Losing License Consequences
Costs Of A DUI – What It’s Cost Me So Far
As regular readers will know, I was in an accident in May of 2010. At the time, I had been drinking, but not that much – it was spread out over the hours of an afternoon and evening. I thought I was ok to drive and did not think I would blow 134. I fell asleep while I was driving, and hit a house.
So far, the costs of me driving while Impaired have been enormous. I just received the invoice from my lawyer and thought it might be a good time to provide a running total of what it has cost me thus far. Hopefully if you are reading this, it will be enough to forever convince you that taking even a small risk of drinking and driving is a terrible idea.
Lawyer’s Fees: $2,706.75 (including HST)
Fine: $1,300.00
Restitution: $500.00
Back On Track Remedial Program: $600.00
Total of Above: $5,106.75
And I’ll tell you what – the lawyer’s fees in my case are considerably reduced from what they would have been normally, as the lawyer I contacted is an acquaintance of mine. He provided me with a discounted hourly rate. As well, there was no trial. So, if you are charged with Impaired driving and go to trial, your legal fees will be far higher than mine were, as much as mine are already going to cause enormous financial hardship.
The above total does not include the cost of applying for my license back, the leasing and maintenance of the ignition interlock, or the increased insurance rates. I have not yet paid those fees.
Don’t drink and drive. If you do have a couple of drinks with some friends, would you rather spend a hundred bucks, or even 200.00 on your own personal breathalyzer, or risk the above amount of money? That could be part of your child’s college fund. Or your next few vacations… if you’re still able to work after having your license taken away.
Perhaps you should get your own personal breathalyzer today?
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Getting My License Back After The DUI
As I’ve written previously, in Ontario a new program came into effect earlier this year, where if your guilty plea was entered on or after August 3, 2010, you plead guilty within 90 days of the alcohol related driving charge, and your fines are all paid up, it is possible to apply for an early reinstatement of your license. In fact, instead of waiting a full year, it might be possible to have it reinstated after three months.
It also must be your first offense. As well, you must have had at least the “Assessment” portion of the Back On Track Remedial program completed.
I’m still trying to work out the details, as now I am apparently eligible to apply to have my license reinstated. But there are some problems:
First, I don’t know if I’ll even have a vehicle on the date I’ll be able to get it back. The vehicle I was driving was written off by the insurance company, and they estimated over $14,000.00 in damages.
I’m not sure I could afford insurance after the DUI or Impaired Driving conviction.
I’m still paying on a bank loan for the vehicle – because I was convicted of an alcohol related driving offense, my insurance company views that as a breach of contract and therefore they are not going to pay the bank the balance of what is owing. I’ve got another 4 1/2 years to pay the loan off.
To be quite blunt, I am close to going bankrupt after all of the bills have come in, the fine and restitution has been paid, and I’ve not been able to keep up with my other debts. My income has suffered dramatically since the accident and impaired driving charge. With no vehicle, it’s been tough to get out there and call on clients and potential clients.
Having said that, there are some possibilities. At this point, it is my understanding that now that I’ve completed the Back On Track assessment, and my $1,300.00 fine is paid in full, I should be able to call Guardian Interlock and get a contract with them. It seems to me that I don’t actually have to have a vehicle to install the ignition interlock in, but I do need to provide proof of a contract with the company for one of their interlock devices.
Then, I can apply for my licence back, and when it is returned to me, it will have an “I” on it, which means I am not to drive any vehicle that does not have an ignition interlock installed. But at least I could have my license back, which would give me some options going forward.
My vehicle is at the premises of what I’m told a pretty good auto body mechanic. There is some possibility he could fix up my vehicle for a lot less than what the insurance company estimated the damages to be – but it’s still going to be a hefty price to pay in my present financial situation. But at least I’d have a vehicle that I wouldn’t feel so bad about making payments on.
If my financial situation improves, and I can then also afford the vehicle insurance, I’d have a vehicle to drive when that happens.
Tomorrow, I’m hoping to give Guardian Interlock a call to see what they have to say about getting a contract and what that entails.
I’ll post more as I learn more.
All this could have been avoided if I had my own personal breathalyzer. It would have been a much smaller price to pay than what I have paid after getting behind the wheel and thinking I was fine to drive.
Back On Track Assessment
As required under Ontario Provincial legislation in order for me to apply for my driver’s license reinstatement, I recently attended the “assessment” portion of the Back On Track program. Part of the requirement is that you cannot drink 24 hours prior to any Back On Track meeting, including the assessment, education or treatment classes. With virtually no information as to what occurs during the Assessment meeting, I was quite nervous beforehand. I had not consumed any alcohol in about 3 full days but how would they know? Blood tests? Urine test? Actually there was no test, so it’s basically on the honour system.
The assessment meeting is where the driver convicted of an alcohol related driving offence in Ontario meets with a facilitator of the Back On Track program. The purpose of it is to determine whether the convicted person needs alcohol education or alcohol treatment. This is done by asking a series of questions. In my case, I was told that I only needed to participate in the education class, a 9 hour classroom session next month.
Some of the questions that are asked are extremely ambiguous. Some are even odd. Questions along the lines of:
“Can you like a person that is witty and humorous but who sometimes hurts other people’s feelings?”
“Do you speed up for yellow lights?”
“Does your hand ever shake?”
“Have you ever had to seek emergency medical help in the past 12 months for an accident?”
“Do you have trouble sometimes falling asleep or do you wake up during your sleep?”
There were of course questions about the use of both alcohol and drugs; how much on a weekly or daily basis is alcohol consumed and whether or not you use sleeping pills, tranquilizers or other drugs. Information about annual income was also requested apparently for statistical purposes.
I had to admit I had problems answering some of the questions as they were far to general in nature, and the meaning of them did not seem precise. I was told by the facilitator that there are plans in the works to revamp the whole assessment process including the questions that are asked. Apparently, some people who’s first language is not English have problems understanding and answering the questions.
The entire interview process lasted just under an hour. The interviewer was friendly and there were no lectures given. As each question was asked, my answer was inputted into a computer program, and at the end of the questions, some of which were of a “True or False” format, the computer program determined whether or not I required the treatment portion of the Back On Track program or just the education.
I am scheduled to attend the 9 hour education portion next month, and apparently 6 months later, there will be a final evaluation done with me over the phone.
I was also given a book to read along with some “homework” to be completed before the alcohol education class. I’ll write more about the book and homework in a later post.
A Month After Impaired Driving Charge
It’s now been over a month since I was charged with impaired driving. It’s been tough. I can’t say I have not driven a vehicle in that time; I did drive my girlfriend’s car along some private property through a campground last week. It felt weird after not driving for three weeks.
This past weekend, my girlfriend and I had plans to go out of town to take in a gig by an up and coming rock and roll band. We’ve had those plans for quite awhile. And as mentioned previously, my girlfriend lives in a different town than I do, normally about an hour’s drive. She has been awesome to me, but I can’t expect her to be going out of her way every time we have plans. I had tried to get a ride to her place Friday evening, but was unable to.
So, I decided to get my weekend bag together and try using the thumb. I walked for two hours before someone stopped to pick me up. By that time, I was getting eaten by mosquitoes and was losing hope that I’d make it before morning! I had visions I’d be walking the entire 55 km distance, and it didn’t help that I had a bag with clothes as well as my needed laptop with me.
Two hours after I set out, and swatting mosquitoes buzzing my head, wishing that I had thought to buy a bottle of water before I left, finally someone picked me up. Bob was able to take me several miles down the rural road to the next town. During the drive, he told me that he once had his license suspended for 9 years! He was able to empathize with me and told me that he never drives past a hitch hiker, knowing what it’s like.
Where Bob dropped me off put me about 30 to 40 minutes away normally by car from my girlfriend’s place. But there wasn’t much traffic at 10PM and I wasn’t holding out much hope of getting another ride. I did have an advantage that I was able to stand right under the only lamp post in town and could be seen under the bright light. If I continued to walk, I’d be walking along the very dark road and risking no one seeing me until the last second. I decided to give the lamp post strategy a try even though there weren’t many cars passing through.
I didn’t have to wait too long though – about ten minutes when a manager of a medium size restaurant in my town stopped to give me a lift. Peter was awesome! He lives about 15 minutes out of his way from my girlfriend’s place, and decided that he would give me a ride all the way to my destination. I was extremely grateful to him and was glad to have met him. I’ll have to drop by his restaurant soon and give him a large tip!
All in all, it took me over three hours to get to my girlfriend’s place – normally a drive just under an hour. But I made it, sore leg muscles and all, and we were able to carry through with our plans for Saturday night. Thankfully I did not have to hitch hike back on Sunday as my girlfriend drove me back. Today however, I see more walking in my future as I need to get to some appointments later today.
Drinking and driving and being charged with impaired (dui) is not fun and the risk is not worth it.
How Do I Get To Court?
I am not asking for or looking for sympathy. I’ll figure this out.
When I was charged with Impaired Driving, the Ontario Government took away my driver’s license. One of the very few charges where you are punished before you are found guilty.
My court date is next week. Court is an hour and a half drive from where I live. There is NO public transportation. I had made arrangements with a relative and a girlfriend to get me there. But it hasn’t worked out so well.
My girlfriend was offered a job (that she desperately needs) conditional that she start immediately and also be able to work some days – that just happens to also be my court date. My relative has been assigned to work by his employer way out of town – like six hours away – the day I am to be in court next week. I can’t go asking people to take a day off work and drive me, out of their way to take me to court. A court date that I need to be at.
I hate asking for help. I don’t often ask for it. Most of my friends still don’t even know about the accident or the impending charges.
Hey – if you see a guy hitch hiking, with a garment bag probably containing his suit – pick him up. He might be heading to court, and is trying to be responsible.
And if you think it’s gonna be easy, to have a couple of drinks, get into an accident.. and the consequences are something you can deal with.. think again. Drinking and driving is tough. The consequences are harsh. Your life will be changed.
A Crappy Day
For the most part, I’ve been taking the advice of caring friends and family who’ve said, “Keep your head up and get back on your horse. Do what you can do and don’t worry.”
Easy to say! Sometimes not so easy to get into that headspace after losing my driver license and facing an impaired charge. Today, I’m musing about just getting it all over with, pleading guilty and trying to figure out how I’ll deal with it.
It’s very depressing to think I will likely lose my license for a year. It’s very depressing to think that there is a possibility I could go to jail. It’s very depressing to think that I will not have access to a vehicle and won’t be able to take my little boy places – just me and him – as we’ve so often done together, for a very long time.
Today, I had to go to the bank and I also needed a hair cut. Problem is, the place I usually get my hair cut is on the opposite side of town from the bank, and would have been too far to walk. So I ended up going to a place I’m not used to. Then, on the walk back, it started to pour rain on me. Rain was not in the forecast. Of course, if I had my vehicle and driver’s license, I would not have blinked at any of this.
What normally would have taken me an hour or less took me well over two hours.
No, I’m not looking for sympathy. Perhaps if someone finds this, reads it, it will be enough of a lesson for them to not even consider drinking and driving.
About 3 Weeks Since Impaired Charge
It’s been about three weeks since I was charged with impaired driving and operating a vehicle with over 80 mg of blood alcohol. I am still not used to not being able to drive and having my license suspended. Believe me, it has not been easy. Walking, hitch hiking and begging friends for rides. Having to reschedule and cancel appointments because I cannot get to them. It really is almost like house arrest in some ways, as far as my freedom to travel.
I am not used to it all. The other day, my girlfriend kindly drove to my town to pick me up in order for me to be able to attend birthday festivities of an aging family member. On the drive, I pointed out that being in the passenger seat did allow one to look around a lot more, rather than concentrate on driving. She asked me if I enjoyed the change.
My response? “I hate it, baby. I hate it.”
I keep going over the accident in my head a hundred times a day. I go over how much I had to drink (I’m not making excuses, but I still can’t figure out, based on the amount and times I was drinking, that I blew over 80 mg – it makes no sense to me), and my decision to drive even though I was feeling tired but unable to sleep. The shock and panic I felt at the time of impact, the oily fumy air in the compartment of the vehicle, making everything around me look surreal and “dreamlike,” the panic I felt when I realized I had been in an accident, the panic, nervousness and shock I still felt when the police arrived. I wish those things would leave my mind.
Normally when I’m with my girlfriend, I drive regardless of whether we’re in her vehicle or mine. Today, we stopped for gas, and I filled the tank up. After paying for it, out of habit I walked over to the drivers’ side to get in and went to open the door.
With a smirk on her face, “What are you doing, honey?” my girlfriend asked.
“Ooops,” I replied sheepishly.
This just isn’t right for her to be driving me around. It’s also weird to be opening the driver’s side door for her then getting into the passenger side.
About three weeks. Nine weeks to go on the automatic administrative driver’s license suspension. I don’t know how I’ll handle a full year.
Old Habits Are Hard To Break
Today, I needed to get to the bank. I then planned to get to the post office before it closed so that I could get an envelope into the overnight mail. No problem – the bank closes at 4:30PM and the post office locks the doors at 5PM. Plenty of time.
Wrong.
When I’m planning my day, I’m still thinking in terms of having a vehicle and a driver’s license as I was prior to the impaired driving charge. Errands would only take a few minutes when I could drive. I could easily leave for the bank at 4:10PM, get there before closing and then head to the post office. I’d try to arrange all my errands so I could do them all at once after I got my major important office work done.
But it doesn’t work that way anymore. I have to walk to the bank. And when I’ve finished my business there, I have to walk back. And the post office is no longer a 7 minute drive from the bank, it’s a half hour walk. So, I made it to the bank, but I didn’t make it to the post office before closing.
I’ve got another 2 1/2 months minimum of this. I suppose after a month, maybe I’ll find more efficient ways of spending my time and figure out how to run errands – literally running them – while still managing to get everything else done that I need to get done in a day’s work.
Don’t drink and drive. You won’t believe how your life can change if your caught or cause an accident.
Second Weekend After Drunk Driving Charge
This past weekend marked the second weekend since the impaired driving charge. My little boy is heading out on a holiday with his mother, and I wanted to spend some time with him. With no wheels, I was unable to simply drive in to see him and spend time with him at some special events going on around town. Thankfully, my girlfriend has been of an enormous help to me, and she agreed to drive the almost one hour to pick me up and then to get my son.
I miss the ability I had just three weeks ago, if I felt like it (which is often), to just drive and get my son and take him places with me. He took so much pride and happiness driving around with me and we’d laugh together, listen to music, and enjoy the sights and scenery.
Not only has this criminal charge against me affected me personally, it has affected my deepest relationships and my ability to hop in the car when I feel I’m needed by those important people, especially my girlfriend, and my sons.
I don’t know how long others will be able to stand this – me being “needy.”
I hope this never happens to you and that you will not make the same stupid mistake.
A Sliver Of A Silver Lining?
I recently wrote about how I hate the loss of my independence since losing my driver’s license after a charge of impaired driving. Because I live in a fairly rural area, there is no public transportation, and for me to get places, I am at the mercy of the schedule of my friends. I can’t just hop into my vehicle now on a whim and drive down to the town down the highway to pick up a pack of smokes. I now have to plan all those things ahead.
However today, I decided to see if I could possibly bicycle my way down to the town. I have been riding it a little bit earlier this spring – but it’s been after a good ten years of no bike riding. And there are a lot of hills both up and down between here and the town. I wasn’t sure if I would make it – but if I was feeling too tired, I could always turn around. If the hills were too much, I could always get off and walk the bike up them. It doesn’t help that I’ve been smoking way too much lately – up to two packs a day sometimes.
But I have to do this and try – it may help give me some semblance of independence back.
I got on the bike, probably looking quite geeky with my trouser cuff tucked into my sock as it was getting caught in the chain. And off I pedaled, watching vehicles go by, getting to their destination far faster than I would be. They had drivers licenses.
Eventually, I made it. I stopped at the convenience store, picked up a disposable razor and some shaving cream, and then took a little break before heading back. Worried about the hills.
It took me a little longer to get home than it did to get to town, but I made it.
The sliver of a silver lining? With all the excercise I am now getting, I’ve probably lost a few pounds and in three months, I’m sure I’ll be in much better physical shape. But I still would like to have my license and regret the choice I made which caused me to lose it.