Soberish

I was 20 years old and under the drinking age when I got my first DUI so I lost it for a year rather than 6 months. I got it back and lost it again 9 months later to DUI number two. I haven't had a license since December 17th 2010. I had to meet once a week for an 18 month program I completed this past September, it costed somewhere around 1,600 dollars. I had to pay for 12 days of work program rather than go to jail which costed 50 dollars for enrollment and 10 dollars per day for a total of 170 dollars. I had to pay 157 for a license reissue fee and get an SR-22 insurance that costs 47 dollars a month. This doesnt include the 1st DUIs three month program which i didnt learn anything from (probably because the punishment wasnt as severe or because i didnt catch the problematic routine that alcohol/drug use was causing).

All this was worth it though because I learned a lot from this second DUI. I quit smoking marijuana a month after I got this past DUI, it was actually harder than quitting drinking. I thought I would never stop smoking as life was sooooo dull (so i thought) at the time without it. I quit drinking this past November. I now feel free, not perfectly great at all times but free. I now look forward to keeping my license. Instead of spening all my money on drugs and alcohol, I now have money set aside to buy my own car sometime before my 25th birthday. I now look forward to learning how to live the right way. All because of this second DUI. It really was a blessing in disguise.

Soberish

Oh Yea and I forgot, I now look forward to DRIVING MYSELF places instead of relying on others or public transportation!

MythOfSisyphus

Congrats! Sounds like you took some lemons and made some sweet 'n' tasty lemonade! You're smarter than some- I've worked with a lot of guys that had three DUIs or more.

masterscorpio77

I am in the same boat myself. I haven't had my license for quite some time. I tried to get it back and was denied. But I am going for it again this year. The only problem is coming up with all the money, but seems like this year I can successfully get it back.

I will have a bunch of hoops to follow, but that is the price that I have to pay for my mistakes.

Congrats on getting it back.

I have an M.B.A now, and not having a license really sucks when you think about it.

Soberish

Great analogy. While doing my DUI class there was a lot of 3 time offenders. There was also one person that had gotten manslaughter charges and went to jail for 3 years for killing somebody while drinking and driving. He had to do the program once he got out of prison. Hard to believe they only gave him manslaughter. I'm glad I never injured anyone while drinking and driving.

It is definitely worth it, you'll appreciate it a lot more this time around. I've never heard of an M.B.A, what is it?

member72

Masters in
Business
Administration

Tough post bachelors program.
congrats on that diploma masterscorpio77
working toward it myself

quitforme79

Congrats soberish! Awesome that you have your freedom back My license is suspended right now until June and I can't WAIT. Enjoy your new found freedom!!

sissy07

Awww....I love stories like this one. Sorry that you have had a rough, expensive time, but it appears that you have learned for this. I wish you the best.

vegibean

Congratulations Soberish!! Now just make sure you keep it.

That's awesome. I had to take the bus for a while and hated it, couldn't wait to get a car again, so I relate.