OK, folks. You're probably somewhat familiar with my plaint of this week- people talking shit about me.

Here's what it's about: I called the cops on a drunk driver. My name made it into the arrest report/attorney's brief because I was asked to testify at the guy's trial if it comes to that. I made a snap decision based on the fact that I saw these guys STAGGERING towards a truck, which I had hoped they were just going to get into and smoke a joint. Instead, after ten or so minutes of fumbling with the key, they drove off. I thought "If they make it home alive without killing themselves or someone else, it will be a miracle." I called the police.

Now my name is shit in certain bars in town for being (and I kid you not about this) a "narc."

Extenuating circumstances: I know the guy who was in the passenger seat. Always liked him. Both of them, though, were crippled drunk. Turns out that my friend had unfinished business with the police and is now dealing with the fallout from that.

I called him this week, had to leave a message because he won't speak to me and said the following:

1. It was never my intention to create trouble for you. I figured the worst that would happen is that you might have to walk home. But neither of you could walk, so whatever.

2. If you think that I have done you so much harm from this that we can no longer be friends, then I would rather have a live enemy than a dead friend.

3. I will give you some money to help with your legal fees if you want me to.

He sent me a text message back saying "Fuck you," basically.

In the middle of this is the town's biggest shit talker/drama queen asshole, but only because he's put himself there. Whatever happens between me and my (former) friend is out of my control now, but Dramaboy and I have a little date, whether he knows it or not.

i hope my uncle has nothing to do with this, ringo.

that damned fly wrote:i hope my uncle has nothing to do with this, ringo.

Not *this* time.

dontfeartheringo wrote:

that damned fly wrote:i hope my uncle has nothing to do with this, ringo.

Not *this* time.

those wacky fuckers.

you know, it was michael who first told me about pere ubu.

God bless him.

I usually take the keys away from the driver and give them to the bartender. Works all the time. Then I'm just the guy who's concerned that the drunk driving fuckhead will kill himself. It's then up to the bartender to call a cab, which they always will do.

The whole thing is to not be confrontational about it. One trick I use is to ask them to do me a favor. A favor they can call in later.

Calling the police on a drunk driver? Well, you DID have 10 minutes before they left. If you were really concerned you should have opened the truck door and got the keys. When you have the keys, it's all over.

Maybe calling the police first wasn't the right thing to do.

Regardless, drunk driving is the height of rude, selfish, boorish behavior.

If you try and get the keys, and you can't do it, then you call the police.

Patrick, as corny as it sounds, you may have saved lives.
Whatever drama you have created for yourself in town will fade away soon enough. Anyone who holds a grudge or judges you will just have to get over it. Fuck 'em if they don't.
A couple years ago, a close friend of mine who I had been in a band with showed up at my house, piss drunk. He tried to fight me when I wouldn't let him drive home. I had to put him on the ground. Finally I hid his keys and he went to sleep in his car in front of my house. He was going through a bad time in his life or some shit. Who isn't? It's not right and it's not fair for someone to get behind the wheel when they are full on stinko in the bag.
You shouldn't waste one fucking minute justifying what you did. It's not necessary. I got a feeling you already know this.

I guess it's worth mentioning that I was in a conversation a full block away.

They staggered by and I called out to my friend, called his name like six times, and he didn't hear me, as he walked by.

I watched them walk a block and I thought "I hope they're going somewhere to cool off." Then they got into the truck, and I thought "I hope that they're getting in there to smoke a joint."

When the truck didn't start, I thought, "Oh, good."

And then they drove away.

I hadn't really been thinking about MY responsibility in the whole thing until the lights on the truck came on and it drove off.

I don't watch every drunk walking to and fro in a college town and think "WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT THAT?"

y'know? It wasn't my problem until I suddenly had to contemplate their drive home.

and I don't know the driver. At all. He most assuredly would have told me to go fuck myself.

ubercat wrote:I usually take the keys away from the driver and give them to the bartender. Works all the time. Then I'm just the guy who's concerned that the drunk driving fuckhead will kill himself. It's then up to the bartender to call a cab, which they always will do.

The whole thing is to not be confrontational about it. One trick I use is to ask them to do me a favor. A favor they can call in later.

Calling the police on a drunk driver? Well, you DID have 10 minutes before they left. If you were really concerned you should have opened the truck door and got the keys. When you have the keys, it's all over.

Maybe calling the police first wasn't the right thing to do.

Regardless, drunk driving is the height of rude, selfish, boorish behavior.

Are you fucking serious? He DID have 10 minutes before they left? Fuck you! It's not his responsibility to climb in a drunk's car and steal their keys. People get shot for much less. He's not their fucking babysitter.

Calling the police first wasn't the right thing? Better to call them after someone's laying out in the street, maybe? There's another Fuck You!

trompuss wrote:Are you fucking serious? He DID have 10 minutes before they left? Fuck you! It's not his responsibility to climb in a drunk's car and steal their keys. People get shot for much less. He's not their fucking babysitter.

Calling the police first wasn't the right thing? Better to call them after someone's laying out in the street, maybe? There's another Fuck You!

Calm down. I didn't suggest that he climb into a truck and steal the guys keys. I said he should have afforded them a chance to think it over, and he should have attempted to get the keys. I said specifically not to confront the person.

He said he liked the passenger guy, which implies he knows him. Just walk over and talk it over. If you can't get the keys, call the police.

What the fuck is so hard about that? I've done it maybe 50 times in my life.