DUI

"...came across some funny stories about drinking and driving..."

I didn't know stories about drinking and driving could be funny. I don't have an first hand experience, and I don't have any friends who have admitted to any first hand experience. I suspect that given the particular driving challenges we have on island, if you break this law you'd tend to keep that information private because other locals would not receive the news well.

It was funny how the cop handled the situation. I agree that it is no laughing matter. That is why I am asking.

People do get charged with DUI. I see it frequently in the papers. There is no law against having an open drink in the car while driving but it is illegal to drive drunk.

My 3rd day on island the cook I was working with decided to take me out. We drank quite a bit until the wee hours. He was driving his brothers car that had a tail light out. We were pulled over in town by two officers. They made us stand outside of the car while they dug around the car. I hardly remember all of the details but I do remember hearing over and over "Just give us your drugs and you can go". They didn't make us walk a line or ask any questions. I suppose they assumed we had coke or pot or something. But they very determined to get it from us. We had nothing.

Our buddy Joe from Club54 drove his car around the corner to park it until the cops left. My friend received a tail light ticket and a DUI ticket. He went to his court hearing and neither cop showed up to testify. Charges dropped.

Usually every night on my commute home to the Reef I get behind people that use their turn signals for curves, brake to a slow crawl anytime an oncoming car passes, and swirve horribly. It's not cool, but you get use to it.

A few months back my wife, visiting cousin, and I were returning from dinner out east, as we came around the curve by Chenay bay we collided head-on with vehicle in the wrong lane. Thankfully we were in a large SUV and had all of our seat-belts on and suffered only minor injuries, the other driver wasn't so smart or lucky since he wasn't wearing his seatbelt and his face bounced off his windshield. Needless to say we had to take control of the scene immidiately since the vehicles were blocking a lane around a blind curve, the other driver was in no shape and his breath reeked. It was the first day on the island for the other driver, visiting a relative. When the EMTs arrived they stated that they smelled alcohol to the responding officer, when we recieved the police report it noted a 'strong odor of alcohol'. Was the guy's BAC checked at the hospital...nope, was he given a DUI....nope, just a slap on the wrist for potentially killing three other people. Would I have flown to the states and tracked the guy down if my wife was more seriously injured...you betcha.

I heard that as long as you have your seatbelt on then you don't really have much to worry about on STX at least

Well first off, there is NO law specifically preventing drinking and driving. That is why the cell phone ban while driving... you cannot hold your beer and talk on the cell phone at the same time while driving, so no cell phone... priorities please.

Secondly, the cops would have to stop visiting the bars at Coki point while on duty.

Usually DUI arrests are accociated with an accident. Wear a shirt and your seat belt and be respectful and don't get to trashed and all is good.

chefnoah,
Could you send me a bit more information on what your friend exactly got that night...both tickets or just one and did he go to jail?
Did he take an attorney with him to court or show up alone?
I will let my friend know I have found someone who has more knowledge than I about the situation so if you could email directly that would be great.
im4whs@aol.com

It makes me sad (and more than a little nervous) to see so many casual responses to drinking and driving.