Page updated: 04/25/2005 10:07 AM

An Off Roader’s “Thoughts” #5

This article is unique because my wife Jo “wifestoyota” Ducummon has allowed me to add her “Thoughts” on our experience with this topic!!

This is going to be an article that will not sit well with a lot of people out there! It is a subject that I “thought” I would never have to worry about. It is a subject that I have “thought” long and hard on before I sat down in front of this computer and poured my “Thoughts” and life experiences into.

It has recently come to my attention of the number of kids and adults who are in “accidents” that have involved alcohol.

STOP!!

DON’T JUDGE THIS ARTICLE ALREADY!! KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND READ!!

I am going to tell you my story of Off Roading Accidents!

My younger years story:

I was 15 at the time and went out Off Roading with a friend. Of Course beer was involved!! Hell, we were “kids” at the time! Beer was involved with everything we did growing up! The night was great! Four rigs, beer and we had the trails to our selves. No worries all around. About an hour into the trail my buddy missed a turn in the road and off we went. We went over about four or five times and beer cans were all over the place. We finally kicked out the windshield, what was left of it, and crawled out. I don’t know how we walked away from that one and I still cannot look at the pictures of the truck. Hell, all I remember was the first roll and waking up at home. Back then Hospitals cost to much! You walking and talking, You ok!!

Now, back to me today. Did I learn my lesson? Read on.

Have I drove under the Influence before? Yep!

My story:

I had just started the Off Road Club that I belong to and we decided to hit the local Bar to celebrate. After drinking for four to five hours, it was time to leave. I climbed into the car and “thought” I was ok to make it the five blocks home. I “thought” wrong!!

Two blocks from my house I ran into a “DUI Checkpoint”, no way out! I knew I was in big trouble! After failing the “Sobriety Test”, I was given the dreaded BeathAlizer. Needless to say, I failed that big time.

Any of you ever been handcuffed in front of your wife? With her crying? Wondering how she is going to get home? “Thoughts” to think about!!

Trust me, it’s not one of those moments that you want to put in the family scrapbook!

After being booked and put in a cell with 30-40 other “drunks”, I was finally moved to the holding cell, minus my wedding ring, belt and shoelaces. I spent 8 hours in there with 20 other people who “thought” they were innocent of any crime and telling every one about it!! Me I knew what I had done wrong and could see my whole Military career going down the toilet.

Once I finally got out of jail, the really fun part started!

I had to get a Lawyer, $1500 right there. Car out of Impound, $289. DMV Fees, $100.

Does this sound like a “Priceless Commercial”?

There was no way I was getting out of this one with out getting hammered with big fines and hoping I would not get jail time!

Well, since I didn’t hurt any one, here is what I got on top of the above “Fees”:

6 Months Suspended License, can’t drive PERIOD!! This means Off Road vehicles also!
3 Months on a “Restricted License”, to and from work and to my “Drunk Classes”
$389 for the “Drunk Classes”
6 Months I had to go to “Group Meetings” every Friday
3 Months I had to go to “Drunk Classes” every Tuesday
40 Hours of Community Service
3 AA meetings, once every month

To top all of this off, I am on “Probation” for 7 years. Yep, you read that right, SEVEN YEARS!! If I “blow” a .04 in that 7 year time frame, I am considered a “Repeat Offender” and everything I described above is doubled!

My Probation ends in 2007.

Most of you are asking, how does this affect us on the Trails?

When you are PUBLIC Land, the DUI Laws pertain to all of US out there. This includes you peeps in boats also!! Am I a “Saint” that advocates “Zero Tolerance” on the Trails? No, I am not. I just want everyone to know what happens when you do get that DUI. Trust me, it’s not pretty!!

My point of this whole article is:

You are NOT in charge of everything that is going on around you while you are in a vehicle. All it takes is one kid or adult to slip while you are on a trail or in the middle of a recovery and there is nothing you can do to take the “accident” back. All it takes is some one to pull out in front of you on the street, all it takes is that kid to shoot out between cars into your path.

Am I guilty of drinking while I am on the trails?

Yes, I WAS!!

Will I be doing it in the future?

No, I won’t!

I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt some one on the trail or on the streets and I wasn’t in complete control of myself.

Accidents happen on the trails, please don’t let them be alcohol related. Please don’t think I am trying to tell you how to live your life, I am not. Will I still wheel with you if you are drinking on the trail? Yes I will but I will be keeping a closer eye on where I am at in relationship to your vehicle.

I am not Judge and Jury!!

Do what you want!

Just please don’t endanger me, my wife and my dog!!


Take these “Thoughts” as you will. They are mine and mine alone. Just please think about this before you “crack a top” on the trail!


Jack ”primergray” Ducummon, Jr.
Land Use Moderator
www.jeepaholics.com
www.broncoholics.com


An Off Roader Wifes’ “Thoughts”

Before Jack got his DUI, I “thought” nothing of having a “few” beers before getting behind the wheel on the streets, on the trail or drinking on the trail. I didn’t think it was my place to “bitch” at him about how much he had to drink.

I was numb when he got the handcuffs put on him and I didn’t know what to do from there. I also had had to much to drink to drive the car home, so I let him. When the Sheriff asked me if I could drive the car home, I was embarrassed to say I had to much to drink also and needed a ride home.

The Officer handed me Jack’s wallet, minus his ID, said your car will be impounded and we will give you a ride home. I asked, “Where is my car going?” I was told, “Call this number in the morning to go get it.”

My next “Thoughts” were that I should have told Jack we needed to take a cab. I didn’t and because of that, I feel responsible now also.

It was hard on us those 6 months that he didn’t have a Drivers License!!

Ladies, imagine having to drive your husband everywhere he needed to go to get parts, work, and see his friends! Things that you took for granted!! Him leaving for a few hours to help one of his buddies out installing a part.

Jack asked me to add my “Thoughts” to this article. I didn’t really want to. He asked me to please do so people see the “family member’s” side of the story.

Jo “wifestoyota” Ducummon