First of all - thank you to everyone who has expressed support for me during this difficult time. I've been absolutely stunned by the fact that not one single person I've talked to about this has given me the judgy-judgemental attitude... not one. Everyone has been supportive, and sympathetic, and it's helped a lot. So thanks.
For those who've asked how things are going:
- I went to court on the 24th and a minor miracle occurred - the cop hadn't filed the paperwork on the chemical test refusal. So the judge postponed the arraignment hearing for a week, meaning I had my license for an extra week. That helped a lot - helped my mental state, but also helped in that I had a job interview in another state and having a license meant I could rent a car after all. Whew! (The interview went great.... fingers crossed.)
- Went back to court today and my license was in fact taken away... the bad news. The GOOD news, amazingly, is that I might actually get my trial next week! Unheard of - my attorney said it's the fastest she's gotten a trial in 18 years of work. If it happens, it'll be good mainly because once the trial's over I'll be able to get a conditional license, which means I'll be able to drive to work. It also means the clock starts running on the year revocation of my license. All good things.
And I... I'm doing better. I was really depressed for the first couple of weeks after I was arrested... spent a lot of time berating myself for doing something stupid. STUPID. Telling myself that I should have just taken the stupid breathalyzer. Yeah, using the word "stupid" a lot. But now... I guess I'm getting more pragmatic about it... it's a crappy situation, but it's just something to deal with. And as many people who have been through it keep telling me - the worst part (being arrested) is behind me, and it doesn't get worse from here. (Although I think every time I write a check I'm going to feel worse again! But not as bad, certainly, as I did while I was handcuffed in the back of a police car.)
Once everything is resolved, I'll touch base again. Maybe I'll write about what it's like to go to "drinking driver" classes. Or maybe, just maybe, once this is out of my system I'll write that blog that's been percolating in the back of my mind about how I went to high school with Glenn Beck...
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Comments
You'll be fine as you are well represented. Soon this will all be a funny (kinda funny) story.
The up side (maybe) is that you are back to posting on OS. I always enjoyed your presence here.
Take care and keep us updated. Post some science stuff ok! Like a fix for the deepwater catastrophe. Thanks!
I want to hear that Beck story when you’re up for it. Good to see you again albeit not under desirable circumstances. Hang in there.
I'll write about my buddy Glenn soon.. as I said it's been percolating. Trying to decide exactly what I want to say.... :)
I'm right near the Canadian border, in a popular tourist area. There are a lot of Americans who have been seriously disappointed (and embarrassed) when they are refused entry to Canada.
The laws in each state are different. I think in some states it is better not to take the breathalyzer, and I'd guess if you know for sure that you are really drunk it's not such a good idea.
I was arrested once for drunk driving. I took the breathalyzer. I knew I wasn't drunk. My car was malfunctioning and the cop thought I was drunk because I was driving too slow. I was just trying to make it to the upcoming exit ramp to get off the freeway. Dude had me do the sobriety test on I95 in high heels with an ACL injury. Hauls me off to a batmobile thing where I blow in the machine --- no alcohol. I had to spend the night in jail anyway (said something about it being too late and he apologized!). I had to be bailed out, they dropped the charges but still tried to give me a ticket for driving too slow. Got that thrown out too. I was so afraid to drive at night after that, and it made me think, thank God I hadn't been drinking.
Anyway, I hope it works out for you. Thankfully you have the financial resources to deal with this. Someone else who was living on the edge would be pushed right over by something like this.
Hope things go your way in court.
I think you should give us a drinking driver class post, and...wait: you went to high school w Glenn Beck? oyez. tellit, tellit.
Ablonde... ugh. What a horrible story. I'm glad it turned out ok for you - and I'm really glad I didn't have to spend any time in jail. Handcuffs were bad enough. And as far as financial resources - I'm making it, but damn, I had hopes of finally being out of debt by this time next year. That hope is gone now.
Greg... the GB post is percolating, I promise!