I Knew I Stank Of Beer

My buddies final assignment for his Drunk Driving Program.



4/7/09

DDP Journal Assignment

The day I was arrested started out pretty much the same as any other Friday. I probably went to work and got home around 4pm. I probably made some phone calls to my friends to see where we were going to party that night. I say probably because my arrest happened about 6 years ago. During that time my days were pretty routine, work and home. The weekends were when I got a chance to let loose. I remember the ride to the party. At about 9 o'clock I picked up two of my friends that lived nearby and we drove for about half an hour to somebody's house. I'm not sure if I had a beer yet before getting there but, I'm pretty sure I didn't. There were cars parked allover the yard and driveway, and you could tell the house was packed. I started drinking at the party but I'm not sure exactly what I time I started. I had probably drank about 5 beers by the end of the night. That is what I usually have when I go to a party. I decided to take a beer to go and we left the party probably around 1 AM. I remember dropping off my friends and heading home. On the way home I noticed a police car following me, and I knew it was over. I thought if I turned they would pass, but I didn't use my turn signal. That was all they needed to pull me over. I tried to finish the rest of the beer that I still had, but I choked and coughed it all over the inside of my car. The officer walked up and asked me for my licence and registration. I knew I stank of beer and handed him the papers. He checks them out and this was then followed by the magic words; "Sir, please step out of the vehicle". I stepped out of the car and he asked me if I have had anything to drink, as if it wasn't obvious, and I had no choice but to say yes. He then asked me to take a Breathalyzer test and I said O.K. I think I blew a .13 (I saw a document saying .13 somewhere in my papers). So they cuffed me put me in the car and took me to the police

station. I took another breath test and then I got printed and taken to the jail. I got my own cell and since was still pretty drunk I slept it off. They woke me up the next day and they asked me a bunch of questions. They called my cousin who I was living with at the time in Virginia and he came to bail me out. They gave me my stuff back and let me out the door.

We drove home and I explained what happened, but he already knew before he even asked. When I went to court the judge wasn't too harsh she waived a 300 dollar fine and restricted my licence until I completed and alcohol program. I always thought it could have been worse. I began the process to regain my drivers licence but then I moved back to New York . When I got to New York I drove for a while but then I got rid of the car because the transmission was shot, and so I thought I didn't need a licence anymore. It was a lot more expensive to insure a car and it seemed unnecessary with mass transit, and the traffic was unbearable. Recently I realized the I do need a licence even if I don't have a car. So after paying about 1000 dollars in fees and fines I am now about to get my licence back. I know that drinking and driving is a mistake, and I have since changed the way I drink. I still drink but now I can take a cab if I plan on drinking, when before I was used to driving everywhere I went. I feel that through the DDP program I have a greater rfespect for the effects of alcohol and the effects it has in decision making. I truly feel that going through this whole process, and paying all the money I have is definitely not worth having a drink while I'm driving. I would much rather pay for a cab. Not only because of the inconvenience, but because of the danger and risk I am putting myself and everyone else in when I decide to get behind the wheel of a car in an impaired state. I can truly say that I will not put myself in this situation again


Note:

About a week before this letter was written, me and this same guy were at our friends baby shower. I walked outside to get some air and his girlfriend called me over to help explain to him that she would not let him drive her car home after the shower because he was already drunk. We had only been there for an hour...