Learning From Elijah Ferguson’s Mistake

We all make mistakes in our lives, but sometimes these mistakes are at the expense of other people. Because our ego got in the way, we make stupid mistakes that can cause a great deal of hurt, pain, and sorrow.

Take, for instance, the story of Lance Cpl. Elijah Leigh Ferguson, a Camp Pendleton Marine who was sentenced last Friday to 15 years to life in prison for killing an innocent person and injuring his wife.

Drunk Driving Campaigns Are Not Working

The latest news reports released after the New Year celebrations reveal something that disturbs me.  They’re saying that fatal crashes due to drunk driving have increased. 

 

So, although DUI arrests increased from last year (1,252 DUI arrests during the New Year’s period compared to 986 last year), which is supposed to be a good thing, I think.  I don’t mean to sound cynical, but to me these numbers indicate that people are NOT paying attention to public service announcements or TV campaigns warning them of the consequences of drunk driving.

 

What Do I Do If I’m Pulled Over For Drunk Driving?

Most people who go out to drink don’t really think about the consequences of driving drunk.  Oh, I won’t get pulled over…is probably what they’re thinking.  I know because I’ve had that same thought back in my younger days of drinking and partying.  I wouldn’t have known what to do if I was pulled over by the police.

 

Do you know what to do if you’ve been pulled over after you’ve been drinking? 

In the video below, Michigan DUI attorney Patrick Barone shares his tips on what to do if law enforcement pulls you over for suspected drunk driving…

California Increases Sobriety Checkpoints

California’s Office of Traffic Safety, the California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies have declared 2010 as “The Year of the Checkpoint”. (Source)

The state of California is stepping up efforts to prevent drunk driving, as they usually do around this time of the year.  However, the California Office of Traffic Safety will fund more than 2,500 sobriety checkpoints in 2010, a 47 percent increase over the 1,700 conducted this year.

California is supposedly the state with the most checkpoints, but just how effective are they?

A Message For Celebrities Who Drive Drunk

It’s interesting that everytime we turn to the news, there is a celebrity or athlete who has been arrested for a DUI (or so it seems).  Isn’t it interesting that with all the money they have, they can’t simply hire someone to drive them home after they’ve had a few drinks?  That’s why taxi cabs and limos exist!