5 Reasons Why Driving Drunk Will Ruin Your Life | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

5 Reasons Why Driving Drunk Will Ruin Your Life

Just don't do it.

12
5 Reasons Why Driving Drunk Will Ruin Your Life
Shutterstock

We've all seen those "don't drive intoxicated" ads on TV. The car is weaving ever so slightly, the blue lights come on in the background, and then there's the sad look of the driver at the end of the ad. The message is simple: don't drive drunk. As someone who works at a law firm that deals in DWI cases, however, I can tell you for certain that people don't get that message. Listen here, people of New York, a DWI is not a joke. It's not a small thing that happens and then you move on. A DWI arrest has the potential to ruin your life.


1. It's not just that you've been arrested.

They also seize your car and bill you for its towing and storage. Then they bring a civil case (in addition to the criminal DWI case) against you so that they can keep it.


2. Your finance company gets involved.

Unless you're super mega rich, you don't have enough money to buy your car on the day that you drive it off the lot. You need to get a loan for it. So, if you buy a Toyota Camry and finance it through Toyota, Toyota is a partial owner of the car for as long as there's a balance on your loan. In New York, that means that when your car gets seized, Toyota gets sued in the civil case too because they were a negligent owner by allowing you to drive it. Toyota doesn't appreciate that, so they sue you.

At this point in your life you have no car, have been sued by the government, sued by your finance company, and have been arrested.


3. Everyone wants your car.

The government wants your car to prevent you from driving it again. Your finance company wants your car because they don't want to be liable when and if you drive it drunk again.


4. Even if you settle your criminal case, things will turn out poorly.

Let's make this part really clear: if you have been arrested with a BAC higher than the legal limit, you will lose your car or have to pay thousands of dollars to keep it. The government can take your car under forfeiture laws and you're not winning against that. The premise of forfeiture as a punishment for wrongdoing has been a staple of the law since Ancient Greek times and it is well codified in our Constitution. If the government doesn't get your car, your finance company will. You signed a contract in which you agreed that if your car is used to commit an illegal act (i.e. driving while drunk), your contract is void and the finance company gets the car back. If you pay them the balance that you owe on the loan, then you can keep it, but I don't know how many of us have $15,000 - $20,000 lying around.


5. This will suck for you.

The end of your case can go down in a few ways. The good way happens when you shell out multiple thousands of dollars and pay off what you owe. Now your finance company doesn't hate you and you have your car. Also, now you're broke or paying off another loan with huge interest rates. The bad way happens when you don't have enough money to pay off what you owe or you can't get a loan and your car gets repossessed. Now your credit sucks and you have no car.


This is a serious matter. It can ruin lives. I've seen it firsthand at work. Driving drunk is not a joke. It's dangerous to you and everyone else. If keeping the roads safe for other drivers doesn't stop you from driving drunk, then think about it this way: if you drive drunk and get caught, you'll be broke and in rough shape. If you won't stop driving drunk for the sake of life, stop driving drunk for the sake of your wallet.

The moral of the story is to be smart and don't drive drunk.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

130667
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

30016
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

27668
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments