On Christmas Eve 2005, I was charged with speeding and DUI. So, basically, since Feb 9, 2006, I haven't had a Driver's License. State Farm Insurance won't insure drivers with a DUI, they dropped me, and since I couldn't drive anyway (but I did on more than a few occaisions) I didn't get new insurance. With the lapse in coverage, the DMV revoked my vehicle's registration.  Well, finally today, it's all over with. I got my license, today, I got new insurance and I got my new vehicle registration. To top it off, the violations will be off my record in only one more year. The estimated tally for all money I had to pay as a result of all this is... [drumroll] ...$6,000. That's including any money for cab rides, time lost at work, etc.

If you drink, DON'T DRIVE!!! Especially if you have had more than one drink...even more so if you've had more than one drink per hour. In this state, you won't pass a breathalyser, if that's the case. No matter what your personal alcohol tolerance level happens to be. I got lucky so many times, but luck runs out people.

$15 for a cab ride is a lot better than $6,000 and 2 and 1/2 years before you can drive legally again. (My case is a little extreme for a 1st offense. Most aren't as costly. My community service was waived and full fines tacked on since I was out of town.)