Last night, I worked pretty late. I'm working on a remodel of a couple of bathrooms at a medical clinic, and after hours and weekends are the only time we can do it. Finishes are going in tomorrow afternoon.
Right in front of the clinic, the police were setting up a checkpoint. It ran from about 7 pm to 11 pm. I was surprised how many customers they got. I saw at least six cars being towed, and I was working most of the time.
I actually feel sympathetic toward some of the drivers, since a DUI is a very big deal, but I don't condone impaired driving. I feel no sympathy for the hardcore repeat offenders, but I feel a little bad for a guy who just had too much wine at dinner.
On the other hand... I had a friend who was a San Diego Harbor Police Officer. I actually played in a church band with him for several years. One night, while he was working an accident scene, he was hit by a drunk driver. The driver managed to ignore all the flashing lights, flares, cones, etc., and knocked him fifty or so feet down the road. My friend survived, but it was a career ending injury. Wrecked one knee, broke his shoulder, and a number of other things. His recovery was long and painful, and of course he'll never be the same.
So, some people are going to spend this holiday season going to court, paying impound fees, and retaining lawyers, but hopefully less people will be hit by drunk drivers.
Right in front of the clinic, the police were setting up a checkpoint. It ran from about 7 pm to 11 pm. I was surprised how many customers they got. I saw at least six cars being towed, and I was working most of the time.
I actually feel sympathetic toward some of the drivers, since a DUI is a very big deal, but I don't condone impaired driving. I feel no sympathy for the hardcore repeat offenders, but I feel a little bad for a guy who just had too much wine at dinner.
On the other hand... I had a friend who was a San Diego Harbor Police Officer. I actually played in a church band with him for several years. One night, while he was working an accident scene, he was hit by a drunk driver. The driver managed to ignore all the flashing lights, flares, cones, etc., and knocked him fifty or so feet down the road. My friend survived, but it was a career ending injury. Wrecked one knee, broke his shoulder, and a number of other things. His recovery was long and painful, and of course he'll never be the same.
So, some people are going to spend this holiday season going to court, paying impound fees, and retaining lawyers, but hopefully less people will be hit by drunk drivers.