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Drink Driving - Going to AA?

  • 18-12-2006 11:24PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 51 ✭✭


    I was caught for drink driving a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t going far and wasn’t drunk or anything but was over the limit and got stopped. It’s not normally something I do but I did it and am going to court in the New Year.

    With all the talk about this at the moment I know the courts are taking all this much more seriously than they used to. Years ago I probably would have been under the limit but I know that’s not the point.

    I know I will get the mandatory ban and maybe longer than that – only have a provisional license – and a fine but I am on a suspended sentence so could end up back in jail. So getting caught for me is definitely worse than it is for most people but that’s another story.

    This is my first drink driving offence and I know you don’t usually get jail for that but because the previous charge was a drink related assault they could link the two.

    What my solicitor has said is to sign up for AA and that this would stand to me in court. Now I don’t consider myself an alcoholic one bit – yeah I like to drink and would drink a fair bit at the weekends – but no more than other people my age. I would do anything to make things look good in court – but going to AA just seems crazy.

    Does anybody know anything about AA and if it is just for alcoholics and if it would be good in this case or are there any other courses that might be better? I just want to be doing something like that when I have to go to court so that it looks that I am trying to change things?

    I know I was stupid to do what I did and after getting things back on track – working again and have a great girlfriend. I haven’t told her or my folks about this yet and won’t until after Christmas as I know they are going to be really pissed off at me for messing up again.

    Any info on AA/other courses would be great.


«13

Comments

  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/opencontent/default.asp

    Tbh, you've now found yourself in court twice for an alcohol related incident. The last one resulted in your imprisonment. Most people never end up in court, never mind twice, and certainly never mind for problems stemming from the same thing (alcohol).

    I think that you would want to have a serious think about the way alcohol affects you. I don't know all the details of your previous offence, but I think it caused you to become violent. This time, you drove under the influence and risked killing yourself and innocent others. This isn't normal behaviour.

    Perhaps your not an alcoholic, but alcohol clearly causes you to behave in unacceptable ways. Yes, I think you should go to AA. Not only because it will make you look "good" in court, but also for your own sake.

    Considering your past, I would strongly suggest giving up alcohol for good.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭jhegarty



    What my solicitor has said is to sign up for AA and that this would stand to me in court. Now I don’t consider myself an alcoholic one bit – yeah I like to drink and would drink a fair bit at the weekends – but no more than other people my age. I would do anything to make things look good in court – but going to AA just seems crazy.

    Go, the worst that will happen is you waist a night... but to me (and I don't know you) it might do you a lot more good than just looking good in court...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,173 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    There's a misconception in this country that to be an alcoholic, you need to drink 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's the traditional pisshead, but it's far from what constitutes an alcoholic.

    A alcoholic is someone who allows their alcohol consumption to affect their day-to-day life. Now, I'm not telling you that you're an alcoholic. That's for you to decide. However, your alcohol consumption is clearly affecting your ability to lead a normal life.

    Going to AA is not admitting defeat or admitting that you have a problem. But it can't do any harm to go for just one session. You may be surprised.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭Anti


    If you wanna get a suspended scentance just go to AA, stop drinking completly. And do some charity work. even make a donation from yoru own money to a road death charity. But most of all. Are you a shagging idiot ? you should be old enough to know not to drink and drive at all. Do the constant radio tv and newspaper adverts not get through to you ? Christ i wouldnt even drive the next day if i was on the lash. Let alone drive after even 1 pint.

    In my oppinion you will get what you deserve. Drinking and driving is wreckless and ****ing stupid. Enjoy the time you spend on the bus/train on the way into work now, and use that time to think what a twat you have been.

    Anyway, best of luck in court.....And jail.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,555 ✭✭✭✭astrofool


    you
    have
    an
    alcohol
    problem


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭easyontheeye


    maybe the class will show you how much off a thoughtless c*nt you really are!
    sorry bout the strong post but I have been on the receiving end of mindless drivers like you!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    'how stupid are you????
    mindless, selfish b@stard!!!! people like you make me sick. you deserve what you get and more. then maybe you might learn to respect other people and their right not to be injured or killed by people like you!!!!!!
    absolutely no pity for you!!!'


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭latenia


    I would do anything to make things look good in court .................

    ..........I just want to be doing something like that when I have to go to court so that it looks that I am trying to change things?


    So you just want to know the best way to manipulate the legal system or maybe tug a few heart strings without actually doing anything? In fact in what way is this a personal issue? One would think that your previous experience would have given you some cop-on. You have already interfered with someone's life (although you never said so, I presume there was a violent assault involved) and in drink-driving you could so easily have destroyed many more.

    And yet your first instinct on both these occasions is to come here seeking pity.

    I would advise you to see a psychiatrist.

    If you don't think you need to go to AA then just give up booze immediately and permanently.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭rossious


    I wasn’t going far and wasn’t drunk or anything

    I wonder how many times that has been said after an accident where people have been killed? :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,787 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    'how stupid are you????
    mindless, selfish b@stard!!!! people like you make me sick. you deserve what you get and more. then maybe you might learn to respect other people and their right not to be injured or killed by people like you!!!!!!
    absolutely no pity for you!!!'
    Without getting into the subject at hand, but if you feel like insulting someone, at least do it under your own name.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 381 ✭✭DAVE_K


    I don't think you're looking for pity. What you did was mindless and stupid alright but whilst not right it's not uncommon. The big thing is that you were lucky and nobody got hurt - you can make amends by not doing it again - ever.
    Go to an AA meeting, listen to what goes on there and see if you can identify with it - you don't have to be a full blown alcoholic to be there. The only requirement is the desire to stop drinking. There's plenty of young people down there who may have just seen their weekend benders going too far and decided it was time to call it a day before something really bad happened.
    If you hadn't been lucky in the car and had had an accident maybe you'd feel differently about it now.
    I've been in a similar scenario to you (i wasn't caught drunk driving) in that sh1t happened to me that wasn't too bad at first, and i thought to myself - maybe best to hit the booze on the head, did it for a couple of weeks, then thought f*ck it and started drinking again, sometime later, worse sh1t happened and I went through the same stuff again, and so on the cycle continued until the sh1t got worse and worse. All the whilst going to myself - "hey i don't have a drink problem, sure I don't drink all week, I have a successful job, go to the gym, etc, etc". It could be said you have a drink problem once drink starts causing you problems.
    Anyway it's you call - there's an AA helpline for Ireland - you could always call that, find out where there's a meeting close to you and go down and see what you think....as said above worse case scenario is you've lost an evening.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 994 ✭✭✭Carrigart Exile


    Don't abuse the great people at AA just to get a light sentence. But, maybe this is an opportunity for you to relook at your life.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,786 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    Victor wrote:
    Without getting into the subject at hand, but if you feel like insulting someone, at least do it under your own name.
    It's probably fair comment given the likely consequence of drink driving. Maybe angry, harsh, not what the OP wanted to hear, but on the money.

    If it's an unregged poster someone must have approved it.


    Go to the AA but not just to get off the charge. Anyone that gets in trouble repeatedly with the law for drink related offences is either already out of control or heading that way. You need some help, take it before it's too late. Good luck with the court case, this may be a turning point in your life. If you get a second chance don't waste it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,787 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Hagar wrote:
    If it's an unregged poster someone must have approved it.
    Yes, I did. I wouldn't have been able to complain (meaningfully) if it wasn't publicly visible.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,786 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    But... but.. but.. if you didn't allow it then there would be no cause to complain about it???
    My headaches are coming back...

    You're not my wife by any chance? Blonde, 5'2", blue eyes, lovely smile?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Hagar if you have an issue like that take it up via pm with the mod or in feedback it is off topic here; , unhelpful and off-topic posting will get you banned from this forum.
    Do take time to read the charter which contains the rules and abide by them.
    Have a nice day.
    Thaedydal


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,786 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    Responded via PM.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,924 ✭✭✭✭BuffyBot


    latenia wrote:
    So you just want to know the best way to manipulate the legal system or maybe tug a few heart strings without actually doing anything? In fact in what way is this a personal issue? One would think that your previous experience would have given you some cop-on. You have already interfered with someone's life (although you never said so, I presume there was a violent assault involved) and in drink-driving you could so easily have destroyed many more.

    Probably as bang on the money as it gets. It appears you certainly have issues, but unless you have some intention to change (and, giving your transgressing again, it's hard to believe), using AA for your own ends is just rather selfish.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,634 ✭✭✭Kolodny


    seamus wrote:
    A alcoholic is someone who allows their alcohol consumption to affect their day-to-day life. Now, I'm not telling you that you're an alcoholic. That's for you to decide. However, your alcohol consumption is clearly affecting your ability to lead a normal life.

    Agreed.

    @dublinshane - you've had 2 serious incidents now where the common factor has been alcohol consumption. AA don't just deal with your 'stereotypical' alcoholic i.e. you won't go into a meeting to find a room full of red-faced roaring drunks. You'll most likely see some people like you, who like a few drinks at the weekend, some of whom get judgement impaired enough to cause serious harm to themselves and those around them. There are many different ways to define a 'drink problem' and I'm sorry, but I'd take the view that someone who gets arrested after a drinking session has one.

    Yes, of course attending AA will show a judge that you're making an effort, but you certainly shouldn't just do it for show - do you not think you'd benefit from trying to find out why you act recklessly when drinking and learning how keeping it under control, better still cut it out altogether? This doesn't mean you'll be labelled as a chronic alcoholic. Surely you'd rather that than risk a third incident on your conscience, possibly going back to jail and letting down everyone important to you (again)?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Many people first come to the AA in many ways.

    Many of them are in denail of the fact they abuse alchol in the first place and of the effect it has had on thier lives and the people in thier lives
    and it is only after they are forced to attend or in some cases their attendance is court mandated they go.

    dublinshane I think you should go for what ever the reasons are now and maybe you will benefit from it in ways you don't expect.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,417 ✭✭✭Miguel_Sanchez


    Learn to drink less you tool. Hopefully you'll get a sentence befitting your crime.

    You're clearly unable to judge how much is your limit. Assault? Drink-driving? I'm guessing you're still young because you obviously don't have much ability to handle drink or to learn when to stop drinking.


  • Moderators, Regional North East Moderators Posts: 12,742 Mod ✭✭✭✭cournioni


    First of all, fair play for coming on here as a registered user of this forum. It can't be easy to put yourself up for some hard hitting comments on here but I think you know yourself that you deserve some of them.

    Now to my point, I think what alot of the people on here have said is absolutely spot on. You should definately go to the AA, as drinking is obviously having an effect on your life. You may say that it was only one drink, but think about it you are going to lose a years driving and possibly end up serving some time in the worst case. All over this one essential drink?! Think about it Shane.

    Drink may be good for social situations, but when it starts to to effect your life outside of these social situations that is when you know that you have a problem. Drink is not essential. The sooner you realise this the better off you'll be.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,585 ✭✭✭HelterSkelter


    Now I don’t consider myself an alcoholic one bit – yeah I like to drink and would drink a fair bit at the weekends – but no more than other people my age.

    Hi Shane,

    You don't have to be drinking 24/7 to be an alcoholic. If it is having a negative effect on your life and causing you do to stuff you wouldn't normally do then you already have an alcohol problem. You say that you drink no more than other people your age but I think that a very high percentage of young people are alcoholics so there is no poing in comparing your drinking habits to that of others. I have a family member in AA and he said the number of young people coming to meetings with serious alcohol problems is really increasing.

    Anyway, have a look at this, some questions to ponder and help you decide if you do have a problem:

    http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/page5.html


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 137 ✭✭greine


    I am disappointed that there are ways to soften up the judge in a case like this. You have previous record, you deserve to be punished, you should count yourself lucky that you didn't hurt anyone when you got behind that wheel! If alcohol has this effect on you, don't drink! Stop feeling sorry for yourself, cop the f**k on, grow up and take responsibility, you might finally get the message if the judge is tough on you (I hope he will be), you might even thank him later!:mad:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,497 ✭✭✭✭Dragan


    Shane my friend, I love seeing your posts. They are filled with a sense of denial and a refusal to take responsibility for your actions that just amazes me everytime. You went to jail because "the bouncers let you fight in the street" and now your in court because what, that law is too harsh now?

    I would happily echo the sentiments of a previous poster but feel that it would be a waste of time.

    I will simply ask this, next time you have a few drinks and want to do something silly, then don't? You will save yourself a lot of trouble. I suggest you go to AA and pay close attention to the people there. All will have some kind of weight on their shoulders because they too refused to accept responsibility when they needed to.

    Maybe you can learn something.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,374 ✭✭✭Gone West


    Don't abuse the great people at AA just to get a light sentence.
    Yep, you do deserve some jail time for this.
    Otherwise you will end up doing something similar again.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,585 ✭✭✭HelterSkelter


    FuzzyLogic wrote:
    Yep, you do deserve some jail time for this.
    Otherwise you will end up doing something similar again.
    Will you cop on. Do you think everyone who is caught drink driving should go to jail? 374 people were caught in the first week of December, 396 the week before that (http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1207/drinkdriving.html). Should all these people be in jail? I am not excusing the crime but going to jail is not the correct punishment for this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    Will you cop on. Do you think everyone who is caught drink driving should go to jail? 374 people were caught in the first week of December, 396 the week before that (http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1207/drinkdriving.html). Should all these people be in jail? I am not excusing the crime but going to jail is not the correct punishment for this.

    In fairness, the OP has a drink problem, but instead of wanted to get help, he wants a way out of going to jail. Screw him, if he goes away for a nice long period, it might teach him something, or at the very least keep him away from the rest of us.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 381 ✭✭DAVE_K


    the OPs got problems - sending him to jail isn't going to fix anything - it rarely does anything except turn criminals into bigger criminals.
    Fines, a ban from driving and if any punishment were to be forced on him - a STACK of hours doing community service would be much better......in that way he can make amends to the community that he let down by assault and drink driving


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,914 ✭✭✭✭tbh


    I'd echo what Dragan said. Shane, with respect, if I'd been sent to prison for something I did drunk, I'd never drink again. Not only are you drinking again, you're drinking and driving. The judge will judge you by your actions, not your words - which just seem hollow.


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