How do you feel about ratting out a drunk driver?

[rrrr]

I know we all talk about boats and beer, and misguided law enforcement. I did something last night that made me a little uncomfortable because it could be argued that I'm a hypocrite.
I was playing pool with some friends last night, left the bar around 1:30 AM. I was about 6 miles from my house, a straight shot up the freeway. I had been at the bar around four hours, had a grilled tuna sandwich with fries and 6-7 22 oz. drafts. It's a pretty good bet I was at or over .08 BAC.
So I was driving along and a guy in a pickup pulled up next to me and swerved into my lane. I just moved over, no big deal cause I saw him coming. I sped up just a bit to keep up with him, following about 100 yards back. The guy was obviously hammered, he couldn't keep the truck in one lane at all. After a couple of miles, it was apparent that this guy was dangerous.
I was just about to the city limits of my town by then, so I called the police department, using the direct number. I have it memorized for some strange reason, and calling 911 on a cell phone never gets you to the cops you want.
I told the operator the deal, she asked me the usual questions as we drove along. After about two minutes I got to my exit and pulled off on the access road. I slowed down to the 40 MPH speed limit, and about that time two cops went flying by on the freeway. I decided to stay on the access road and went through the intersection where I would normally turn.
I could see up ahead that the cops had pulled up behind the guy and were watching him. He was still swerving, and it wasn't long before they hit their lights. The guy was at the next exit, so he pulled off the freeway, turned left, and stopped on top of the overpass. I decided to drive by the scene and take a look.
It took me about thirty seconds to reach the spot where they were pulled over, and by then the cops had flashlights on the guys face. As I drove by it was easy to tell the guy was shitfaced, and he was gonna be sleeping on concrete soon.
So I think I did the right thing, but it seemed shitty that here I was drinking and driving and calling the cops. I know practically everyone "has a few" and drives, but to me there is a limit. This guy was a danger to others, he could have killed someone.
What do you all think?

[91nordic29]

you were ABSOLUTELY right in what you did. dont even second guess yourself.:sqsmile:

[phebus]

The better question would be, how would you feel if you didn't and someone was injured or killed. I know we've all heard that before, but it' time people become responsible. Hell yes you did the right thing calling!! That still doesn't justify your driving under the influence. Next time, maybe you will think about it, and either not drink as much if you have to drive, or have a designated driver. And yes, I have driven under the influence myself, but not any longer. I have seen too many lives ruined.

[Infomaniac]

That could be the person that one day kills someone you know or love.

[MagicMtnDan]

If you hadn't been drinking you wouldn't even be asking this question. That's your answer (you did the right thing but you too were guilty only less intoxicated).

[Froggystyle]

I do it all the time. I have emergency medical training, so I go as far as to stay on the road for the inevitability of this guy hurting someone, and stay on the phone.
It helps having a 911 dispacher for a sister in law though. I always get taken seriously, and they roll units.
**** em for having bad judgement.

[JetBoatRich]

Since you left the bar yourself, it made your decision tougher. This person seemed to be to far gone to be behind the wheel of a potential killer. I used to commute 90 miles one way to work and often worked late hours, so spent many hours on the freeways. I have seen people swerve all over the freeway before and usually keep my distance and called the police on a couple different occasions. Never felt guilty, it may even save their life.
If this person could not keep within the lane he was driving and all over the road, no doubt you did the right thing.

[Havasu47]

I have three kids on the road now. Scares the shit out of me knowing that when they come home from dates is the time when most people are coming home drunk. Most of us have done it, drive under the influence. The difference is knowing where to draw the line. These days if I am not comfortable I don't drive. I recently watched a guy so drunk that he bounced off the center divider on the 210 3 or 4 times. I called the cops and feel good about it. Too many people loose parents or children to loosers that don't know when not to drive. I have as much fun as anybody, but I know when to sit in the pass. seat. How many of us look back at younger days and wonder how we made it this far? It's called growing up!
Good job!

[leibniz]

Originally posted by Froggystyle
**** em for having bad judgement.
I think that's the key. Bad judgement. Everyone is different. It's a given that drinking reduces your reaction time, but as far as just staying on the road, we've all seen other issues than drinking meeting this criteria. i.e. driving tired or while talking on cel phone. Certainly I wouldn't start out on a road trip if I was nodding off. I think you don't always know when you've "crossed the line" between being a dangerous driver and not. However, I think that most of the time you do know; and I suspect that most dangerous drivers are making the conscious decision to drive when they know they shouldn't be. i.e. Bad judgement.
I don't think the issue is as cut and dry as being hypocritical or not. Surely, to some extent, it is. And you are lucky you didn't get pulled over.
I agree with everyone else however; you did the right thing by reporting him. Dangerous drivers should be stopped; wether they are that way due to alcohol, being tired, talking on the phone, or just plain stupid and disrespectful to the point of infringing on others safety. You have the right to kill yourself if you so choose, but you don't have the right to kill me in the process.
There's enough safely issues to worry about without the added burden of dealing with people being stupid. Sad part is that it is an unavoidable collision in life.
Just my $0.02

[Lightning]

I think you did the right thing, I'm just glad you were able to drive the car reasonably well while on the cell phone and after having some beers.;)

[THE VIKING]

I don't know how i feel about it!!!
So i imagine that it is my kid that has been run over by a Drunk driver, and then i know how i at least should feel.
No worrys mate, you'r on the right track.
The viking.

[73kona455]

you did 100% right.. you may have save someone from getting a phone call in the middle of the night telling them their loved one is dead

[Ducatista]

6 to 7 22oz beers in a 4 hour period.....lucky it wasn't you that was being pulled over after being exposed by another citizen. Glad you got home safely.

[riverbound]

I think you did the right thing by reporting him but you should not have been on the road yourself.

[blownmoney]

6 to 7 22oz beers in a 4 hour period.....
i was thinking the same thing, whats your body weight rrrr?
seems like quite a bit , in that short of time, and not enough food
to absorb the alcohol, i'd bet you were in the .13-.15 range!!
driving down the road in the comfort of your car , i bet you felt fine
but having a flash light stuffed in your face , bet you woulda felt
pretty buzzed!!... i still think you did the right thing!!, be it hypocritacal or not you might have saved lives! being hypocritical, is secondary!

[ROZ]

Originally posted by Ducatista
6 to 7 22oz beers in a 4 hour period.....lucky it wasn't you that was being pulled over after being exposed by another citizen. Glad you got home safely.
Agreed....
I heard the statistical average was something like 275 to 1... A person drives over the legal BAC 275 times before they get caught...
My wife has lost 2 family members to drunk driver accidents...YOU DID THE RIGHT THING....

[Kilrtoy]

You did the right thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[missboatnam1]

2 years ago we went to havasu for the winter ***boat shootout,we were heading back to parker it was spring break time.these three guys were in front of us and they were going all the way across the on coming lane onto the other shoulder the driver was hammered it was about 11 in the morning.as we crossed bill williams bridge at the end of havasu which they were in the wrong lane all the way across the bridge a cop was setting there so i honk and point at the car so he gets behind me now the guys in the car are kinda on to it they keep looking back at me.so i turn off at buckskin and they keep going with the cop behind them.about an hour later i leave to go into town and just before the casino there is 2 of the guys sitting on the hood beads and everything still on probaly wondering how the **** they were going to get home.felt bad but probaly saved someones life.

[rrrr]

Originally posted by RiverDave
I do have a question for you though rrrr..
Now in your condition last night do you think that you were ok to drive? You mentioned that you were probably above a .08.. As well how would you feel if some person saw how much you had to drink (even though you weren't drunk) at the bar and called the cops on you as you were leaving last night?
RD
Hey RD, your questions got me thinking a bit. I looked at a chart and figured I should have been pretty damn drunk based on the intake I stated earlier. That wasn't the case, I felt OK to drive.
I called home and asked my wife to look at the charge receipt from the bar, I left it on the bathroom counter last night. It showed I drank 7 draft beers at $2.75 each. I called the bar and asked them how big a $2.75 beer glass was. Turns out it's a 16 oz., I had seen a sign for the 22 oz. and assumed that was what I was getting (never been there before).
So seven 16 oz. is 112 oz., or nine regular beers. I looked at a BAC chart, and for my weight (245) and the time elapsed (4 1/2 hrs.) my BAC would have been around .0725.
Cutting it close? You betcha. I think that eating the meal would slow down the absorption rate, so my BAC should have been legal, no worries.
If someone had called the cops, I don't think there would have been an issue. I don't have any problem making my Ex go in a straight line, and if a cop had pulled up behind me he would not have had any reason to pull me over.
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I got a ride home from a party, I didn't want to drive. So I feel like I know my limits, and doing the math on last night makes me feel my judgement is OK, but not great (or else I'd drink water :D ).
I did make a conscious decision to leave when I did because I didn't want to drink more. It was 45 minutes before last call, and one or two more would have put me over the limit. My buddies ordered another round as I left, so it's good to say uncle when you know it's time.

[blownmoney]

If someone had called the cops, I don't think there would have been an issue
ahhh don't be so sure rrrr, a .06 constitutes as a wet&reckless,
at that point it becomes a judgement call for the officer, if he likes
ya you walk if he doen't you goto jail!!..hey not to cahnge the subject , but you ever get a chance to check out them gears?..lol
or how much for the whole box? thanks

[Ivan Dan]

I totally agree with what you did and have called the cops several times myself on drunk drivers.
Just a thought....7 - 22 oz beers would equal 13 - 12oz beers which equals over 3 beers an hour and I would say MOST people would probably consider themselves drunk at that point. The only reason I say this is because I would have been freaked out of getting myself busted by calling in. Were you scared of that?
I have had about 4-5 of my buddies get DUI's over the last 5-6 years so I have learned from their mistakes. Watching them pay out anywhere from $8000-$15,000 made me realize that I NEVER want a DUI. That money could be much better spent like on a supercharger for the boat or other new toys.
This is just my opinion!
www.DanKaatz.com

[rrrr]

blownmoney, here in TX there isn't any impairment law. If you ain't point oh eight, you get a lecture but that's it.
I forgot about those damn gears. I actually have three sets, so give me a week or two and I'll figure out what I have.
Ivan Dan, read my post above. I wasn't as think as I drunk I were. :D

[Ivan Dan]

rrrr....ya you beat me to it....I understand bro. And believe me I'm not trying to pass judgement on you just making a point. We all have done it I'm sure.
www.DanKaatz.com

[HOSS]

I`ve been charged with 5 DWI`s. Finished my 4th first offense about 2 years ago. If I found out you called on me I kick the shit out of ya. And you called on someone while knowing you yourself were above the legal limit? Never been in a wreck while drinking, 2 speeding tickets in my entire life.
First offense was in `87 home on leave, racing `76 El Camino
2nd in Georgia, the trooper said I drossed the line on the shoulder
3rd went through yellow light while on my cell phone 2:30 am
4th speeding on I-10 East Saturday night 1:30 am
5th drag racing plus 13 other violations, pled to expired brake tag
Point is that all the times I got one I wasn`t really drunk. Sure I would have smoked the breathalizer but could have driven home just fine. I`ve never blown. I`ve never lost my liscence. I know I`m an alcoholic. Don`t **** with me.

[blownmoney]

I`ve never lost my liscence
5 DWI'S?.... them boys got some problems down there huh?
hoss, it only takes one time... 5 dwi's figured you woulda learned
you ever do hurt someone, with those five on your record, your gone!!! for good!!!

[HOSS]

I can`t get another one for 8 more years or I go to jail. I don`t wanna do that. I got out of the one. Ive actually gotten out of more than that but we gonna do this legal like. 2 were back in `87 when I was in the service. The other 2 I got while going through my lawsuits and court battles with the ex tramp. I was a lil` messed up in the head then. I don`t drink and drive now because I don`t wanna get put in the slammer. It`s always best to hire a judge as your attorney. But the female judge down here told me she didn`t carew if I had Johnny Cochran representing me next time,,,,pack your bags cause your goin`.

[Troubles No More]

rrrr
A hero is someone who does something for the general good of others without concerning him/herself with personal interests or safety even when it is difficult or scary to do so.
You’re a hero for the day, you did what you had to do.
but be careful there could be a hero behind you next time.
Life is short, call for a ride home

[sorry dog]

So where's RD on the this thread?
The limit should be .1 dammit. Any less than that is rediculous.

[JetBoatRich]

I think it is time for a beer:D just not driving anywhere:eek!: