Holidays and DWI's
http://www.news12.com/LI/topstories/article?id=221959
I have a few things to say about this.
She had a suspended license. She was driving while drunk. not just drunk, BAC THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT, drunk. Both of these things are terrible. In my mind, i can excuse driving with a suspended license for a few scenarios. Your wife is giving birth, you need to get her to a hospital. Your wife is in the hospital, you need to get to her. *list emergency examples that if pulled over a cop is more likely to escort you along, than write you the ticket* (or of course, your neighbor's steal your mail. =P)
There is never, EVER, an excuse to drive while drunk, or under the influence. EVER. If you have the money to get high, or drink, you should have the money for cab fare, or at VERY LEAST 50 cents for a payphone to call a friend. However, from the number of times my brother called my parents back in the days before cell phones, bars seem to be more than happy to lend you a line to know you're being responsible.
But now, doing both simultaneously. That's just disgusting. It's complete and total disrespect for human life. From what I've heard of the story, her license was suspended because of a previous DWI. That just means she was caught only once before. It means, realistically, she has done this many times both before and after her license was suspended.
it means she doesn't respect her own life, or the lives of the people around her. It means she doesn't have any social responsibility, and typical tactics like a fine, or a suspended license aren't going to be enough to paint the picture of a family mourning the loss of a loved one this holiday, to paint the picture of how terrible what she has done, many times, really is.
The man buzzed by my store in the mornings, and we'd make a comment or something. I didn't know the man personally, but plenty of my customers did. it's a story that's hit the store hard, but it should be hitting this society, much harder.
I hope she goes to prison. I hope taking away her freedom to hurt people and destroy lives, might be enough of a message. I Hope, she can find it in herself to accept what she did was wrong, and make amends to be a better person. I hope somewhere in her heart, in time, she can know to ask for forgiveness, in not some cheap public apology where she degrades herself to make it seem genuine, but in her actions. In the person she chooses to become when life has hit a point like this.
I hope she also serves as an example in this holiday season of just how terrible and tragic it is when a drink or two, turns into four or five - and a disabled man on a scooter becomes just an afterthought of hitting a curb.
That said.
if any of my friends ever need a ride home from a party due to drunkenness. You can be around the block, or in east hampton - if you are looking at your car keys and your cellphone, saying "shit, mom will kill me" and even for a second consider putting the keys in that ignition - call me. Please. Look at your girlfriend, your best friend, your younger or older siblings, a parent. Ask yourself - if they were in the car you hit - could you live with their blood on your hands? Ask yourself if it's really any different whether it's someone you know or not?
I'm willing to bet, you couldn't.
So don't be an idiot. Don't drive drunk. Don't even drive buzzed. Don't play the 1 drink an hour game. Be smart about it, be safe about it, and don't let it ever be a question of if you're ok to drive. If you're asking - you're not. call me, call your parents, call a friend, call a cab. Someone. There are consequences, and not ones that will go away in a year, or two or ten.
So while you are all enjoying your holiday, let the families around you enjoy another one together, by not being an irresponsible asshole.
I have a few things to say about this.
She had a suspended license. She was driving while drunk. not just drunk, BAC THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT, drunk. Both of these things are terrible. In my mind, i can excuse driving with a suspended license for a few scenarios. Your wife is giving birth, you need to get her to a hospital. Your wife is in the hospital, you need to get to her. *list emergency examples that if pulled over a cop is more likely to escort you along, than write you the ticket* (or of course, your neighbor's steal your mail. =P)
There is never, EVER, an excuse to drive while drunk, or under the influence. EVER. If you have the money to get high, or drink, you should have the money for cab fare, or at VERY LEAST 50 cents for a payphone to call a friend. However, from the number of times my brother called my parents back in the days before cell phones, bars seem to be more than happy to lend you a line to know you're being responsible.
But now, doing both simultaneously. That's just disgusting. It's complete and total disrespect for human life. From what I've heard of the story, her license was suspended because of a previous DWI. That just means she was caught only once before. It means, realistically, she has done this many times both before and after her license was suspended.
it means she doesn't respect her own life, or the lives of the people around her. It means she doesn't have any social responsibility, and typical tactics like a fine, or a suspended license aren't going to be enough to paint the picture of a family mourning the loss of a loved one this holiday, to paint the picture of how terrible what she has done, many times, really is.
The man buzzed by my store in the mornings, and we'd make a comment or something. I didn't know the man personally, but plenty of my customers did. it's a story that's hit the store hard, but it should be hitting this society, much harder.
I hope she goes to prison. I hope taking away her freedom to hurt people and destroy lives, might be enough of a message. I Hope, she can find it in herself to accept what she did was wrong, and make amends to be a better person. I hope somewhere in her heart, in time, she can know to ask for forgiveness, in not some cheap public apology where she degrades herself to make it seem genuine, but in her actions. In the person she chooses to become when life has hit a point like this.
I hope she also serves as an example in this holiday season of just how terrible and tragic it is when a drink or two, turns into four or five - and a disabled man on a scooter becomes just an afterthought of hitting a curb.
That said.
if any of my friends ever need a ride home from a party due to drunkenness. You can be around the block, or in east hampton - if you are looking at your car keys and your cellphone, saying "shit, mom will kill me" and even for a second consider putting the keys in that ignition - call me. Please. Look at your girlfriend, your best friend, your younger or older siblings, a parent. Ask yourself - if they were in the car you hit - could you live with their blood on your hands? Ask yourself if it's really any different whether it's someone you know or not?
I'm willing to bet, you couldn't.
So don't be an idiot. Don't drive drunk. Don't even drive buzzed. Don't play the 1 drink an hour game. Be smart about it, be safe about it, and don't let it ever be a question of if you're ok to drive. If you're asking - you're not. call me, call your parents, call a friend, call a cab. Someone. There are consequences, and not ones that will go away in a year, or two or ten.
So while you are all enjoying your holiday, let the families around you enjoy another one together, by not being an irresponsible asshole.