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texxasco · 08-29-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

I don't think of this offense as a very bad one, and think I was treated unfairly and am having to deal with a rather hash penalty for it.

When I was younger (17) I was at a party. It was mainly just a large gathering, around 20 kids just hanging out. The cops ended up showing up at 11:30, so a friend and I headed out.
I had four beers that night, and since the cops were probabley around I had my friend drive my car to his place just to be careful. He couldn't drive my car that well (standard) so about half-way I decide I better drive. The party to his house wasnt that far, and his house was 5 blocks from mine.
So after I drop him off, I'm about 2 blocks from home and a cop pulls me over. I was going just over 30 in a 25mph. He askes if I had been drinking and I was honest and told him 4. I still had the 2 in my trunk. I gave a breathalizer, and it read .04 (half the adult limit). Since I was under age, the limit is only .02. So I get a DUI, with probabtion and a bunch of fines. I also get a suspended license for 3months, and high risk insurance after that.
It has been 3 years now, I'm 20 now and just recently got my liscense back (couldnt afford it before). My insurance is still high risk and even for basic insurance is costing me an arm and a leg.

As stated I believe this is a bit much for the crime I did. I just kind of want to know what others think about my mind of it, and want their opinions.

That was when I was living in the states, and I am now living in Canada going to school. So I now can drink legally, but If I'm going out for the night to a bar I'll take a cab. If I do go to a restaurant for dinner, i'll have few drinks with the food, and drive home.

I'd say you were pretty damn lucky nobody got hurt, you or anybody else. I know plenty of people who have been the victim of a drunk driver, and a few who were hit by someone who didn't think they were "drunk". I was even hit by a man in south Houston who was both under the influence, and had no insurance, and in my opinion probably couldn't drive better even if he WAS sober. That wreck cost me weeks of doing without my truck, driving a crappy rental, a $250 insurance deductible, and a lot of aggravation. Not to mention my once brand new truck was now no longer "new". I have since recovered the $250 from the SOB who hit me, but I didn't get it by going to court. I used alternate, still legal, methods to recover my money from him. Still though it is a sore subject for me, and from reading many other posts in this thread, it is for others as well.
The best thing you could do for yourself is learn from your experience and stop drinking and driving, period. It doesn't appear as though you have learned your lesson though....maybe the high insurance premiums will eventually convince you...because quiet frankly until you figure it out, you truly are a high risk driver. Until you figure out how to not drink and drive, possibly you might find a little religion and seek a little assistance from a higher power, and pray you don't hurt anybody in the mean time.
I work in corrections and can't tell you how many convicts I have seen over the years that have been locked up because of a DWI that involved loss of life and/or property damage. It's sad because many people JUST DON'T GET IT. I am no fan of insurance companies, nor the rates that they set. But, in your case I'd say they were justified.