Lightfoot: " there have been times (during college) when I was really drunk. And while I know that made me more attractive to women"

Hee, hee!

And thanks for backing me up with the rest of your post. I wish I could claim I've never driven under the influence, but I can definitely say it's in my distant past, where it will stay. I can count the number of times on one hand and it was accountable to the recklessness and ego of youth. I'm very grateful now that on those occasions, I didn't hurt myself or anyone else. I didn't set out to do so and I bet most drunk drivers don't, either, but unfortunately, one lapse in judgment can lead to a whole lot of pain.

Regarding the beer or two at dinner, I'm with you there. Solid food and time help dissipate the effects, and if I'm drinking anything, my watch is the most objective judge of whether I'm okay to drive later. But on the whole, once anyone starts drinking (myself included), their judgment is not at its best.

This young man was in my Sunday school class. I held him up to my two teenagers as an example. He's a sweet boy, man. Obviously, like most of us at times, something overwhelmed him. His Mom is fighting for her life, many troubles. No, was not right for him to drink and drive, but there's so much more that you do not know. He's a child that God loves, a mother's son. Let's pray for him, think of him as your own. I try to remember that, HE'S someone's child. He obviously is not above the law? They arrested him, as they should have, perhaps it saved his life. Perhaps, it will give his mother time to outlive her son. No mother should outlive her child.

V.

“You are correct sir”, While there are certainly lots of people capable of having a drink or two and driving, from my observations I’m inclined to agree with you. I can have a beer or two with dinner and be just fine. But there’s been times when I decided not to drive because I could slightly feel the effects of alcohol. I might have been okay, it’s not worth the risk to myself or others. And there have been times (during college) when I was really drunk. And while I know that made me more attractive to women, I knew better than to think I could actually drive. Drunk drivers have a variety of issues. Partly it’s a lack of intelligence. It’s also an ego thing. And it’s also a lack of respect for others and the law. The last reason is why I think we should come down hard on police that drive drunk. How can they effectively enforce laws they have no respect for themselves?

snake: "Probably didn't know he was drunk. Judgment is the first thing that goes. Shouldn't drive after ANY drink."

You're right, snake, and I'm glad to hear that thought from someone else! I've been ostracized/shamed/mocked countless times for turning down a drink when I was going to be driving later. Once I told some colleagues that anyone who's been drinking is automatically suspect and not fit to judge their own state of impairment, and they nearly ran me out on a rail! People just don't get it -- judgment starts getting impaired with the first drink, and it's a slippery slope from there. If you're going to drive, don't drink any alcohol at all...please!

If you read the local Person County newspaper, you will know that its not the DA or Law Enforcement that delivers NOT GUILTY judgements. Its the JUDGE. So get on the back of the right person and get off law enforcement.