ABOUT LAST NIGHT
My new best friend, the cab driver
BY JENNIFER DONOHUEThere is nothing that ruins last night's great party memories more than the realization "I should not have driven home." You are relieved there were no accidents or flashing lights in the rearview mirror. Next time, you will call a cab for sure.
In a town the size of Eugene, generally the most you will pay for a ride home is $30. There is the time and effort to retrieve your car the next morning. However, compared to the enormous and far-reaching effects of getting caught driving under the influence, it is really nothing.
First, when you do get pulled over by law enforcement or are in an accident that involves drinking, you will be put to the field sobriety test and the well-known breath test. Failing these tests is very easy, especially if you have been drinking. The field sobriety tests are difficult to pass sober, so count on failing.
Then the real party begins. Failing these tests will result in money and privilege loss that you never imagined when enjoying that drink at the party. If you have had a previous arrest for driving under the influence, it is even further going to affect your life.
Refusing the tests is a very bad idea. You will be in jail for the night, yes, but you will also automatically lose your license for a year and up to three years for this refusal. If you fail the tests and go through the system, you only lose your license for 90 days. So the rumor that you are asserting your rights by refusing the tests is just that — a rumor.
Take the test, but say nothing about your condition or how you got there. The best way to "assert your rights" in this situation is to assert your right to an attorney and your right to remain silent. This is generally a very good idea with a policeman who is working the graveyard shift and would rather be home with his girlfriend than busting your drunken ass on Willamette at 2 on a Saturday morning.
You've been arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants — DUII. And the reality of the DUII is going to bite harder than any hangover. You will need to hire an attorney to help navigate the system, which is expensive. You will be arraigned in court to enter a plea. This means time away from work. Work will generally need to be informed about this infraction, which is embarrassing.
If you enter a guilty plea, you might qualify for a diversion program. This diversion program includes months of alcohol education and rehabilitation, at your cost — also very expensive. You are obviously not allowed to drink or do drugs during this period, as you will be urine tested. To start a diversion program, you have to be evaluated by professionals, at your cost, of course. You do a weekly check-in and go to meetings.
Your license will be suspended for 90 days. This makes getting to work and the kids to school a real bitch. Hearings and lawyers have to be involved for special privilege suspensions. Good luck with that. Also, you have to pay to have your license reinstated.
This DUII becomes a permanent part of your driving record. Your current insurance will probably drop you or raise your rates very high for years to come. After this, you have to have proof of insurance at all times and can never let it lapse — also expensive.
Oh, did I mention the fines for a first offense DUII? They start at $1,000 and can be as high as $6,250. This is if there is no accident or injuries to deal with as result of driving drunk. I am not even going there; this is already too depressing.
Other things that can happen to your liberties once arrested are things like informal probation, community service, ignition interlocks, months of having an intoxilizer breath device attached to your car ignition, vehicle seizure and even jail time if you can't pay or fail diversion.
These are the tangible consequences. There are also consequences at work, home and in your social circle that will be painful. Unfortunately, you will live through it.
Please be a smart beer snob: Call your new best friend, the cab driver.
DON'T BE A DUII WAITING TO HAPPEN
Put one or more of these numbers in your cell phone address book before the party. These guys take credit and debit cards. And they may save your life.
• Budget Taxi 683-8294
• Deluxe Taxi 434-1161
• Emerald Taxi 686-2010
• Jerry's Taxi 688-8761
• Oregon Taxi 434-8294
• VIP Taxi 484-0920
Product of EW's Advertising Department
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