$$$ Ca Dui $$$

First of all let me say that I feel terrible about what I did and know that I deserve what is happening to me.

I went out yesterday with a friend and left my car at work. I had no intention of driving so I did not watch my alcohol intake. I have a very low tolerance and just started taking a medication a month ago that, while it lacks an alcohol warning, does severely dehydrate me, which I know causes a higher BAC. I wound up making the poor decision of asking my friend to take me to my car while I was intoxicated. When I tried to park my car at home, I hit two of my neighbors' cars. The whole neighborhood came out and called the cops etc... There are witnesses that I was driving and hit the two vehicles. Several of my neighbors watched me perform the sobriety test. The officer told me I could do the breathalyzer or be taken back to the station for the blood test. I opted to go to the station, but he still gave me the breathalyzer. I don't know why I had to do both. I went to jail for a few hours and got cited out. Initially I'd told the officer I hadn't been drinking but eventually admitted to having had one margarita several hours earlier.

I agree that I should be held responsible for my actions, but I am really scared about the finances. I barely make enough to pay my rent and monthly bills, so I have no money to pay my insurance deductibles, new insurance rate, impound & towing, a lawyer, court fees, etc... My car isn't paid off yet or I'd just leave it there. I'm also curious, does the fact that I hit two cars mean I have to pay the deductible for each car? I'm afraid to call my insurance until I speak to a lawyer, but I'm really afraid to talk to a lawyer because I'm so inexperienced and whenever I do something I lack experience in, I usually end up making poor choices and get significantly ripped off. Is there anything a lawyer can do to help a case like mine? There were so many witnesses. And what happens when I simply don't have the money? I am hoping the court fees can be on a payment plan (which I still can't afford and will cost even more to set up), but I for sure won't be able to pay my insurance deductibles, the impound and towing fees, any immediate court fees or to hire a lawyer. If I end up getting more jail time, I will surely lose my job and then I really won't be able to pay back any of the fines. How can I take care of the finances? I already work two jobs just to cover rent and bills.

I don't have much credit. I have only one credit card with a $300 limit, so I really, really don't have a way to pay for this.

How in the world your presumed financial "ruin" is anyones concern but your own is simply beyond me. Quite frankly, I hope that is exactly what happens to you. Nothing like eviction, sitting in a jail cell and riding a MOPED to spoil the taste of alcohol in your mouth ( or so I hear--I wouldn't know).

I read your posting before heading out of town yesterday, but to be honest, I couldn't respond then because I was so incensed at your attitude.

You are worried about getting "ripped off"?? You are worried about YOUR finances? What about the people whose lives YOU have altered by your dangerous, thoughtless and selfish behavior?? Your entire posting is excuses, and "poor me" rhetoric---my dear, the COURT cares less than I do about your ability to PAY for what you have done. Have you thought for a moment what would have happened if you had hit PEOPLE instead of cars? As a widow with seven fatherless children because of someone JUST LIKE you, forgive me for * not* being sympathetic. You say you deserve what is happening to you--then you spend two more paragraphs defending and excusing your behavior. And no, the court WONT set up payment plans--this isn't a loan for a new car, Skipper, its a CRIME. The government and tax payers are not a finance company.

You know the way you sat down and outlined so precisely the reasons you cannot pay---all the logic and thought that went into that presentation---if only you had done that BEFORE you got drunk and made the CHOICE ( not just a poor decision)---you willfully chose to endanger the lives, safety and property of innocent victims---you wouldn't be here asking for sympathy ( or whatever it is you are asking for).

Although you hardly deserve any more of my time or effort, the answer to your amazingly ignorant question is no, you do not pay deductibles for OTHER people's insurance--just like YOU have to pay your own deductible. Your insurance company will have to pay for both their vehicles. Also, there is no point in NOT "coming clean" with your insurer. The owners of the damaged vehicles will, no doubt, contact them for payment ( or worse yet for you, their ATTORNEYS will contact your insurance company). Perhaps it would be advisable to contact them personally since, in fact, if they don't already know, they will shortly. Then, your failure to tell them makes you look like a liar as well as a drunk.

Regarding your other "questions"--you don't give your location, your age, or other relevant information such as priors, etc. So thats all the more precise a reply to your posting can be.

Two words that bring me at least a little bit of satisfaction: SR-22. Maybe the premiums will be high enough to keep your thoughtless self-centered dangerous person OFF the roads until you mature enough to understand and accept responsibility for your actions.

If you were expecting sympathy, you won't find it. Not from me, at least.

I expect anger and I expect backlash. Believe it or not, I have gotten sympathy from people when I tell them what happened and that actually makes me feel worse, because I know I am undeserving of it. I explained my situation because I came to a forum for legal advice. I explained my finances in hopes that others who have been in my shoes might relate their experiences, so that I might know what to expect and what my options are at this point. I'm not in search of sympathy. I'm in search of legal and factual advice and information.

I am truly sorry for anyone in a situation brought on by the careless actions of others. But you go about trolling legal advice forums with your anger and personal feelings as if in some way it is going to help you to get back at the world. The truth is, I couldn't feel worse about what I've done before I read your post. Of course I have thought about if others had been involved and I am so grateful that that wasn't the case. I know that I have to change my lifestyle so that it never has the chance to be. For me, that obviously includes whether I intend on driving or not--I just can't drink liquor.

I am still a good person deserving of the chance to turn my life around and become a better person. Yes, I still deserve advice so that I can make an informed decision on hiring a lawyer without getting ripped off. No, I'm not just the "thoughtless self-centered dangerous person" you would like to make me out to be. That sounds like a judgment you create to fuel your anger toward behind the impersonal computer screen. I have been moping around the past few days feeling like the scum trash of the earth. Thank you, Grace, for making me realize that while I should feel sorry for what I've done, I shouldn't feel that way about myself as a person. I am a good person who made a horrible "thoughtless and dangerous" mistake. The law is intended to 1) punish me for my crime and seek repayment for it and 2) to correct me into becoming a better and more responsible citizen. It is not out there to ostracize me from society and take away all hope of becoming a better person with a better future.

In spite of your lack of advice, I'm going to go out there and do it.

I do truly hope the best for you and your children. I don't think there is anything more I should say on your situation, because I know I am the last type of person you want to hear apologies from. That said, I think you could use your story in a positive way, perhaps in through M.A.D.D. (not sure if you do) or in school driver's ed teaching, to help reach people before they've gone and done what I've done (or worse) and it's too late.

If you drink and drive you ARE a dangerous person. I dare you to tell me how an intoxicated person is NOT DANGEROUS behind the wheel of a car. If you wish to play syntactical games, my dear, I assure you that you will not win.

Trolling? I have spent a great deal of time answering LEGAL questions in this forum--in fact, more than anyone else who has participated here to date. That doesn't mean I am always right, but it means I am serious about the law-----serious enough to get a Master of Science degree in Criminal Law as well as spend money to be IN law school. I feel passionately about it, and lawlessness angers me----any lawlessness---not just drunk driving. Angry at a computer screen? Dear God, spare me another armchair psychologist who knows what is "wrong with me", but doesn't even have enough judgment not to drink and get behind the wheel of a car. Sorry---the high road called--they are revoking your pass.

Back at the world? What in the world makes you think that? Not a day passes that I don't look at my life and think to myself how incredibly grateful I am. Even with the loss of my husband, I am not bitter. I am angry that the possibility for MORE hurt exists for other people as a result of people like you---but angry for my loss? Oh, read on.

Since you brought it up---certainly I am entitled to explain, although this is certainly not a religious forum.

The Bible, in the book of Psalms states that before we were conceived in the womb, that the Lord knew us---the Bible also states he has numbered our days and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. My husband was as safe on the road that day as he was in the living room watching TV. You see, that day and that moment in time was the time that his Lord chose for him to be called home. (Note: This is a personal belief, not proselytization). I would no more expect you do accept this notion than you would expect me to hold to your beliefs. It is personal---not a suggestion you or any one else reading this should believe or feel the same.

Although it was my husbands time to meet his Savior, the young man with him in the vehicle was a close friend who was afraid of death and life/death afterward. He was incinerated upon impact and the resulting explosion made it impossible to identify him for several days with the use of dental records. You see those of us who are Christians believe our time here on earth is but for a duration, and our life hereafter is our reward. Angry at the world? Nothing could be further from the truth. "The world" had nothing to do with it. You see, I serve a God that is too kind to be cruel, and too wise to ever, ever err. That does not mean, however, that blatant lawlessness or stupidity doesn't anger me.

Make you feel worse? I have no idea how you figure that was the point of the posting. I don't even know you--why would your "feeling badly" affect me in the least? Also, at no time did I suggest you should be "ostracized from the community", and I wholeheartedly agree you deserve a chance to turn your life around----just not at the cost of escaping the consequences of your actions. I did not belittle you personally, I did not attack your character. I addressed your ACTIONS. That, if you think about it, is an appreciable difference.

Regarding your complaint that I provided no legal advice--I suggest you scroll back down and read again.

If you reread my first posting, I explained to you about how deductibles work and that you didn't have to pay them--- and I explained how the court does not "finance" its penalties. I also explained that it would be best for your insurance company to hear the truth from you instead of second hand from the victims. I do believe I answered every question you asked.

This in no way challenges any statement I made in my previous post. I said I was a still good person, but did a thoughtless and dangerous thing. Therefore, I have no more reason to accept your dare than you had to challenge it. However, I did have a good laugh when you bothered to correct this statement:

with all caps no less!! What's the point of that? Am I no longer held responsible for decisions I make, only choices? The law might be your bag, but it's evident that semantics are not. I digress, but let the games begin...


While it appears you've got enough to argue with yourself about, I will comment on a few more things...


Yes, trolling. Your responses are but an onslaught of angry personal rantings spiked with attempts at spiteful insult ("Skipper", "my dear", "amazingly ignorant", "until you mature" etc...) To me, that is immature. I've looked and it's not just in my thread that you behave this way.

I'll get right on that after I find the needle in this haystack...

You did not explain how. Your responses in regard to my financial concerns were:

Not only do I not need your petty nicknames and faulty reasoning, but your overall answer is incorrect. There are payment options as well as community service programs. I was hoping that someone with some insight or experience might have told me more about them. Of course the system has to be concerned about its citizens' abilities to pay. If I can't pay, they don't get their money. Or would you still rather ostracize me to a jail cell so I can live off your tax dollars?

Luckily there are many other resources out there that have been informative despite my poor experience on this forum. I surrender my hijacked thread unto you, most "gentle Grace," in hopes that it's been therapeutic for you, that way it will have at least benefited one of us. Aber wenn nicht, könnte Ich einen Drink vorschlagen?

I see you have mastered the copy and paste feature (to what end--I am still uncertain).

Try to follow--and I will make an attempt at breaking it down into smaller thoughts for you. Ready?

You said, "I am not a dangerous ....person." I replied for you to explain to me how your getting behind the wheel of a car drunk qualifies you to bear the title of 'not dangerous'. How is that "not dangerous" behavior? You made the assertion you are "not a dangerous.....person". If drinking and driving is not dangerous, I invite you explain your definition of dangerous self centered behavior.

In any regard, I am not certain that calling you dangerous and self centered reflects on your character as much as it does your actions. If I were to reflect on your character, I'd call you immoral, stupid, and a host of adjectives. I thought I was exercising a great deal of discretion restricting my comments to those relevant to the crime in question-drunk driving---->DANGEROUS and SELF CENTERED.

Regardless, your opinion of me matters as little to me as my opinion of your dangerous and illegal behavior should mean to you. If you think I am judgmental, wait until you meet the steely eyed judge. (Whoa, dude, a Kodak moment for sure.)

I need to beg your forgiveness---I am afraid I missed the part of my posting where I indicated even a cursory interest in your opinion of my postings (i.e. immature)? You are an aficionado of message board etiquette, but haven't the sense not to risk the lives of countless men, women, and children, not to mention property, because YOU want to behave in a lawless manner. Being sarcastic is immature, but taking the lives and property of innocent people into your hands is a remarkable act of maturity?? My dear misguided one, I hardly think you are a capable judge of what is mature, acceptable, or lawful.

You say "decisions" as though you were deciding what shoes to wear---you made a willful and deliberate choice----which is hardly parallel to "What shoes shall I wear today?" You make it seem as though what you have done is like going the wrong way in a "one way" grocery store parking lot. "Oh, sorry---I slipped up and went DOWN the UP arrow"--oopsie--like a moment of thoughtless behavior. That is the distinction between "choice" and "decision making". It is obvious from your words that you don't realize your actions were DELIBERATE and not just "oops" --a poor decision--gosh darn it---how did THAT happen?? The emphasis was on the usage of the word---and the implications attached to the same.

I won't bother to explain how sitting in a jail cell doesn't exactly meet my definition of "ostracized from the world"----being ostracized from someone or something is when you are consciously rejected----if you are in a jail cell, you aren't IN the community and you are not facing rejection. To me being ostracized is like the proverbial scarlet letter---at no time did I suggest you should be marked, or branded or singled out----I feel you should go to jail , serve your time AND THEN I believe you should be viewed no differently from anyone else. You did your crime, you did your time---its a wash. At no time did I wish for society to scorn you or ridicule you. That, dear, was something YOU inserted into my posting.

SR-22 IS something those of us that drive safely and have never hurt anyone else are thankful for. It keeps people like you from being able to afford to drive. That isn't intended to make you feel badly, it is intended to keep people like ME safe. You being ordered to carry SR-22 isn't an attempt at hurting your feelings, although it made me chuckle you would think so.


The only "new" thing you added to your posting was to assert that somehow you should be afforded payment plans for your CRIME because, if not, you would go to jail and the taxpayer has to pay ( proud look ). There now--isn't THAT an interesting legal premise? Unfortunately, courts aren't in the business of financing---and what do community service programs have to do with you paying your fine? If you are ordered to do community service in lieu of a fine, that isn't the court financing your penalty. The judge doesn't look down at you and say, "Awww, if she goes to jail, she will lose her job. Poor thing--here, honey, do a little community service for Uncle Judgie....there, there, now...Don't cry. You won't lose your job. Want to borrow twenty?" <pfftttt>

Let me simplify it for you--a dead beat parent who doesn't pay child support---guess what? He or she goes to jail. The judge doesn't say, "Whoa, if we put him/her in jail, then they can't work and can't pay child support, and the tax payer will have to pay---ergo--we better not put him/her in jail!!" Obviously, deadbeat parents are sentenced to jail all the time and their "ability to pay" is irrelevant. Try to make the parallel to your situation.

Amazing all the thought you are giving to your "options" related to getting out of what you have done, yet, you gave no thought whatsoever to your actions of that night. You are indeed a model of maturity, restraint, and good judgment. I bow before your incredible--albeit sodden, example.

While I have seen traffic tickets given 30 days or 45 days to pay if the defendant can at least pay some at the time of their ticket (court date), I have also seen the same court rooms with different judges refuse to do the same.

Bottom line: YOU are financially responsible for a great deal of money for car repairs, fines, insurance premiums, etc. Your idea that somehow you should be granted some kind of a dispensation is offensive and--well, immature---you clearly again indicate you have no idea of the magnitude of what you have done. Of course, your "toast" at the end of the posting did more than I ever could to display your ignorance, arrogance, and disinterest in the crime you have willfully committed.

I will end my posting with a quote everyone reading these postings can read: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

You, unfortunately, appear to be in possession of a great measure of both.

To misquote me, elaborate on that misquotation, and then argue your elaborated version of your misquotation does not challenge any points I addressed. I haven't time to break each quote apart, but I will respond to them in order.

I wrote "I'm not just the 'thoughtless self-centered dangerous person' you would like to make me out to be." I stand by that.

Calling me a thoughtless, dangerous and self-centered person is a reflection on character. A "person" is not an action. Thoughtless and dangerous are adjectives, just like the new insults you decided to add for good measure.

You indicate an interest in my opinion with every question you ask me.

The severity of my action does not excuse your malicious behaviour.

You could easily transpose the words "choice" and "decision" and not alter the context of your paragraph. Nowhere in my post do I trivialize drunk driving to picking out shoes or anything of the like.

As a side note, I will point out that you refer to me as a thoughtless person who deliberately chose to drink and drive. First of all, that is a contradiction. Either I deliberately chose to drink and drive, or I thoughtlessly did so, but it can't be both. Further I will tell you that the latter is true. I am not always a thoughtless person. I am usually very thoughtful and considerate, but that day, I was thoughtless. I did not deliberate and then decide to drink and drive. I became drunk and then thoughtlessly drove. I had no intention of driving prior to drinking. Now before you start another rant, I am not suggesting that should excuse me from my DUI charges. I did endanger others and do not feel exempt from accepting responsibility for that, but I did not willfully and deliberately do so. I stupidly decided or chose to drink, which impaired my decision-making abilities, and then chose to drive while unable to think properly. I am still held liable for this, but I did not do it out of ill-will or intentional disregard for others.

My original quote was "ostracize from society," not from the world. Ostracism: 1 : a method of temporary banishment by popular vote without trial or special accusation practiced in ancient Greece 2 : exclusion by general consent from common privileges or social acceptance. Historically, ostracism refers to the ancient Greek practice of exiling people from Athens. It is not a branding or a scarlet letter. With that clarification, I expect you can see why your wishing me financial ruin, eviction and jail can exactly be referred to as ostracism.

At no time did I insert any words or connotations into your postings. I quoted you verbatim. I've never mentioned the words "scorn" or "ridicule," and yet now you're accusing me of inserting that into your posting.

I never stated that my being ordered an SR-22 was in attempt to hurt my feelings. I pitted your two statements against each other: One in which you rub in that you would get satisfaction from it and another in which you claim trying to make me feel bad wouldn't affect you in the least. Incidentally, "feeling bad" was another misquotation on your part. I never used any phrase about feeling bad or hurting my feelings in my posts. I do find it funny that you chose to further argue this. All I did was directly copy and paste two of your contradictory posts. I contributed nothing to be argued. You're posts simply don't support one another. In short, you wrote an angry post filled with insult and malice. I called you out on it. You then denied it, and now I'm pointing out what you did say.

The courts have payment plans and community service programs. This is what I have asked about. I have never once made reference to the courts being a finance company. There is no reason for you to inform me that being ordered community service is not the courts financing me. I never stated it was. That was your term for it, not mine.

Bottom Line: I was trying to find out information so that I can pay my financial responsibilities. I never claimed anyone was obligated to inform me, but I hoped that someone with insight or experience may share helpful advice. The idea that I should be granted any kind of dispensation was yours and yours alone. If that idea is immature and offensive, then you've immaturely offended yourself. I never asked for dismissal or how to get off easy. I sought information or advice so that I can pay.

Hidden Stairwell Line: The above is all really rather insignificant, petty argument. I try to keep mine as a fact-based as possible, while you run on tangents with your emotions and misinterpretations. That is why your arguments are fallacious and easily invalidated. This does not, however, take away from the sincerity of the message you are trying to convey.

Secret Underground Basement Line: I will admit, I have pointed out that your arguments are unsound to get your goat, and it worked. You sure are angry. I did it out of spite, because you have been spiteful to me. Truthfully, I can tell you're a good person and don't really feel the need to argue with you. Overall in life, you and I are on the same side--the good side--whether you'd like to admit that or not. There is only one significant problem that I have with you: I came onto this forum confessing the worst thing that I did, for which I do feel remorse and regret, seek to repay in justice and am learning from. You seem to create every opportunity for yourself to use that horrible mistake against me, cutting me down with insult after insult and often contrasting your esteemed self to "people like me." I don't care what happened to you or how much you preach your belief in your God. You repeatedly intentionally hurl insults at other human beings. Yes, I did something awful, the consequences of which are far worse than anything I can accuse you of based on what I know from you from this forum. However, that doesn't excuse the way you treat people. I think you know deep down how much your behaviour goes against the belief in a loving God. If you were truly a person of grace, you would not address people this way. You would not treat others as inferiors, but as fellow humans who may have erred but still deserve love, respect and hope. You would not use their mistakes against them as an excuse to insult them and call them names. That is just not the way of anyone truly seeking the path of a loving God.

Now you can stick to your anger, write me off as unqualified to comment because I got a DUI and continue inflating your own ego with your insolent argumentation or you can admit to yourself that despite my many shortcomings, I may have some insight to offer. Either way makes no difference to me. The only ones you can't lie to are yourself and your God. Cheers, mate.

Since it is apparent you have difficulty following a line of thought unless your exact wording is used, consider the following, simplified for your understanding. Your posting states :
"Incidentally, "feeling bad" was another misquotation on your part. I never used any phrase about feeling bad or hurting my feelings in my posts."
Does the following quote look familiar?

"I have been moping around the past few days feeling like the scum trash of the earth."

Sorry--I just assumed that feeling like scum trash meant "feeling badly"----then again, I wouldn't know. Please accept my abject apology while I defer to your superior knowledge of and personal experience with feeling like "scum trash of the earth"--whatever that entails. (shrug)


All this effort to point out where you think I have misquoted and then you refer to "other insults" I added? Reread. I said If I WERE going to reflect on your character, I would use words like immoral, etc. I did not say you were those things. I said I AVOIDED those things--and you reply that I CALLED you those things---which were examples of what I feel are adjectives reflecting on your character, and not just your actions. How would I have any way of knowing if you are immoral? Who comes and goes in your personal life is irrelevant to this discussion. Those adjectives were offered in contrast to the ones I used that apply to your behavior--dangerous and self-centered.

Cutting you down by contrasting you with "people like me"? My dear, there IS a difference between us and it is one of which I am proud. I have been offered the same choices in my life as have you. I am proud of the fact that I have ordered my life in such a manner as to be afforded the opportunity to sit on the OTHER side of the legal table and have my hands unbound by handcuffs. That wasn't by chance. It was a conscious choice to live my life in a manner that I can say to my children, "Live as I have lived---walk in my footsteps, as opposed to "Honey, listen, I screwed up my life, killed a woman and a baby in a drunken stupor, don't ever look up to me." Regardless of your dismissive opinion of what you have done, I am entitled to hold my head high. The fact that I am afforded the right to stand taller than you is of your own doing--not mine. I do not wish you financial ruin. I want you to be fairly responsible for what you have done. Period. If you are financially unable to pay for what you have done and the result is financial ruin, that isn't my responsibility or concern. I want you to be held responsible under any sentence a court imposes. The Court doesn't sentence you to financial ruin. Your financial status was in place before the crime ever happened.

Being in jail is punitive and, at times, restorative. It isn't meant to hurt your feelings. SR-22 is the same. Any safe, careful driver is thankful for it because it keeps dangerous people who drink and drive off the road. If you read judgment in that, then perhaps you deserve it. Being thankful for measures that protect innocent people is something I certainly feel entitled to assert.

Regarding your general opinion of my reasoning--I am sorry to inform you that there are a host of graduate school professors as well as law school professors who wholeheartedly disagree. You will understand if I disregard your opinion of my "logic, syntax, and reasoning" and soundly accept theirs along with my 4.0 in both graduate school AND law school? Getting my goat? I am afraid I put much more import on the opinion of those who have accomplished, attained, and impart the same to their students than someone on a message board on the world wide web. Your comments were intended to be spiteful? LOL Ummm, 'kay. I found another thing you aren't very good at.

Let me refer to the following quote: ........I did not do it out of ill-will or intentional disregard for others. Instead of explaining to me how you are a good person, perhaps you would be better advised to research the definition of strict liability crimes and mens rea as it pertains to drunk driving. According to the law, when you "thoughtlessly" get behind the wheel of a car impaired, you demonstrated ill will and disregard for your fellow being.The act alone is enough to substantiate intent. Don't take my word for it. Ask your attorney.

I have to admit that this is the first time a drunk driver has ever lectured me on the merits of believing in a loving God while scolding ME for being unloving, while they are awaiting trial for a crime that could have killed innocent victims. * head tilt--pause for a moment of import* As one of my teenagers is fond of saying, "Yeah, riiiiiiiiiighhhhtttttttttttttttttt." (eyeroll)

As someone who believes not only in the love of an infallible God, but also in his wrath, and his judgment, I invite you to pick up a Bible and actually READ it. Take a perusal through the Gospels ---you will read, for example, of Jesus's anger at the money changers in the Temple who were cheating people. In his anger he brought down upon them, he overturned their tables and drove them from the Temple. The Bible is full of examples where Christ acted in righteous anger against wrongdoing. To preach his "Love" and overlook the other things he requires of us is simply an indication that you simply parroting things you have heard, from a book you have never read, mandated by a God whose wrath and judgment compels us to "judge righteous judgments".

The stark reality and horrific possibilities that could have happened that day you decided to drink and drive chill me to the bone. Unfortunately, you are oblivious to them all. Oh, your words written here acknowledge how naughty it was, but your focus is all on how you are a good person, how you deserve to avoid financial ruin, etc. Your words are an insincere red herring.

What do you think drives a prosecutor or lawmaker to lobby for stiffer penalties in prosecuting crime and handing down stiffer sentences? He is angry? He doesn't have a nice personality? No---he feels deeply about lawlessness and corruption that brings harm to innocent law abiding citizens ( like me ). While you are going around calling everyone who takes a position of judgment on your actions "angry", nothing could be further from the truth. LAWLESSNESS, i.e. disregard for the law, disregard for the consequences of ones actions---all these things are WHY people study law, practice law, and prosecute the same. Anger is a dangerous and wasteful emotion that does nothing to the person against whom it is levied and can very easily completely destroy the harbinger of the same. To say I am "angry" is, again, your own interjection and interpretation of inert words on a screen. You are misinterpreting my emotion as well as the focus of the same.

In closing, let me put a name and a face on your 'thoughtlessness'---I challenge you to look through these photos and see where my husband spent the last hour of his life burning to death in a truck, at the hand of someone just like you. Two days ago was the one year anniversary of his passing. Our family came together, not to mourn his passing, but to celebrate his life. I dare you to feel the pain of hearing a four year old say, "Too bad daddy doesn't want to be with us any more" and explain to him how and why. I dare you to see the heartache in the face of a special needs child that cannot speak and isn't even afforded the ability to put his grief into words and have them understood. I dare you to hold back tears as he wakes up in the middle of the night and presses his tear stained cheek against the cold glass window peering up to the clouds whispering, "Daddy? Daddy?"

I dare you to view these photos, enlarge them, smell the heat, the burning flesh, his cries for help as his life waned and tell me you are on "the good side" and we are on "the same side". Nothing could be further from the truth. Thoughtless and self centered behavior? That doesn't even begin to cover it.
2 Killed When School Bus, Truck Collide - Greenville News Story - WYFF Greenville

Thanks to the media, you can actually see my husband in his last moments of life---- 2 Killed When School Bus, Truck Collide - Photos - WYFF Greenville See him laying on the stretcher? He had exactly three minutes left to live--and worse yet, he was burned, conscious, and knew his life was ending---enough so he could tell them to tell me he loved us. See those people standing over his dying body? Those are the last faces he saw, the last voices he heard---that is what he took into eternity with him--the smell of charred flesh, burning heaps of mangled wreckage and the smell of blood.

Great man, husband of twenty years, father of seven. Glad you got to meet him before he succumbed to "thoughtless" behavior of a "good person who doesn't deserve to be ostracized from society", a good person that it "doesn't make sense to send to jail because they would face financial ruin."

You, me, on the same side? Your arrogance is astounding. I would give my last breath to make sure that nothing in my character ever even remotely mirrors the deficit in your own.

Argue your "I'm a good person" psycho-babble elsewhere. It is a flagrant waste of precious air and expensive bandwidth to assert it again.

Spare me the tedium of your insincerity in the form of yet another specious reply. I have finished posting on this thread and feel no need to read, or reply any further.