Submitted Stories

Many abuses are occuring with DUI arrests. Over 1.6 million people are being arrested annually. Most of whom committed no actual crime and did not hurt anyone. Here are some real-life stories from some DUI Arrest Victims that describe some of the problems, abuses and emotional fallout occurring because of the new laws.

If you would like to submit an article, you can click here or you can e-mail your story to info@ridl.us.

BAC Low, Inaccurate Or Non-Existent

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I was arrested for a DUI from my home, first time offense, blew a 0.09. I have to attend a Drug and Alcohol treatment program and weekly A.A. meetings. I am enraged at the whole ordeal! I am not a menace to society and I am not even an alcoholic, in fact, I rarely even drink. The process which I am having to endure is ridiculous not to mention degrading.

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I recently was pulled over and blew a 0.090 BAC. I feel like a criminal, and aver all just pretty worthless. The negative impact this is going to have on my future is staggering. I live in a rural area and in order to go anywhere one must drive a vehicle or hitchhike. I feel that if your stats on low BAC driving impairment are correct, then obviously I am being treated unfairly. How can a rural bar serve anyone a beer knowing that they will drive home > 0.080?

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Recently arrested for DUI, late at night, alcohol/prescription interaction, no injury or property damage. Age 70, 53 year clear record (2 minor infractions 1970s). Five years an unpaid civilian police volunteer. Sole caregiver for 92 year old mother (wheelchair-bound) for 9 years and counting, with driving completely forbidden for at least 30 days. Cost so far $3,000+ with indoctrination and MADD classes yet to come. Have had 2 Martinis every evening for 40+ years & have never driven "drunk" until this heart med interaction. I've even contributed money to MADD. Never again! How many more like me out there?

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My son goes to work at 3:00 A.M. We warned him about over zealous police looking for DUI drivers. Sure enough, he was stopped because he went on the shoulder. The first question from the officer's mouth was "have you been drinking?". Because the officer didn't get a prize, but rather a young man going to work, he still had to cite him for inattentive driving. He couldn't just let him off with a verbal warning. DUI is consistent with the current trend in law enforcement to generate revenue -"cash register justice"

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I was convicted of second offense dui last year after having two beers over a five hour period. I was pulled over because I pulled out in front of an off duty policeman who was traveling at a very high rate of speed. He then tail-gated me for about a mile until an on duty officer he had called made the stop. I was given a bogus field test and was actually permitted by the arresting officer to park my car in a legal parking space before being taken in. I then was not permitted to complete the breath test which I was requesting.(I knew I would not blow any significant level..so did he.)…. The judge ruled that while he did not see evidence that I was DWI(Driving While Intoxicated), he did "believe" that since I admitted to having had alcohol that evening that I must have been at least DUI(driving under the influence). I subsequently lost my West Virginia Drivers License for get this, TEN YEARS(2 Dui's within any 5 year period).

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I just recently fell victim to this new BAC level just yesterday evening while driving through Fairview, Kansas. I had two drinks five hours prior to being pulled over. The cop that pulled me over did so because I was drinking tea from a regular glass in my car and demanded to know what was in the glass. Well being that it was 2 a.m. and they were basically bored (yes, this is true) I was subjected to a battery of "sobriety tests", all of which I passed. When they could not find me incapacitated, and saying they smelled alcohol on my breath although I was chewing gum also, they arrested me and subjected me to this BAC testing which was just newly passed in Kansas. Well, needless to say, being a female of small build, I failed miserably. I WAS NOT drunk!! Because of this law and being a stuggling single person on my own with no one to fall back on, I stand the chance of losing nearly everything I've been struggling to hold on to. I have ALWAYS been a law-abiding citizen, with not so much as a speeding ticket. This is utterly humiliating, I DO NOT deserve this, CANNOT afford this and have absolutely nowhere to turn.

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How you can be convicted of a crime when the evidence is nowhere to be found, touched and analyzed/cross examined by anyone including the prosecution is atrocious. Deut 19:15 says you shall not convict by one witness, if this is attempted, the punishment should be leveled against those who sought to do this evil.

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Lost respect for authority

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I was pulled over by state troopers and blew a .17. Although I knew I could fight it and win on a technicality, I realized how stupid I had been to drive, so I didn't get a lawyer and plead guilty. I knew the standard punishment and thought "If you can't do the time..." was a good rule. However, instead of getting the minimum sentence (3 year suspension, $3,000 in fines, 3 month "School-10," MADD panel, 10 AA meetings), the judge decided to double the fines, upgrade to the 9 month "School-10" (which includes an AA meeting a week), plus 60 AA meetings in 90 days--then he added underage drinker penalties (2 meetings with teenagers who felt they'd been unjustly accused, a trip to the coroner to witness an autopsy, and a 1,000 word essay); BTW, I was 23! I feel that the judge used my personal code of honor as an excuse to double the state's income and make me an example. I could have been a weasel, got a lawyer and got off clean, but instead I tried to be responsible and got screwed... There's something wrong with that system!

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Not long ago, I was a good, honest, hardworking, church going man with a future. Now after 3 DUI’s I'm a pissed off criminal who's outlook on life has been destroyed by imprisonment. I use to stop for a couple of beers everyday after work. I worked hard for my family and this is all I asked for in return. 2 of my DUI were given to me for only sitting in my car in front of the bar I was in. I didn’t even drive let alone break a law, but the cop said I was driving.

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I always had much respect for police officers and had taught my daughter the same, who is 14. Now, after what she has seen me go through, which indirectly affects her, she wants to be a criminal defense attorney and make fighting stuff like this a lifelong goal. I told her not all officers are like this, but I cannot undo the damage their own actions have done…Do you know that they give like six months probation to repeat crack dealers here on felony charges but will make sure they almost drive a person crazy who made one mistake, and may not even have been guilty at that? We are the ones who need a support group! If I ever get through this shame and embarrassment, I am going to have to seek therapy, I know. I have recurrent nightmares, panic attacks, etc. My own family doctor says he's never heard of anything like it in his life. I am also a single parent, who gets no child support, by the way, and has and always will work for everything we have…just the victim of an overzealous political organization with a lot of power who have forced these laws into effect when the regular guy, us, weren't looking. Don't get me wrong, I know we cannot tolerate dangerous drunk driving or any other kind of dangerous behavior on the roadways, but this is over the line…. Have you noticed they seem to go harder on women? Could there be a little gender bias there, you think?

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I was stopped by a police officer who was standing outside the bar with another cop, watching me leave. I felt a sense of foreboding but went to my car anyway because he didn't seem concerned with me. Guess I should have went with my instinct. Of course, that would have meant waiting for a cab outside a bar for the 2 hours it usually takes for one to arrive, with all the scary drunk guys in the parking lot. Women have been raped in similar situations and its deemed their fault, after all, "she WAS standing outside a bar, you know". But, whatever...The cop followed me for 2 miles and pulled me over for allegedly "swerving". Had I really been swerving at the time, I would have swerved right into other cars that were driving along the same busy thoroughfare, but whatever..This totally sucks because I barely even drink. People I know who are boozehounds and drive hammered ALL the time have NEVER been pulled over! I now realize it's because they are slick and know when to leave the bar and what time to drive, etc..Laws keep honest people honest, they always say. Since this has happened, I've done a lot of web surfing on the topic and am absolutely appalled at how this new-fangled prohibition has been foisted on the American public. MADD is a group of anti-drinking proselityzers who callously exploit the pain of victims to advance their cause. Their website blows my mind. It's unbelievable how many non-driving related alcohol issues they get into. They are NOT a benign victim's advocacy organization as they are so often portrayed. They are a politically sophisticated movement whose goal is reinstating Prohibition. And unlike the earlier types, they're not even honest about it. I can't believe I used to donate to them! Never again!

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No Previous Arrest

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I am 50, got my 1st DWI in April 2002 (.08). I have never committed a crime, nor have I ever had a traffic violation before now. I moved to NC 2 years ago, in Oct my house goes up for sale. I will not live in a place that treats people like this place does. Since my DWI, I am the scum of the earth. If I am a dependant amongst my friends and family, unable to get a good job, and labeled a criminal, how can anyone do this to anyone else?

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I was passing a car on a 2 lane highway and sure enough there's a cop in the turnaround lane. I had quit drinking about 3 hours prior. In the end, an OWI charge, a ruined career, a ruined family and a ruined bank account…. Hopefully someday I'll be able to get this OWI off of my record and once again establish myself as an honest, tax paying citizen that these bullshit OWIs robbed me of. AHHHHH!

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I have never committed a crime, nor have I ever had a traffic violation. Since my DUI, I am the scum of the earth. If I am a dependant amongst my friends and family, unable to get a good job, and labeled a criminal, how can I possibly pursue happiness?

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My wife & I were stopped after a Halloween party at a co-workers house. The first rule on the invitation was that you hand your keys in at the door. My wife drove our truck to the party and handed her key in upon entry to the party. I had left my keys home. At the party my wife drank 3 Heinekins and I had had about 7 (I wasn't driving so I drank). Upon leaving the host and hostess of the party checked my wife and I and the keys were given to my wife because she appeared to be fine. Only 45 minutes before leaving my wife was performing a dexterity trick with both her left and right hands and fingers. No one else could do the trick even after she showed them how, this included people who didn't even have one drink. She also had gone outside about a 1/2 hour before we left and went down some very steep stairs to get down to the street from the front door, out to our truck to retrieve some cd's, and back up the stairs again (oh did I mention that the party was on the second floor of my friends house in the living room / dining room area, so thats 2 sets of stairs to go up and down to get the cd's).

Meanwhile it is below freezing outside, my wife and I don't have any jackets or coats, and the wind was at 35 mph that night (as well as all day). the next thing I know is that my wife is being arrested and handcuffed for DUI and put into one car and I am being asked to get into another cop car.

At the station they asked me to call someone but I didn't have anyone to call at 3:00 am. I asked them if I could call a cab to drive us home and they siad that that was against the law that they would not be able to release her unless someone else came to get her out. I asked them to give me a breathalizer to see if I was under the influence or not (it had been abou t2 hours by this time) and they said no that I was presummed under the influence. they asked me for my license and I aasked them why. They said they wanted to have a record of who was the passenger, so I gave it to them. Later when my wife was relesed (her parents came for us, how embarrassing, I am 37 my wife 35, both professionals) I was handed a ticket for ALLOWING A DUI which carries the same exact penalties as my wifes DUI.

In NJ there is no trial by jury, it is by the judge of the town in which you are arrested. The court is in the same little building as the police station and prosecuters office. Conflict of interest or what? So, if I were a burgler robbing your home and got caught, I would have a jury of my peers. I maight even get pre-trial intervention. I would pay a fine for a first offense and maybe get some probation.

Instead, my wife and both have to hire seperate attorneys to handle each of us = $3500, fines if both convicted = $1000, both lose license for minimum of 6 months, driver alcohol education class for both = $400, state imposed surcharge for both = $2000 a year for 3 years total= $6000, insurance rate hike for 3 years at least for both of us = $4000 over current rate X 3 years = $12000.

Total =
3500
1000
400
6000
12000
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$22,900 in fines

Now they get an almost certain win on at least my wife by charging both of us. My case is hard to prove so what they will do is tell me that they will drop the charges against me if my wife pleades guilty. Since we both can not afford to lose our licenses, we will have no choice but to pleade guilty on her DUI and bite the bullet that will cost us $12,000 instead of the higher amount. They get their conviction, we get fucked.

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Unfairly Incarcerated

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I got a DUI exactly one WEEK after having bogus "assaulting a police officer" charges dismissed (my husband and I were in Washington DC protesting...) I had driven from downtown Chicago (where we live) to the suburbs to pick up my husband from a work party (saying goodbye to a well liked manager who was returning to Germany.) My husband had only recently arrived, so I was asked to stay (despite a "no spouse" request on the invitations...) I had 3 beers during this time. My husband was very drunk and he asked me to drive as I had not drank very much. I rarely drive, maybe 6 times a year...I was no more than a mile from the host's home, when I was pulled over by a SS wannabe....he IMMEDIATLY asked if I had been drinking....my heart was in my throat....he gave me this wierd "sobriety test" of which I must have failed, for I was arrested for a DUI. I have yet to go to court, but I am already resigned to the loss of close to $2,000.00...I have been unemployed since April of 2002....I do $9.00 an hour temp jobs just to have spare change....I used to make $56,000.00 a year...I don't have even a speeding ticket and I NEVER drive nor hardly drink....(my DC thing was a scare tactic from the metro police for being "hippies"...)I am glad to read that I am not alone in my feelings of embarrassment and feeling as if I am leaking money.....

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Mr. Harold Vann has served over 4 years of a 16 1/2-year sentence for DUI manslaughter. His trial was a media circus. The woman who was originally considered by the police to be the cause of the accident is married to an editor from the Tampa Tribune. That newspaper was used as a sounding board to rally sympathy for Ms. Jackson and to enflame outrage toward Mr. Vann. Why? Because a little girl was killed and another one seriously injured. Mr. Vann admitted to having two beers at his shop before colliding with Ms. Jackson. Mr. Vann must be a monster. Right? That is the way he was painted in the numerous stories printed and in testimony to the jury…. So why are we defending a ‘drunk driver’? Because he wasn’t drunk….. The Jackson family collected 17 million dollars for their loss. No, not from Mr. Vann’s insurance company….. Ms. Jackson decided to sue her Hunters Green Community because she later claimed that shrubbery in the median blocked her view of Mr.Vann’s approaching vehicle…. As far as all the documents show, Harold Vann was NOT the cause of the accident, Ms. Jackson was.

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I am going to a jury trial in Sept. and could stand to lose a 20+yr. career. If I lose the career, I lose my home- finally purchased after many years of hard work, paying off college loans, etc.- all on my own. Now, I may possibly lose everything I've ever worked for. Why? Yup, I like to go out, socialize, and have a few drinks. My friends and I are very responsible people. We are not endangering anyone (none of us has a death wish for ourselves either). On paper, I look like MADD's worst nightmare: a repeat offender, a suspected felon. In truth, two times I was charged EVEN THOUGH I WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. Another time the cop followed me 5 miles-almost to my driveway and finally thought up "wide right turn." This on a quiet country road and me-knowing they were behind me for the last 5 miles. Now this last time I had 3 drinks in 3 hours (in a tall glass-more mixer than booze). I agreed to the breathalyzer, but was charged with a refusal anyway. I even offered to submit to a blood test but was told "No, this is a refusal."…. I was NOT even impaired and I am Public Enemy #1. I am an honest, hard-working, loving soul who volunteers in my community, donates blood regularly, pays my taxes, supports my community… Cash register justice, indeed. I haven't totaled the costs, but I'm over $6000.00 and that's before court fines and fees; and this is before adding the emotional trauma and before considering future losses of career, home, transportation (my rural area has no public transportation). To top it off, I live alone and can't go buy milk by myself.

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When a man stops for 2 beers after work, consumes a hamburger and fries and leaves after a three hour period of visiting with friends, then gets pulled over by an overzealous police officer who is excited about a Quota driven MADD incentive~~~ puts him through a SFST without detailing or demonstrating how it is done, and subsequently fails him, then the law has run amok. BTW...this man blew a .000 on the BAC. The officer in turn lied because it did not suit his needs and noted "REFUSED" on the citation. This resulted in the man, with a wife, child, successful business, getting a 90 day revocation of his license, all at the whim of a police officer. His word is in question and now he is forced to spend $2500.00+ to get his word heard in a courtroom…. To me...this is a serious and horrible infringements on the man's rights. And a constitutional travesty when legal spirits used in moderation have become the basis for arrest when the truly dangerous drinkers are probably driving by laughing at the good fortune they just had.

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Police Abuse

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I am the (as stated 56 yr. old) that was verbally and physically abused by one officer m. malosso of the Pasco County sheriff's office on 4-11-2002 at aprox. 1:45 a.m. To add all details to the facts, I had a cast on my left leg, was refused to use my reading glasses during fst (which of course the cop said I failed) and passed in spite of my obstacles. I am an accountant and he said I couldn't count to 30 (which he lied about as he never asked me to do this) said every negative thing possible to strengthen his lying bribe attack on me. Yes I said bribe, as the man who bribed him told me the next night-a personal thing between the briber and myself and my daughter- and he knew 2 hours prior to my going to jail that I was in jail, for the specific reason, and the exact location where I was taken! Two hours prior to my being put in jail for trumped-up charge. At traffic court, which I fought, the cop when I began to question him stopped me before I could even get one sentence out, stomped around his podium to judges bench and stated "I'm not gonna answer any of his damned questions"! The judge called me to bench and asked me what was going on I stated I had more than enough evidence to impeach the cop at which time the cop told judge "it had nothing to do with failure to yield, I was out to ((GET)) him for dui"! At which time the judge told me to hold close to whatever evidence I had and he wasn't going to play any games saying he was going to pass failure to yield to dui court. I have been to court aprox. 10 times only to have my public "pretender" ask for continuences. As stated prior, my last violation was in 1964 and have never been in any typr of accident in my life. Now the court is stymied as I have turned the cop in to internal affairs, the FBI and I've just begun with this rogue and his cohorts! Also at the scene, I literally begged the cop when he (no miranda) was going to handcuff me I had a lump on my right thumb my V.A. Doctor thought may be cancerous so I "begged" him not to cuff my right hand-anything else but not that- where upon he commenced to miss my wrist and hit the lump directly smashing it to a point the hand doctor I later saw said was "crushed to mere granules" and he couldn't tell until it grows back what it is. I also had a neck injury in Viet Nam in 1968 and told cop of this and I wasn't supposed to put arms behind back; cop was oblivious; when trying to inch across the back seat of cop car he said hurry and when I tried to acknowledge he pushed me hitting top of my head as I received in Nam during rocket attack; electric shock and brillant lights went off just as Nam and he then barked at me to put my leg in car; the left one with large boot cast and again when I tried to acknowledge he slammed door on my foot-exactly where it had been broken, re-breaking it and wedging it between door and seat. It too a few minutes just to wriggle it free. With no seat belt and on my right elbow, slightly propped up I could see from right rear seat the speedometer was reading 75+ mph from my angle; straight on it had to be more than 80mph. I had to yell at him as he almost hit another car pulling out on our right (we were on a 6 lane road) and he got very close to the car an jerked wheel to left throwing me face first into door breaking my prescription glasses going to center lane, then jerked abruptly to right throwing me upright where I saw over my left shooulder that he had "run the car off the road" and never stopped or slowed to see if other person was ok. His breathalyzey test was a joke as I explained to Jeanne; I bought a tester and found how they can "spike" the machines with any amount of alcohol solution to obtain literally any number they want. A lie detector is FAR MORE RELIABLE viewing the freedoms they have on the 5000. The story is worse but I mainly want all of you not to despair for the tyrants are short-lived, not unlike that of a repeated bank robber. They'll get caught as the Miami Herald has already pointed out! In search block type in collars for dollars and you will see what I mean. A.S. A disabled person beaten by rogue cop mentality thanks to madd's praising them for collecting bounty for their "kills" Have faith in humanity for in time it will prevail!

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I've had two DUI's, one in 1987, and one in 2000. On both occasions, I could not believe that I was drunk, or even impaired (except if you support, "your impaired at your first drink "). In 1987, someone drove me off the road in a hit and run, I was coming from a charity event on a Sat. around noon, and had had two cups of beer, several Philadelphia soft pretzels(big, chewy, doughy), orange juice, water two bananas, over a 4 hour period of running races( 5k, 1 mile, 1/4mi.) At the accident, my trunk popped open revealing a cooler full of beer, with some empty containers. Right away they asked if I was drinking, I said yes, and off I go to jail. I blew a .14 on the breath test, pleaded guilty, lost my license etc.
From then on I knew that it obviously took very little to be over the limit of .10, and all the one drink an hour stuff was bogus!! Well in 2000, I alone was coming from a college grad party for a friend’s daughter, a barbeque. I golfed at 7 am, did yard work till 2pm, then went to the party till 9pm when I was coming home to go to the movies with my wife, who was elsewhere all day with her mom. I nursed beers (2-3) after having two rum and cokes. Ate all day, I was starved when I got there. At one point even the kids (over 21) were doing shots, I declined, was called a sissy, and said I was driving!!!!
Anyway, 7 hours, 5 drinks, I get stopped one mile from my home after having driven 12 miles with no problem by a local rouge cop who has over 1200 dui convictions and no losses? He just sits on Friday and Saturday night and stops people, makes up some reason (I was riding the lane line for 20 seconds, yes 20 seconds!!!! That was the probable cause!!!!!) I admitted drinking, failed the FST, as I'm arthritic, was beat, pissed off etc. No matter, he would of flunked anybody! Go to the station, blow into the machine, the cop yells at me to blow harder or he'll put me down for refusal to test, I blow my brains out, and have a supposed .17, .16?? Again I couldn't believe it. I was counting my drinks!!! Following every recommended procedure, being responsible!
After pleading guilty at the advice of every lawyer in Bucks County PA, I don't drive for a year, and start researching breathalyzers. I have two removable, permanent bridges in my mouth, that seriously trap food. When I eat, I have to go to the washroom right after because of the stuff in my teeth ( gross, sorry!). Also, at the time of the DUI, I had serious heartburn, and reflux of esophageal matter (spit up). Now I read that bread can almost double the results of a breath test. I read it here on your site, and several others!! Both times, I had doughy pretzels, hot dog and hamburger buns in my bridgework!!!!! And the Reflux!!! Now I know why I tested the way I did. The breathalyzer is bogus, and has seriously hurt me and thousands of others. It has to be shown for what it is!! A fraud!!!

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I know what you are talking about, especially the guy that has MADD mothers following him in vehicles with tinted windows. Its gotten so bad that here in North Adams, you CAN'T EVEN WALK without getting a DWI. You know when they impound your vehicle and then take it? Well, then they use those vehicles to arrest people who are intoxicated but WALKING. They arrest you and then attach a car that they have taken from another drunk driver they arrested.

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I was pulled over a month ago. It was 2am, and the cop tailgated me for three miles, then pulled me over, saying, "We've had some vandalism in the area involving a car similar to this description. Have you been drinking?" I told him I had had a couple beers, the last one over an hour ago (the truth). He then asked me to blow the breathalyzer, saying I faced immediate suspension of my license if I refused. I knew I wasn't drunk, and complied. He said it read .06, but would not show me the result. He then said, "I can't allow you to operate this vehicle after you've admitted to drinking." and HAD MY CAR TOWED AWAY. No charge, no ticket, no infraction. He even admitted that my driving had been fine. Then he drove off, leaving me stranded 20 miles from home at 2am in a dangerous section of [town]…. Our freedom and civil rights are in serious peril.

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A disabled person facing court for "failure to yield" at 1:40 a.m. 4-11-02, abused both verbally and physically by arresting officer? When in fact he wasn't even driving down highway; virtually empty on a Wednesday night. My driving record is "impeccable" with no violations since my 19th birthday (I'm 56 yrs. old.)…. I drank only 2 modified 80 proof rum & cokes in a 2 hr. span; get this, the cop doesn't know yet but by a retired "nun" turned bartender; well educated and mixes my drinks light per my request…. He refused to let me read the tickets before wanting me to sign them (I passed the FST also). He refused to let me borrow back my reading glasses and I can't read at all without them!

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Recently some friends and myself went out on the town. Afterwards we stopped at a local restaurant for some breakfast before heading home. I'd say around 3:00 am. When we arrived there we noticed that there was a City of Springfield Policeman there. This did not bother us because we were not doing anything wrong. It just so happenend that the cop was from my home town and is the nephew of our Sheriff (the Sheriff that my brother ran against in the election). Well we ate our food while he left and went to sit out in the parking lot. Yes, we were laughing and joking around and having a good time. We noticed when we left the restaurant that the cop was sitting in the parking lot next door facing the road. As soon as we pulled onto the main road he pulled us over. He asked the driver to take a hand held breath test, which she agreed with no problem to do. She is 25 years old and she blew a .001 which is nothing!! The officer then decided that he wanted to know if there were any open containers in the truck with us. Well there was a bottle behind the seat that my friend and I had shared earlier that night BEFORE arriving at the restaurant. The bottle was empty. The officer said that he saw it and that someone was going to jail for this. My friend said that it was her bottle (she's 31 years old) and he told her to put her hands out, hand cuffed her and put her in his patrol car. Next he searched the entire truck and found an empty can under the back seat of the truck (it was a king cab). He then arrested the guy who was sitting in the back, (he's 29). Hand cuffs and all!! He did this over empty containers that were in the truck and after the driver had proven to him that she was NOT drunk. He then told us, meaning myself and the only friend left in the truck that the two who was arrested would have to sit in jail for four hours and then could be bonded out for $500.00 each. He stood in the door of the truck for 30 minutes and lectured us saying that it was people like us that ride around and drink and kill innocent babies and scatter their brains out all over the place. HELLO, we had a designated driver!! We did not deserve to be treated this way!!

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Other Stories

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I lost my job after being with the company almost 4 years because I can’t drive for 2 years lost all my possessions and still owe court fees. My wife is having a hard time taking care of me and my 3 kids on her salary and is about to leave me. There are no busses running where I live. I can’t find a job because I can’t get there.

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MADD has gone too far. I believe the drinking age should be 19. Too many "GOOD" college students are being prosecuted, punished and even expelled for enjoying a beer WHILE NOT DRIVING. Young men and women have no place to socialize and meet… The MADD mothers have forced our young men and women into a life of solitude, TV viewers - that watch horrible crap like "Jackass".

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Not one ticket in 11yrs, now I have a felony because of this new law. This will destroy everything me and my family have been working towards for 9yrs. I did my time on the past problems. I was a sleep on a dirt road and woke up to a nightmare. It is not right. I guarantee you I would not even think about pulling over and doing what's right after all of this. And neither will anyone who I tell my story to. Yes, drinking and driving is wrong, but they are charging you with past problems when most of us were kids. Now we are criminals that cannot own a gun, vote, or continue our careers that we have struggled to find.

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1979. Clinton, MO. Parked on court house square with at least a 150 other folks. A group of guys were playing blue grass on the court house steps.
It was not unusual for folks to be setting in cars and pickups sipping beers and visiting. I just happened to be new in town and still had Iowa plates.
I had an apartment just two blocks off the square. I left to head home, drove nearly to the parking lot when my truck cab was lit up by two spot lights, one in front, one in back. Startled, I missed the turn and drove over a curb. Busted. People I worked with warned me this would happen.
I had been given this advice, and followed it to a T. These rules apply only if you truly believe you are not impaired. If you know you are, give up to the arrest and pray for mercy.
1st., never volunteer info to the cop. But, be polite and just answer the questions. Don\'t ever lie about how much you have had to drink. Hand over your license, you are going to lose it for some period of time anyway.
Always refuse FST\'s. Few can pass them stone cold sober. Look for a video camera in the cops car. If possible, try to stay in front of it, even if directed to stand some where out of its line of sight. It is your best evidence of how you have been treated.
Don\'t take breath tests on the miniture hand helds. They seldom are tested and recalculated, and it may have been recently used just prior to your test, having retained enough BAC to put you over the limit.
Volunteer to take a blood or urine test instead. Most states allow this. The longer before the test the better. Your liver can only process an oz. of booze an hour.
A blood test is best. The first thing that goes to your favor, an alcohol swab to clean the area. Not a lot of help, but an argument before a judge.
If the cop is also using a tape recorder, demand a transcript of what you said.
Last, but not least, get a lawyer that tries these cases on a regular basis. Don\'t lie to him/her either. These lawyers can save your butt and thousands of dollars in fee\'s and fines.
I know you want to know how I came out. I took a blood test, nearly 3 hrs. after arrest. 0.07. Went home in a cab. Walked to the square from then on.
I did get a small revenge on one of the cops. I tied 3 ears of corn to the back bumper of my truck. I would drive all over with those 3 ears dangling. Finally, one of those two cops just had to know why I had those ears of corn tied to my bumper.
Remember, this was 1979. I told him I was trolling for pigs.

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