Drinking/smoking Laws too harsh?

[SmileEmptySoul]

Im 17 and will be 18 in about 5 months. I recently got a DWI.. with a BAC of .05%. I had 2 beers and decided to drive home at 12:00 ... bad timing? Thats the curfew for young drivers. So I get pulled over. No reason at all, im going the speed limit of 20 in a 25 zone. "where ya headed?" I said "Home." He told me to get out. I got out and stood there looking at him. He told me to balance on one foot. Did it fine... He then says "Your out past curfew you know." Is aid I lived 3 blocks away which I literally did. Then he said "You wouldnt mind a breathalyzer would you?" I replied No. I had to say Yes or else they would make it count that I was DWI either way. So I took the chance hoping it wouldnt be high. He tells me I was driving intoxicated blah blah blah parents picked me up blah blah blah court date blah blah blah.

 

I dont understand some of these laws. I was clearly not drunk and was driving fine. I cant have beer until im 21... But its ok for me to go to Iraq at 18 and put a bullet into someones head? I cant have a beer but I can go to a federal prison. I sometimes think this country is a joke. have you noticed foreign countries that have drinking/smoking ages at like 16 have less problems? Its not all brand new and looked so down upon so kids dont do it every chance they get.

 

Its ridiculous, I sometimes wonder where this country is headed that they are more worried about drinking and smoking than the massive debt the economy is in. Dont get me wrong Im all against drunk driving but I was NOT DRUNK (Not even tipsy) 2 beers give me a god danm break.

 

I cant wait until we all join the bread and soup lines again. BUT AT LEAST UNDERAGE DRINKING AND MARIJUANA WONT BE A PROBLEM!!!!!

[Lizzie60]

They'll never be harsh enough in my book...

 

One recidivist killed a 17 yr old girl on her bike last Tuesday... He was in jail for the night... had to be transferred to a hospital the next day cause the inmates beat the sh*t out of him...

 

Even in prison, Drunk Driving is 'taken care of'...

 

You can't drink before 21... then DON'T... period!!!!!!!!

[Touche]

If you don't like the laws in our country (are you in the US?) then why not move to one of those other countries? Maybe you'll like it there better. I mean you did say our country is a joke right?

[SmileEmptySoul]

If you don't like the laws in our country (are you in the US?) then why not move to one of those other countries? Maybe you'll like it there better. I mean you did say our country is a joke right?

 

Trust me if I was old enough, I would. Like I said I was 17 turning 18 in 5 months which you obviously didn't take the time to process through your head. So No I cant move across the pond just yet. And yes I did say this country is a joke, And I would move in a heartbeat if my parents could live close. I could not leave them when they are elderly

[Art_Critic]

I was clearly not drunk and was driving fine.

 

Actually you clearly WERE drunk.. you just can't see it because you are letting your ego get in the way..

 

You also were not driving fine.. You were driving drunk..There are nothing but statistic after statistic showing impairment in driving after 1 beer let alone 2..

 

If you had maybe perhaps caused an accident while you had those 2 beers in you then your parents would be visiting you thru glass for many years to come..

 

Hopefully the court system will help you with your misguided attitude and put you back on the path so you don't take a human life later on when you have 4 or 6 or 8 beers..

[SmileEmptySoul]

Actually you clearly WERE drunk.. you just can't see it because you are letting your ego get in the way..

 

You also were not driving fine.. You were driving drunk..There are nothing but statistic after statistic showing impairment in driving after 1 beer let alone 2..

 

If you had maybe perhaps caused an accident while you had those 2 beers in you then your parents would be visiting you thru glass for many years to come..

 

Hopefully the court system will help you with you misguided attitude and put you back on the path so you don't take a human life later on when you have 4 or 6 or 8 beers..

 

 

Yes I clearly was drunk because you being in the passenger seat and all right next to me. He pulled me over because I was out past curfew. Not because I was swirving or speeding or driving too slow. Thats why the first thing he said to me was "you are out past curfew." And being such a good Cop he is he wanted to breathalyze me. And i had those beers 2 hours earlier so i was CLEARLY DRUNK off two beers after two hours. People take alcohol differently. It could take me 10 beers to get drunk where someone 3 so those "studies" dont work.

[Art_Critic]

Yes I clearly was drunk because you being in the passenger seat and all right next to me.

 

You clearly were drunk because you blew a .05... you seem to be missing that sharp point...

 

Good luck in court.. with your attitude the DA and Judge will throw the book at you..

 

Show some maturity for your errors and they will cut you some slack.. Show them the attitude that you have here on LS concerning this DWI then you will not like the outcome..

 

Have you gotten an attorney yet for your court hearings ?

[Touche]

Trust me if I was old enough, I would. Like I said I was 17 turning 18 in 5 months which you obviously didn't take the time to process through your head. So No I cant move across the pond just yet. And yes I did say this country is a joke, And I would move in a heartbeat if my parents could live close. I could not leave them when they are elderly

 

Ha ha ha! Spoken like a typical teenager. You can't even admit you did something wrong so how are you going to have the balls to move away from mommy and daddy and go "across the pond?" Never.

 

I "processed" everything just fine, dear. I meant for you to move when you turn 18 in 5 months but you didn't quite grasp that did you? Just like you didn't grasp that you were caught while driving "legally" drunk. Do you get that concept now? If not you will soon enough.

 

Good luck, honey. You're going to need it.

[SmileEmptySoul]

You clearly were drunk because you blew a .05... you seem to be missing that sharp point...

 

Good luck in court.. with your attitude the DA and Judge will throw the book at you..

 

Show some maturity for your errors and they will cut you some slack.. Show them the attitude that you have here on LS concerning this DWI then you will not like the outcome..

 

Have you gotten and attorney yet for your court hearings ?

 

No I havent it happened last night. Did you know that 0.08% level is considered the legal limit for safe driving??? I was at .05% but just because Im 4 years younger than the "Legal Age" I was considered DRUNK no matter what. I would be considered drunk at .01% and be charged with a DWI. Of course 2 beers that is what 5% alcohol in each can??? Would clearly get a 6'1 195lb young adult drunk

[Art_Critic]

The thing to remember is that if you want to drink then drink at home where you don't affect anyone but yourself..

Alcohol taken in moderation is fine.. but not while you are behind the wheel of a car.

 

The moment you get in a car while drinking/drunk you have just changed the dynamic and are endangering other peoples lives because of your impairment.

No different than shooting a gun at a crowd of people..

 

Next time if you have had anything to drink either call your parents/friend or a cab or have someone else who hasn't been impaired by alcohol drive for you...

[SmileEmptySoul]

Ha ha ha! Spoken like a typical teenager. You can't even admit you did something wrong so how are you going to have the balls to move away from mommy and daddy and go "across the pond?" Never.

 

I "processed" everything just fine, dear. I meant for you to move when you turn 18 in 5 months but you didn't quite grasp that did you? Just like you didn't grasp that you were caught while driving "legally" drunk. Do you get that concept now? If not you will soon enough.

 

Good luck, honey. You're going to need it.

 

Wow you honestly still cant read can you. I admit I did something Wrong i drove with alcohol in me. But I was NOT DRUNK. Adults can drive with alcohol with a BAC of .08% and be fine.

 

"The balls to move away from mommy and daddy" I could move away from my parents. like I said you "cant read," I said I wouldnt want to leave them when they are elderly so don't make me sound like Im a Mommas Boy.

[Art_Critic]

No I havent it happened last night. Did you know that 0.08% level is considered the legal limit for safe driving??? I was at .05% but just because Im 4 years younger than the "Legal Age" I was considered DRUNK no matter what. I would be considered drunk at .01% and be charged with a DWI. Of course 2 beers that is what 5% alcohol in each can??? Would clearly get a 6'1 195lb young adult drunk

 

Maybe when you do retain an attorney he can swing a deal where they go easy on you and you will be able to keep your right to drive..

 

I get what you are saying about the whole .05 versus .08 deal..

sometimes being a minor sucks..

 

In Georgia we have a ZERO tolerance for underage drinking.. if you are under 21 and have had any Alcohol while driving you lose the right to drive until the age of 21..

[SmileEmptySoul]

Maybe when you do retain an attorney he can swing a deal where they go easy on you and you will be able to keep your right to drive..

 

I get what you are saying about the whole .05 versus .08 deal..

sometimes being a minor sucks..

 

In Georgia we have a ZERO tolerance for underage drinking.. if you are under 21 and have had any Alcohol while driving you lose the right to drive until the age of 21..

 

Thank you, thats what Iv been trying to get across. I understand accidents happen all the time but I would never drive If i thought I couldn't of made it home safely.

 

I was not drunk and was simply just screwed over completely for being a minor.

[Touche]

Wow you honestly still cant read can you. I admit I did something Wrong i drove with alcohol in me. But I was NOT DRUNK. Adults can drive with alcohol with a BAC of .08% and be fine.

 

"The balls to move away from mommy and daddy" I could move away from my parents. like I said you "cant read," I said I wouldnt want to leave them when they are elderly so don't make me sound like Im a Mommas Boy.

 

You just don't get it do you? You WERE drunk under the law. Impaired, or whatever you want to call it. You were. It doesn't matter if YOU think or know you weren't drunk. Doesn't matter at all.

 

And it doesn't matter what an adult can do. You're not an adult.

 

Honey, I can read fine. I think you're having trouble seeing the signs. But you will in time. And I didn't try to make you sound like a Momma's Boy at all. You're the one who said you wouldn't leave them. Who cares what the reason is.

 

I'm done with this. You're in denial. And you're attitude says a LOT about you.

 

Goodbye and good luck...you're gonna need it.

[SmileEmptySoul]

You just don't get it do you? You WERE drunk under the law. Impaired, or whatever you want to call it. You were. It doesn't matter if YOU think or know you weren't drunk. Doesn't matter at all.

 

And it doesn't matter what an adult can do. You're not an adult.

 

Honey, I can read fine. I think you're having trouble seeing the signs. But you will in time. And I didn't try to make you sound like a Momma's Boy at all. You're the one who said you wouldn't leave them. Who cares what the reason is.

 

I'm done with this. You're in denial. And you're attitude says a LOT about you.

 

Goodbye and good luck...you're gonna need it.

 

you keep saying I WAS drunk. but I was NOT drunk. .08% and above is considered unsafe driving but because I am 17 it doesnt matter what my BAC was. If I was .02% and im 17 would I be DRUNK???? yes I am in Denial about being drunk because I UMMM WASNT?? But I am not in denial of consuming alcohol. Did it penetrate yet? or was I still drunk at .05%?? I don't believe in luck.. So thanks anyway

[Touche]

you keep saying I WAS drunk. but I was NOT drunk. .08% and above is considered unsafe driving but because I am 17 it doesnt matter what my BAC was. If I was .02% and im 17 would I be DRUNK???? yes I am in Denial about being drunk because I UMMM WASNT?? But I am not in denial of consuming alcohol. Did it penetrate yet? or was I still drunk at .05%?? I don't believe in luck.. So thanks anyway

 

Did you read the part where I said UNDER THE LAW? It doesn't matter if you thought you were impaired or not. Why aren't you getting this? I know I said I'd go away now but I'm trying to get it through your head that UNDER THE EYES OF THE LAW you WERE drunk or impaired enough that you BROKE THE LAW. Why can't you get that?

 

And if I were you, I'd start believing in luck.

[johan]

Im 17 and will be 18 in about 5 months. I recently got a DWI.. with a BAC of .05%. I had 2 beers and decided to drive home at 12:00 ... bad timing? Thats the curfew for young drivers. So I get pulled over. No reason at all, im going the speed limit of 20 in a 25 zone. "where ya headed?" I said "Home." He told me to get out. I got out and stood there looking at him. He told me to balance on one foot. Did it fine... He then says "Your out past curfew you know." Is aid I lived 3 blocks away which I literally did. Then he said "You wouldnt mind a breathalyzer would you?" I replied No. I had to say Yes or else they would make it count that I was DWI either way. So I took the chance hoping it wouldnt be high. He tells me I was driving intoxicated blah blah blah parents picked me up blah blah blah court date blah blah blah.

 

I can hear it now: "You're over the limit. But how do you feel? Do you think you can drive ok? You do? Ok. Go ahead then, I trust you."

 

I cant have beer until im 21... But its ok for me to go to Iraq at 18 and put a bullet into someones head?

 

Yes. We don't want you doing it drunk. Makes sense to me. I want you shooting straight.

 

I cant have a beer but I can go to a federal prison. I sometimes think this country is a joke.

 

When you get to prison, you can have anything you want, including some serious drugs. I assume your point is that if you were in prison you could get super high and drunk and even sodomized, but wouldn't be allowed to drive. That kind of doesn't seem fair, now that I think about it.

 

have you noticed foreign countries that have drinking/smoking ages at like 16 have less problems? Its not all brand new and looked so down upon so kids dont do it every chance they get.

 

Yes, but those countries don't have the greatest militaries in the world like we do. There aren't many other militaries that could stay bogged down in Iraq as long as we have. And one reason our military is so great is because the majority of the soldiers aren't drunk. At least the young ones. The older ones can handle it.

 

Its ridiculous, I sometimes wonder where this country is headed that they are more worried about drinking and smoking than the massive debt the economy is in. Dont get me wrong Im all against drunk driving but I was NOT DRUNK (Not even tipsy) 2 beers give me a god danm break.

 

Probably everyone busted at .05 would say the same thing. What do you think the limit should be? Or are you asking for a personal exemption?

[lovelorcet]

The OP just does not get the point. I am actually all for a reduced drinking age in the states. It is 16 where I live now and I see 18 as perfectly acceptable and as far as I care people should be able to take whatever drugs they want. People should be able to do whatever they want to themselves.

 

Lets look at the facts:

 

-The OP is an inexperienced driver (get about 100,000 miles under your belt first if you want to think you know how to drive)

 

-The OP is an inexperienced drinker... and wether you think you were or not has little credibility.

 

-The OP broke the law by being out past the curfew

 

-The OP broke the law by drinking under age

 

-The OP broke the law by getting behind the wheel with alcohol in his system

 

 

The second you get into a car you put everyone around you in danger and that is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! You are not a responsible member of society by acting like this. I don't care if you think you were drunk or not. You had a measurable amount of alcohol in your system and you were a danger to everyone out there. As far as I am concerned I think you should have your a$$ severed to you on a platter.

 

On a further note I also think that any measurable amount of alcohol in the system at any age should be a big crime. There is no such thing as "Safe Drinking" and I have no clue where the OP even came up with that idea.

 

So stop acting like a whiney baby and take responsibility for yourself.

[Citizen Erased]

Where I live, the legal drinking age is 18. And the state I live in, the only curfew is one passenger in the car after 11pm if the driver is on P plates (a permit which allows you to drive without a fully licensed drivers supervision). BAL has to be 0.0%.

 

We may complain about these restrictions, but those who are responsible stick to them. It isn't hard. You just don't drink and drive. Get a taxi, better then facing a fine/court appearance/jail.

 

BTW it takes 1 hour for 1 standard drink to leave your system. Next time just make sure you know how much you drink and then don't drive until you are confidant it is out of your system. Some restrictions may be unfair, but learn to deal with it, everyone else has to.

[SmileEmptySoul]

The OP just does not get the point. I am actually all for a reduced drinking age in the states. It is 16 where I live now and I see 18 as perfectly acceptable and as far as I care people should be able to take whatever drugs they want. People should be able to do whatever they want to themselves.

 

Lets look at the facts:

 

-The OP is an inexperienced driver (get about 100,000 miles under your belt first if you want to think you know how to drive)

 

-The OP is an inexperienced drinker... and wether you think you were or not has little credibility.

 

-The OP broke the law by being out past the curfew

 

-The OP broke the law by drinking under age

 

-The OP broke the law by getting behind the wheel with alcohol in his system

 

 

The second you get into a car you put everyone around you in danger and that is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! You are not a responsible member of society by acting like this. I don't care if you think you were drunk or not. You had a measurable amount of alcohol in your system and you were a danger to everyone out there. As far as I am concerned I think you should have your a$$ severed to you on a platter.

 

On a further note I also think that any measurable amount of alcohol in the system at any age should be a big crime. There is no such thing as "Safe Drinking" and I have no clue where the OP even came up with that idea.

 

So stop acting like a whiney baby and take responsibility for yourself.

 

-Well considering Iv been driving cars since I was 16? I worked moving cars and parking for a dealership. So thats about 2 years of driving which I think is over 100,000 miles . So I would like it for you to keep your mouth shut on topics that you know nothing about me.

 

And good job you managed to repeat everything I said in my original post you sure are a critic. I dont see why you feel the need to re instate everything I said. I admitted to drinking underage, and DWI. So you dont need to tell me what I did.

 

And as far as having my "a** served to me on a platter?" honestly... stfu...

[SmileEmptySoul]

BTW it takes 1 hour for 1 standard drink to leave your system. Next time just make sure you know how much you drink and then don't drive until you are confidant it is out of your system. Some restrictions may be unfair, but learn to deal with it, everyone else has to.

 

yeah I figured having 2 beers and then driving home 2 hours later I would be perfectly fine.. Which I was... But I still blew a detectable trace. Not to mention I consumed those 2 beers in about 45 minutes.

 

yeah your right the restrictions are unfair, but i got caught. Theres no way around it and have to go to court. Im going the 21st . I already know what im go say I just hope my license doesnt get suspended. I have no record so they might take that into account. Ill post what happens

[Touche]

-Well considering Iv been driving cars since I was 16? I worked moving cars and parking for a dealership. So thats about 2 years of driving which I think is over 100,000 miles . So I would like it for you to keep your mouth shut on topics that you know nothing about me.

 

And good job you managed to repeat everything I said in my original post you sure are a critic. I dont see why you feel the need to re instate everything I said. I admitted to drinking underage, and DWI. So you dont need to tell me what I did.

 

And as far as having my "a** served to me on a platter?" honestly... stfu...

 

Wow! Just wow. Boy do you have a rocky road ahead of you in life. If you only knew.

 

Your license is almost guaranteed to be suspended. Doesn't matter what you say. I have no doubt in my mind about that.

 

And if you speak to the court the way you speak to people here, you might even wind up in jail for contempt.

[wwjd]

the argument of not being old enough to legally drink but old enough to legally kill someone else is lame. go find a better one. that's the same lameness every teenager uses because they can't find a better reason/argument, and if you want to be taken seriously, then i advise you to find some solid reasoning for your arguments.

 

that said, i think the drinking age should be 18. i frankly do not understand why it is 21. am i supposed to be more mature or something? oh yea right.

 

it is beyond ridiculous to have two ages of adulthood, 18 + 21. that's just nonsense. they need to pick one, and i think the one they should pick is the one that is equivalent of one being charged and convicted of a crime as an "adult," which is 18.

 

drinking laws should be lowered in that the drinking age should be lowered, if only to be on par and not with everything else because it seems that you are legally treated as an adult at 18, except for being unable to drink, and that is just ridiculous.

 

other than that, drinking laws are fine. you really should not drink and drive, even if you think you are okay. you *might* be "okay" enough to make is back home safely if there is no one else on the road, but that is hardly ever the case. what if there is? what if there is some maniac who is sober, yet speeding? while you may not be drunk, your reflexes and vision might be impaired enough so that you might not react quickly or adequately enough.

 

seriously. if you're going to drink, don't drive. walk home. ask a friend who didn't drink to drive you guys. call a cab. call your parents as lame as that may be. anything, really. just don't get behind the wheel because if you cause an accident thanks to inebriation, then f.ck DUIs--you should automatically go to jail for a good doozy of a time.

 

man, even if you don't cause an accident, i'm all for sending people to jail--maybe just for the night, if only to spook them--if they are caught. no joke.

 

but what is a joke is 21 being the drinking age. this country is absurd in quite a few ways.

 

PS: who gets drunk after 2 beers? if you do, you shouldn't even be drinking. what a weenie.

[SmileEmptySoul]

the argument of not being old enough to legally drink but old enough to legally kill someone else is lame. go find a better one. that's the same lameness every teenager uses because they can't find a better reason/argument, and if you want to be taken seriously, then i advise you to find some solid reasoning for your arguments.

 

that said, i think the drinking age should be 18. i frankly do not understand why it is 21. am i supposed to be more mature or something? oh yea right.

 

it is beyond ridiculous to have two ages of adulthood, 18 + 21. that's just nonsense. they need to pick one, and i think the one they should pick is the one that is equivalent of one being charged and convicted of a crime as an "adult," which is 18.

 

drinking laws should be lowered in that the drinking age should be lowered, if only to be on par and not with everything else because it seems that you are legally treated as an adult at 18, except for being unable to drink, and that is just ridiculous.

 

other than that, drinking laws are fine. you really should not drink and drive, even if you think you are okay. you *might* be "okay" enough to make is back home safely if there is no one else on the road, but that is hardly ever the case. what if there is? what if there is some maniac who is sober, yet speeding? while you may not be drunk, your reflexes and vision might be impaired enough so that you might not react quickly or adequately enough.

 

seriously. if you're going to drink, don't drive. walk home. ask a friend who didn't drink to drive you guys. call a cab. call your parents as lame as that may be. anything, really. just don't get behind the wheel because if you cause an accident thanks to inebriation, then f.ck DUIs--you should automatically go to jail for a good doozy of a time.

 

man, even if you don't cause an accident, i'm all for sending people to jail--maybe just for the night, if only to spook them--if they are caught. no joke.

 

but what is a joke is 21 being the drinking age. this country is absurd in quite a few ways.

 

PS: who gets drunk after 2 beers? if you do, you shouldn't even be drinking. what a weenie.

 

Thats exactly my point i was not drunk after 2 beers I just had alcohol in my system and Im a minor so I would be screwed with .01% But it seems that most of the people on here believe I was drunk after 2 beers which I find hilarious. Im just glad that someone else sees the absurdity in some of the laws.

[SmileEmptySoul]

Wow! Just wow. Boy do you have a rocky road ahead of you in life. If you only knew.

 

Your license is almost guaranteed to be suspended. Doesn't matter what you say. I have no doubt in my mind about that.

 

And if you speak to the court the way you speak to people here, you might even wind up in jail for contempt.

 

Well The judge wont be making smart a** comments to me so I wont be making smart a** comments back. I have no reason to, Its just that people on here jump to flaming the hell out of me for Driving when I had 2 beers. If i was Drunk go ahead flame all you want. I talk respectfully when people dont jump to conclusions and automatically assume im a bad person for a stupid mistake. I admit what I did was stupid, But I was fine to drive and only got caught because I was out 1 whole minute past curfew and I was less than a minute away from home.

 

It angers me, like WWJD said. "it is beyond ridiculous to have two ages of adulthood, 18 + 21. that's just nonsense. they need to pick one, and i think the one they should pick is the one that is equivalent of one being charged and convicted of a crime as an "adult," which is 18."