Drinking & Driving?  It’s Just Not Worth It

By Catherine Boyce, MFT

For the last 18 months I've worked with people who are court-ordered to spend two hours a week with me.  At first they are angry and resistant.  Many feel they have been mistreated by the justice system.  Many feel they are in my groups by mistake. It's my job to change their perspective.  And if I do it well, to offer them reason not to re-offend.

Who are these people? Most are just like you and me. They have families, work in a variety of careers and represent every ethnicity and social level.  So what did these average people do to land them in the midst of the criminal justice system?  They used poor judgment and opted to drive after drinking alcoholic beverages.

Some had consumed so much alcohol that they were severely impaired. Others had only a glass of wine or two with dinner, or a couple of beers, or a cocktail.  Many felt perfectly competent to drive - their speech was not slurred, they were not staggering, and they felt they were in full control of their faculties.

Their stories are very similar.  “I felt fine, so I decided to drive home. It was a short trip. The police officer pulled me over and said I had a broken taillight (or I swerved over the centerline, or I made an illegal U-turn).  The officer made me do the field sobriety tests such as walking a straight line, touching my fingers to my nose, and standing on one foot.  I couldn't even do that sober!  Then they had me do the Breathalyzer and told me my BAC (blood alcohol content) was over the legal limit (.08).  Man, I wasn't drunk -  I didn't even feel it!  Then I had to go down to the station where they made me take a blood test.  After that I had to wait 4 hours in the drunk tank.  It was cold and cramped.  There was a toilet, but no privacy.  And there were several “drunks” lying there.  I was embarrassed and humiliated.  And I felt angry!  Why me?  There are plenty of other people much drunker than me out on the road.  Why don't the cops go after them?  I'm not a criminal. All I did was have a couple of beers after work with the guys.  Everybody does it.”

I also listen to their court experiences.  The outcome does not seem to change much with or without an attorney.  The justice system is doing their best to crack down on people who drink and drive.  With a BAC of .08 you will:

	Pay hefty fines and penalties
	Do jail time or several weekends of community service
	Have your car impounded and pay fees to get it back
	Lose your license for 30 days for first offenders, and 18 months for second offenders
	Pay for and complete a drinking and driving program (15 weekly 2 hour classes for first offenders, 18 months for multiple offenders  - the state legislature may extend the program to 30 months)
	Pay for an SR22 insurance policy
	Be on probation for 3 years, and
	Have the offense on your driving record for 10 years.  If you reoffend within the 10-year period you will be considered a multiple offender with all the attendant penalties.

Without exception, all of my clients say it's just not worth the money, time, embarrassment and shame, and the hassles.  Imagine having to take county transit or asking a friend to drive you everywhere.  Imagine having to tell your kids that they can't do sports or other activities for a month because you've lost your license.  Imagine adding these stressful consequences to your already busy life.  It just isn’t worth it.

I tell all of my clients, “If you choose to party, great, but take a cab.”  In the long run it is a lot cheaper and will save you much more than money.  A cab ride might cost $100.  A first offense DUI costs an average of $3,000 to $4,000 (not including attorney's fees), plus the time and trouble detailed above.  Ask a friend or spouse to be a designated driver, party in a hotel and get a room or party without alcohol - for some this is a novel and enlightening experience!

Even if you have had one glass of wine or a beer and your BAC is below .08, the legal limit, you are still considered “under the influence” and subject to fines and penalties (for example, being charged with a wet and reckless offense) if you are caught. You can also be arrested for driving under the influence of drugs such as Nyquil, Sudafed, or Prozac.

You may think that the laws for driving under the influence are tough, but consider the staggering correlation between drinking and driving and fatal accidents.  Imagine your teen or spouse driving home late at night and the increased risk they face of being involved in an alcohol- related accident or fatality.  Imagine having to care for your child or spouse who has become paraplegic because of an alcohol-related driving accident. Or worst of all, imagine grieving the loss of a loved one because someone chose to drink and get behind the wheel of a car.  It’s just not worth it.                          

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