Have you driven drunk? Answer honestly...

[RAcker]

By the way, I live about 30 minutes away from Leeds, AL, home of Charles Barkley.  The big news in Birmingham this week was that Sir Drinks Alot didn't attend the MLK Day festivities as he has annually for years due to his recent troubles.  Instead of his presence, his poor mother filled in and ended up having to answer questions from reporters there.  Sad.

[ChampKind]

Interesting topic.  I've had 6-7 at a tailgate, gone to a game, and then felt fine to drive afterwards, but that's more like a 4-5 hour gap in between.  There's also been a few morning-afters where it's been dicey, but at no point have I woken up and said to myself "Man...I should not have driven last night". 

I'm generally pretty cautious about these things, especially after a friend in high school got into a pretty bad drunk driving wreck.  I also had the awesome job of getting drunk for TN state troopers so that they could practice their field sobriety testing, so I got a good understanding of just how little you have to drink to get nailed for a DWI.  I'm extra careful after that one, although I did pick up a few tricks about how they do the field tests before the breathalyzer. 

ChampKind, that's hilarious... There are many people who are unemployed that would love that job...haha... How much did they pay you?

It was a volunteer basis, but about once a week they'd lock you in a room, pour you shots and mixed drinks (good stuff, too, ketel one, sailor jerry, SoCo, etc) until you were at about .12 or lower. It was mostly other people who were affiliated with the university but weren't students at that point.  They'd monitor how much we drank and give us food, and then about an hour later we'd get tested by about 4 different groups of cops in training.

It was surprising how people who only blew a .04 or so would get cited for driving while impaired.  That was probably the biggest lesson that I learned - that the police can still haul you in even if you pass the breathalyzer.  They also had this awesome story about beating a DUI, which I will share for you now.  It may or may not be true, but it was relayed to me by a TN state trooper, and I'm not sure why he would lie about this.  Also, he was a black motorcycle cop, and his call sign was Chocolate Chip.  I thought that was funny.

Essentially, a man gets pulled over for having a taillight out late at night in middle Tennessee.  Immediately, before the officer can get out of his cruiser, he jumps out of his car, holding a full bottle.  He whips his keys into a nearby field, stands directly in front of the police car, cracks the seal on the bottle (a fifth of whiskey), and finishes it in front of the officer (and his dash camera), who at this point is screaming at the man to get in his car.

Well, the man ends up getting arrested, charged with possession of an open container in public, public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and suspicion of DUI.  While he eventually ended up getting convicted on the first 3 accounts, the DA didn't have any solid evidence that the man was impaired while he had been driving, so they had to drop that charge.

The end result - 3 other convictions, a night in jail, towing costs for his car, several fines, and a likely a ridiculous hangover - but no DUI.  Clearly it's a tradeoff, and probably a huge risk, but apparently there's one last ditch resort if you find yourself absolutely screwed.  Like I said, it may not be true, but the source I got it from is semi-reliable.  That said, I probably wouldn't try it myself.

[dark_lord]

i cant vote....bc i have never done it, nor would i ever do it.  it is absolutely pathetic when people drink and drive.  they are selfish and only think of themselves, rather than all the innocent people they endanger.

[JSD]

Interesting topic.  I've had 6-7 at a tailgate, gone to a game, and then felt fine to drive afterwards, but that's more like a 4-5 hour gap in between.  There's also been a few morning-afters where it's been dicey, but at no point have I woken up and said to myself "Man...I should not have driven last night". 

I'm generally pretty cautious about these things, especially after a friend in high school got into a pretty bad drunk driving wreck.  I also had the awesome job of getting drunk for TN state troopers so that they could practice their field sobriety testing, so I got a good understanding of just how little you have to drink to get nailed for a DWI.  I'm extra careful after that one, although I did pick up a few tricks about how they do the field tests before the breathalyzer. 

ChampKind, that's hilarious... There are many people who are unemployed that would love that job...haha... How much did they pay you?

It was a volunteer basis, but about once a week they'd lock you in a room, pour you shots and mixed drinks (good stuff, too, ketel one, sailor jerry, SoCo, etc) until you were at about .12 or lower. It was mostly other people who were affiliated with the university but weren't students at that point.  They'd monitor how much we drank and give us food, and then about an hour later we'd get tested by about 4 different groups of cops in training.

It was surprising how people who only blew a .04 or so would get cited for driving while impaired.  That was probably the biggest lesson that I learned - that the police can still haul you in even if you pass the breathalyzer.  They also had this awesome story about beating a DUI, which I will share for you now.  It may or may not be true, but it was relayed to me by a TN state trooper, and I'm not sure why he would lie about this.  Also, he was a black motorcycle cop, and his call sign was Chocolate Chip.  I thought that was funny.

Essentially, a man gets pulled over for having a taillight out late at night in middle Tennessee.  Immediately, before the officer can get out of his cruiser, he jumps out of his car, holding a full bottle.  He whips his keys into a nearby field, stands directly in front of the police car, cracks the seal on the bottle (a fifth of whiskey), and finishes it in front of the officer (and his dash camera), who at this point is screaming at the man to get in his car.

Well, the man ends up getting arrested, charged with possession of an open container in public, public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and suspicion of DUI.  While he eventually ended up getting convicted on the first 3 accounts, the DA didn't have any solid evidence that the man was impaired while he had been driving, so they had to drop that charge.

The end result - 3 other convictions, a night in jail, towing costs for his car, several fines, and a likely a ridiculous hangover - but no DUI.  Clearly it's a tradeoff, and probably a huge risk, but apparently there's one last ditch resort if you find yourself absolutely screwed.  Like I said, it may not be true, but the source I got it from is semi-reliable.  That said, I probably wouldn't try it myself.

This could fall under a Tommy Boy method...

After a cop begins the process of pulling you over, drive estreemly eratic, pull over, jump out of the car and start slapping at your head and body screaming "bee's! they're everywhere!". 


BTW, not suggesting in anyway to try this... obviously, The best way to avoid getting caught by police is to not drink and drive.

[celticmaestro]

Wow, that's a heavy question.  I've never driven drunk, or after feeling a tangible effect from the booze.  That being said, I've probably had 5 or 6 beers over the course of a day (not just an hour or two) and felt fine to drive.

That's one lesson both my parents and school drove into my head.  As drunk as I've been, I've always refused to even get in the car with somebody who was drunk.

Incredible. Exactly what he said.

[QuinielaBox]

Not been busted for it, but there are times I wonder.

With the way the cops are, I always cut it after 2 beers in the bar. And even then I wait an hour by ordering food.

[jgod213]

Seems like the members of this blog are quite responsible just going off of the posts here - buuuuut this thread has been read over 200 times and there are only 2 pages of responses.  What i'm alluding to is that, although the poll might get some interesting hits, you probably aren't going to get many posts from people who have actually done this deed many times before, for obvious reasons...

Personally, this isssue is very relevent to me as i've recently made a resolution to avoid driving under the influence.  I'm 23 years old and only a year and a half removed from my college days (at the Zoo), so i still tend to go all-out on the weekends.  I'm the type of person who never really loses his cool, even while under the influence; however, though this trait has helped me quite often in the past/present, it also tends to make me feel like i have the capactiy to handle things that just shouldn't be done regardless -- i.e. driving at the end of the night.

Never had a close call or been pulled over at these times, but in reality it's just a horrible decision every time.  I've come to understand that, even if i am in fact capable of driving many of these times, all it takes is those flashing blue lights to come on and i'd probably lose my job.  And that's the best of scenarios...

This issue is something that desperately needs to be addressed on college campuses more so than it currently is.  Unfortunalty it often takes a hard lesson (especially for 18/19/20 yr olds) for people to realize the hazards of their decisions.

[fairweatherfan]

In my normal life, never more than 1-2, maybe 3 or 4 drinks if I'm out for several hours.  However, I grew up, and still return for holidays, waaaay out in the sticks of Northern New York.  Other than a rundown bowling alley that closes at 10, the only place to socialize with friends is at a bar (they're visiting too so it's not like anyone has their own place) and the only way to get home is to drive (no cabs, buses, or even motels).  People live very spread apart from one another so carpooling is impractical.  

I usually make sure to not drink more than 1 or 2 if I know I'll have to drive home, but there has been a time or two that I was around the 6 drink range.  

The only silver lining is that, being in the sticks, I literally don't so much as see another car the vast majority of trips home.  Obviously still not something I'm proud of, and not something I've done in some time, but it can be very difficult to juggle socializing with good friends I haven't seen in a year and getting home in a responsible manner.

[Redz]

Seems like the members of this blog are quite responsible just going off of the posts here - buuuuut this thread has been read over 200 times and there are only 2 pages of responses.  What i'm alluding to is that, although the poll might get some interesting hits, you probably aren't going to get many posts from people who have actually done this deed many times before, for obvious reasons...

Personally, this isssue is very relevent to me as i've recently made a resolution to avoid driving under the influence.  I'm 23 years old and only a year and a half removed from my college days (at the Zoo), so i still tend to go all-out on the weekends.  I'm the type of person who never really loses his cool, even while under the influence; however, though this trait has helped me quite often in the past/present, it also tends to make me feel like i have the capactiy to handle things that just shouldn't be done regardless -- i.e. driving at the end of the night.

Never had a close call or been pulled over at these times, but in reality it's just a horrible decision every time.  I've come to understand that, even if i am in fact capable of driving many of these times, all it takes is those flashing blue lights to come on and i'd probably lose my job.  And that's the best of scenarios...

This issue is something that desperately needs to be addressed on college campuses more so than it currently is.  Unfortunalty it often takes a hard lesson (especially for 18/19/20 yr olds) for people to realize the hazards of their decisions.

Good post jgod..I was in that age group (18) when the story I related occurred.

Good decision by you to take a look at the big picture. 

[moiso]

I drink better when i drive.

[ChampKind]

 I'm 23 years old and only a year and a half removed from my college days (at the Zoo),

The Oakland Zoo?

[Tnerb02]

I don't drink but I did fall asleep at the wheel once and have been close other times. Thankfully it wasn't for too long and I was almost home when I did it.

[MetroGlobe]

knock on wood, but i've done it hundreds of times.  never had an incident or an accident or a conviction.

is it tremendously irresponsible and reprehensible?  definitely.  but it is what it is.  gotta get home somehow.  baltimore is far too dangerous a city to go walking around looking for a cab in the late hours of the night.  i'm much safer drunk as a skunk behind the wheel, than at the mercy of the thuggish gangbangers that pillage and plunder this town on a nightly basis.

[CelticsWhat35]

knock on wood, but i've done it hundreds of times.  never had an incident or an accident or a conviction.

is it tremendously irresponsible and reprehensible?  definitely.  but it is what it is.  gotta get home somehow.  baltimore is far too dangerous a city to go walking around looking for a cab in the late hours of the night.  i'm much safer drunk as a skunk behind the wheel, than at the mercy of the thuggish gangbangers that pillage and plunder this town on a nightly basis.

You may think you're safer behind the wheel than walking the streets, but I doubt other drivers would feel the same way...or pedestrians.

[Scalablob990]

Seems like the members of this blog are quite responsible just going off of the posts here - buuuuut this thread has been read over 200 times and there are only 2 pages of responses.  What i'm alluding to is that, although the poll might get some interesting hits, you probably aren't going to get many posts from people who have actually done this deed many times before, for obvious reasons...

Personally, this isssue is very relevent to me as i've recently made a resolution to avoid driving under the influence.  I'm 23 years old and only a year and a half removed from my college days (at the Zoo), so i still tend to go all-out on the weekends.  I'm the type of person who never really loses his cool, even while under the influence; however, though this trait has helped me quite often in the past/present, it also tends to make me feel like i have the capactiy to handle things that just shouldn't be done regardless -- i.e. driving at the end of the night.

Never had a close call or been pulled over at these times, but in reality it's just a horrible decision every time.  I've come to understand that, even if i am in fact capable of driving many of these times, all it takes is those flashing blue lights to come on and i'd probably lose my job.  And that's the best of scenarios...

This issue is something that desperately needs to be addressed on college campuses more so than it currently is.  Unfortunalty it often takes a hard lesson (especially for 18/19/20 yr olds) for people to realize the hazards of their decisions.

Good post jgod..I was in that age group (18 ) when the story I related occurred.

Good decision by you to take a look at the big picture. 

Ahhh, I got a guilty conscience. I drove home drunk a few days ago for the first time, and i'm 18. I didn't really think much about it until the next day and I felt guilty since I could of caused some catastrophe to occur. I felt okay when I was driving, but thats what everyone says when they do it. I told my parents the next day and they freaked but they said don't do it again. Next time i'll just crash somewhere or sleep in my car since getting pulled over at 18 intoxicated leads nowhere good. Chilling thing though, a friend who left that party drove home drunk and plowed into a fire hydrant and twisted both axels on the car. That stuff sort of makes you think twice about doing it again.