Two Years Ago This Month

So this month is an anniversary of something that hope not to ever need to relive and as long as I keep thinking that way I think it won't happen again. You see it was two years ago this month that I got a DWI. (This is an interesting site I found on Alcohol Issues)

The ironic thing about getting a DWI in the month of April is this. Its National Alcohol Awareness Month & I didn't know that until I looked at the web site so looking back I find that some what funny.

When I first had this happen to me I was more worried about the social embarrassment that I had caused myself. I am a very proud person and I thought how in the world will I be looked at now. I started out not wanting to tell family or friends I was just so horrified that I had been stopped for driving drunk.

I will give you some facts as to what happened in my case and the things I had to go through as a result of one very stupid act. In the hopes that if nothing else you will think twice before you get behind the wheel and drive even after one drink.

Facts my case: ( not all are the same)

1. Fines and court costs $400.00
2. Lawyer fees $750.00
   
3. monitored probation $45.00 a month for 12 months (total $540.00)
   
4. Late to work one Friday a month for 12 months - to attend probation visit (not docked any pay but was still late one Friday a month (someone had to pick up my slack)
5. 2 days missed from work one for court and one for the MVA hearing for my DL
   
6. Provisional DL for 90 days for to and from work only and test drives of customers vehicles (remember I'm a shop service manager I do sometimes need to drive customers cars.)
7. Alcohol Counseling classes - court ordered once a week for 26 weeks @ $40.00 a week (total $1040.00)

So as you can see from the list not only was it a BIG inconvenience but the cost nearly broke the bank! Although in talking to many others it could have been much worse then it was so I am thankful for that.

I do have to say this through this whole thing the only person I was ever really mad at was MYSELF! That is one thing that floored me in the Counseling classes I went to. I could not believe what I was hearing from some of the people that were there. (The cop did this to me the cop did that to me. They were sitting there waiting for me. It wasn't my fault) HELLO who's fault was it then? You drove drunk! you broke the law Do the time. Never once did I blame my DWI on anyone else IT WAS ALL MY FAULT! I knew when I got in the car that night to drive home I had had way to much to drink. I broke the law and paid the price. (I blew a .165 btw) over two times the legal limit. That was no ones fault but my own.

I have to say in the end though I write this whole thing up as learning experience I am not going to sit here and say I won't drink anymore cause I do I still have a drink every now and again but what this whole thing has done is made me VERY AWARE of my drinking and I have learned the hard way two things 1. If we are going to drink DON'T DRIVE 2.If we are going to drink we MUST DO IT IN MODERATION. And by moderation I mean no more then 1 - 2 drinks in a sitting.

I hope this little story here has proven to shed some light on a very bad thing and that is drinking and driving DON'T DO IT!

~Dan