Be Careful this Holiday Season!!

[HisPony]

http://www.cbs8.com/features/crimefighters/story.php?id=148719

Sheriff's Department Lands Million-Dollar DUI Grant

The holiday season is the worst time of the year for drunk driving tragedies, and that's why it's best time for the San Diego Sheriff's Department to get it's hands on more than $1 million to fight the problem.

Here in San Diego County on average, drunk driving crashes kill two people every week. Pat Hodgkin from Mothers Against Drunk Driving fights for DUI resources and says the cavalry just showed up.

"Everybody is behind this. Everybody is very excited about this," Hodgkin said.

She's talking about a $1.1 million dollar state grant called the AVOID program that the sheriff's department just landed for the first time ever.

Corporal Jason King with the sheriff's department says that money over the next three years will pay for 760 deputies to work extra shifts - a total of 6,000 extra hours, for 32 additional DUI checkpoints and 207 saturation patrols.

"Economically this is going to put extra officers and deputies out on the street to actively pursue DUI enforcement," Cpl. King said.

Sixteen police agencies will team up for the program in cities like Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside and San Diego.

That money also means extra patrols at the big drinking events, like opening day at the Del Mar racetrack, St. Patrick's Day downtown and large gatherings at Qualcomm Stadium.

If you end up in jail on a drunk driving offence it will cost you big these days, with court costs, fines and fees, drunk drivers could be looking at $10, 500.

This weekend alone, that grant money will help the sheriff's department organize seven DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols across the county.

EDIT: That 10.5K figure is BS, it's a lot more than that!! Trust me, been there done that 7 years ago. One other thing, that DUI now stays on your Insurance Record for 10 years, not 7.

 

[sdsubzero4]

Our DUI Unit just got the word on this grant not too long ago. There will be saturation of check points. Be careful out there. Find a Designated Driver if you do plan on drinking.

Thanks HisPony for this post and the awareness.

 

[VP_07SRT8]

great post but if you are stupid enough to even risk it you deserve every penny you lose and infraction you get. i have family and friends dont want them hurt by a drunk driver

 

[sdsubzero4]

great post but if you are stupid enough to even risk it you deserve every penny you lose and infraction you get. i have family and friends dont want them hurt by a drunk driver

Ditto

 

[dope3]

great post but if you are stupid enough to even risk it you deserve every penny you lose and infraction you get. i have family and friends dont want them hurt by a drunk driver

ditto +1

 

[yosemiddysam]

98% of california drivers cant drive sober so I hate to see them drunk........

 

[sdsubzero4]

98% of california drivers cant drive sober so I hate to see them drunk........

:lollollol: Good One!

 

[maverick169v]

yeah dui makes no sense. get a cab, sleep in your car, go home with a girl, how do people **** that up? had a lcpl get a dui the day after a safety stand down with about6 speakers on duis, including the colonel thats our mag co. then afterwards, we talk about in the shop, me a ssgt and 3 cpls are all like call us if you need a ride. idiot gets a dui.

 

[HisPony]

yeah dui makes no sense. get a cab, sleep in your car, go home with a girl, how do people **** that up? had a lcpl get a dui the day after a safety stand down with about6 speakers on duis, including the colonel thats our mag co. then afterwards, we talk about in the shop, me a ssgt and 3 cpls are all like call us if you need a ride. idiot gets a dui.

The Article my wife and I wrote in February 2005 for an OffRaod Site:

An Off Roader’s “Thoughts” #5

This article is unique because my wife Jo “wifestoyota” Ducummon has allowed me to add her “Thoughts” on our experience with this topic!!

This is going to be an article that will not sit well with a lot of people out there! It is a subject that I “thought” I would never have to worry about. It is a subject that I have “thought” long and hard on before I sat down in front of this computer and poured my “Thoughts” and life experiences into.

It has recently come to my attention of the number of kids and adults who are in “accidents” that have involved alcohol.

STOP!!

DON’T JUDGE THIS ARTICLE ALREADY!! KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND READ!!

I am going to tell you my story of Off Roading Accidents!

My younger years story:

I was 15 at the time and went out Off Roading with a friend. Of Course beer was involved!! Hell, we were “kids” at the time! Beer was involved with everything we did growing up! The night was great! Four rigs, beer and we had the trails to our selves. No worries all around. About an hour into the trail my buddy missed a turn in the road and off we went. We went over about four or five times and beer cans were all over the place. We finally kicked out the windshield, what was left of it, and crawled out. I don’t know how we walked away from that one and I still cannot look at the pictures of the truck. Hell, all I remember was the first roll and waking up at home. Back then Hospitals cost to much! You walking and talking, You ok!!

Now, back to me today. Did I learn my lesson? Read on.

Have I drove under the Influence before? Yep!

My story:

I had just started the Off Road Club that I belong to and we decided to hit the local Bar to celebrate. After drinking for four to five hours, it was time to leave. I climbed into the car and “thought” I was ok to make it the five blocks home. I “thought” wrong!!

Two blocks from my house I ran into a “DUI Checkpoint”, no way out! I knew I was in big trouble! After failing the “Sobriety Test”, I was given the dreaded BeathAlizer. Needless to say, I failed that big time.

Any of you ever been handcuffed in front of your wife? With her crying? Wondering how she is going to get home? “Thoughts” to think about!!

Trust me, it’s not one of those moments that you want to put in the family scrapbook!

After being booked and put in a cell with 30-40 other “drunks”, I was finally moved to the holding cell, minus my wedding ring, belt and shoelaces. I spent 8 hours in there with 20 other people who “thought” they were innocent of any crime and telling every one about it!! Me I knew what I had done wrong and could see my whole Military career going down the toilet.

Once I finally got out of jail, the really fun part started!

I had to get a Lawyer, $1500 right there. Car out of Impound, $289. DMV Fees, $100.

Does this sound like a “Priceless Commercial”?

There was no way I was getting out of this one with out getting hammered with big fines and hoping I would not get jail time!

Well, since I didn’t hurt any one, here is what I got on top of the above “Fees”:

6 Months Suspended License, can’t drive PERIOD!! This means Off Road vehicles also!
3 Months on a “Restricted License”, to and from work and to my “Drunk Classes”
$389 for the “Drunk Classes”
6 Months I had to go to “Group Meetings” every Friday
3 Months I had to go to “Drunk Classes” every Tuesday
40 Hours of Community Service
3 AA meetings, once every month

To top all of this off, I am on “Probation” for 7 years. Yep, you read that right, SEVEN YEARS!! If I “blow” a .04 in that 7 year time frame, I am considered a “Repeat Offender” and everything I described above is doubled!

My Probation ends in 2007.

Most of you are asking, how does this affect us on the Trails?

When you are PUBLIC Land, the DUI Laws pertain to all of US out there. This includes you peeps in boats also!! Am I a “Saint” that advocates “Zero Tolerance” on the Trails? No, I am not. I just want everyone to know what happens when you do get that DUI. Trust me, it’s not pretty!!

My point of this whole article is:

You are NOT in charge of everything that is going on around you while you are in a vehicle. All it takes is one kid or adult to slip while you are on a trail or in the middle of a recovery and there is nothing you can do to take the “accident” back. All it takes is some one to pull out in front of you on the street, all it takes is that kid to shoot out between cars into your path.

Am I guilty of drinking while I am on the trails?

Yes, I WAS!!

Will I be doing it in the future?

No, I won’t!

I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt some one on the trail or on the streets and I wasn’t in complete control of myself.

Accidents happen on the trails, please don’t let them be alcohol related. Please don’t think I am trying to tell you how to live your life, I am not. Will I still wheel with you if you are drinking on the trail? Yes I will but I will be keeping a closer eye on where I am at in relationship to your vehicle.

I am not Judge and Jury!!

Do what you want!

Just please don’t endanger me, my wife and my dog!!


Take these “Thoughts” as you will. They are mine and mine alone. Just please think about this before you “crack a top” on the trail!


Jack ”primergray” Ducummon, Jr.
Land Use Moderator



An Off Roader Wifes’ “Thoughts”

Before Jack got his DUI, I “thought” nothing of having a “few” beers before getting behind the wheel on the streets, on the trail or drinking on the trail. I didn’t think it was my place to “bitch” at him about how much he had to drink.

I was numb when he got the handcuffs put on him and I didn’t know what to do from there. I also had had to much to drink to drive the car home, so I let him. When the Sheriff asked me if I could drive the car home, I was embarrassed to say I had to much to drink also and needed a ride home.

The Officer handed me Jack’s wallet, minus his ID, said your car will be impounded and we will give you a ride home. I asked, “Where is my car going?” I was told, “Call this number in the morning to go get it.”

My next “Thoughts” were that I should have told Jack we needed to take a cab. I didn’t and because of that, I feel responsible now also.

It was hard on us those 6 months that he didn’t have a Drivers License!!

Ladies, imagine having to drive your husband everywhere he needed to go to get parts, work, and see his friends! Things that you took for granted!! Him leaving for a few hours to help one of his buddies out installing a part.

Jack asked me to add my “Thoughts” to this article. I didn’t really want to. He asked me to please do so people see the “family member’s” side of the story.

Jo “wifestoyota” Ducummon


Any of you want me to come talk to your people, give me a heads up. I am on leave from the 22nd of December until the 3rd of January. I am a Retired Navy ET1 and got very lucky I didn't get kicked out over this. Thus the reason I offer to talk to people about what I have been through. I don't preach no drinking, I explain what I went through and how much it costs.

I have found that small groups are better for understanding what is going to happen with getting a DUI. Putting over 50 people in a room for "DUI Awareness" is a waste of time. People sit there and can't wait to get out tof the room and go on Liberty.


Jack

 

[sdsubzero4]

Thanks His for sharing your story with us. Sometimes its different and sink in deeper when its a personal experience.

 

[HisPony]

Thanks His for sharing your story with us. Sometimes its different and sink in deeper when its a personal experience.

Your welcome!

I hate listening to people who bitch about getting a DUI as if it wasn't thier fault.

I F'ed up! Best I can do now is help others understand what happens


Jack

 

[pouya]

man im so glad that i am not a drinker lol so i wont be in trouble over this

 

[sdsubzero4]

you better wait a few more years if you plan on drinking. Or bye, bye license until at least 21.

 

[pouya]

you better wait a few more years if you plan on drinking. Or bye, bye license until at least 21.

i dont have to because i probably still wont be drinking just dont like beer or wine or any other alcohol yea i know im 18 and every one drinks, but not me lol

 

[sdsubzero4]

That's good to hear. Good for you.