinking about it alot lately and when you actually see the breakdown it really smacks the reality of it all into your head.

 

not to mention, god forbid, that you hit someone or something.

 

it's all too easy sometimes. well, most of the time. when i had a bike, the standing rule i had was 2 wheels, 2 drinks. but even that slows down the reaction time (anyone that rides knows how important that is). no matter your tolerance. and it can also raise your aggressiveness which can attribute to many DD accidents.

[PladdPezzPunk]

that really makes you think. Great post. It's good to see this guy at least telling others what has happened and not getting up set at the system. This is a real man.

[06redSSrwd]

This is a real man.   

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