chazbird

Thankfully we have the internet to save us on this one. The ads that pop up related to this thread advertise a certain Mr. Goodman, Attorney at Law. He'll no doubt have all the answers. Otherwise, my previous posts on this were questioning arrest = conviction. I found that an interesting, somewhat incipient linkage. In no way would suggest that my line was a way to have an out for drinking and driving (nor did any one hint at that). I feel severe penalties should be used to discourage DWI. Depending on circumstance; fines, loss of license, community service, restitution, prison. An actual record of a single DWI, should be of significant concern to a prospective employer. Multiple DWI's should settle the question. Being denied employment or going to prison for a serious DWI may not, and probably won't, solve the problem. That's through a program.

citation35hf

I'm sorry I have so offended you.

That is your opinion, there are lifers here, along with other regionals. My statement was to emphasize the fact that a part 121 career is in fact obtainable with the OPs background.


Yes, I was a full-time Indianapolis Police officer for 20 years. I am currently a practicing attorney in the state of Indiana. Any spare time I have, I still volunteer as a part-time police officer.

This is complete false information. In what state are you a police officer? I'm very interested now in reading up on criminal procedure and criminal law in this state, because clearly it does not coincide with any sort of common law.


I don't believe your person opinion on DUI is helping the OP, I am not giving mine, I am trying to give factual information to help the OP move forward.


Well is does matter, we are discussing a DUI. These are all possible things that could lead to the OP's most recent arrest be dismissed or reduced.

You've made that quite clear, sir. I'm sure you have made the OP, who came on here for help, feel very good about himself.

UnderOveur

Wasatch Phantom

John,

I've edited your post to get to the relevant portion for my question. Your feelings on DUI are very obvious. However everything I have read (or seen) shows that people who text while driving are just as impaired as people who drive under the influence.

I find it a HUGE double standard that texting and driving is legal in many states, and is a minor offense in most others. Yet law enforcement aggressively pursues DUI convictions while turning a blind eye to those who text while driving.

If in fact their genuine concern is to try and make the roads safer (as opposed to generating revenue) why is that?

USMCFLYR

It has taken MANY years for drunken driving to take on the stigma that is currently attached to it.
It many be MANY years to come - but I'm sure that other forms of distracted driving will have a similar viewpoint in the future.
One big difference though is that distracted driving is momentary.
You are distracted while engaged in some other activity - the rest of the time you are supposedly functional.
Drunk driving is not momentary. You are drunk and impaired from the moment you sit behind the wheel until the end of your trip - wherever that end may be.

Lab Rat

I agree with USMCFLYR's comments. There is a distinct and remarkable difference between being distracted and being physically impaired.

Physically impaired (i.e., drunk, on drugs, etc.) affects your cognitive abilities as well as your judgement - not a good thing when operating a moving vehicle.

Texting, for example, is just a stupid thing to do while behind the wheel -a bad decision - but it does not impair you physically. One could also be distracted by talking on the phone, changing a radio station, reading a billboard, etc. I'm not condoning texting and driving, but I am saying that distracted driving versus driving while intoxicated are not apples - to - apples comparisons.

Just for the record, I do support laws against texting and driving as well as stiff penalties for those who do not obey those laws.

SittingOnHands

The problem you are going to run into is the medical. Refusing a breathalyzer is treated as if you blew above a .2 BAC. The medical examiner will defer your application to Oklahoma along with the explanation of BOTH arrests. They will suspect you have alcohol abuse problems and request more paperwork. This is a very expensive and long process. Remain sober and attend AA meetings so when the time comes to get a new medical hopefully you have 2 years of proven sobriety behind you. 135 is your best bet for a while. I know a few people that have DUI's in their past and enjoy their flying career in the 135/91 world.

rickair7777

Many employers cannot ask about arrests, but that varies by state law. I think the trend is going towards asking only about convictions.

The FAA is interested in arrests primarily because it's so easy and common for a DUI to get dropped on a technicality or negotiated down to something else. I suspect that very few first-DUI offenders who can afford a lawyer actually get stuck with a DUI on their record. The FAA wants to know whether there may be an addiction problem so they are looking for trends.

UnderOveur

Drunk drivers take the lives of people like these...

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/me...rial-fund.html

There can be no leniency or tolerance for it. Ever.

Driving drunk is an act of profound selfishness and thoughtlessness...nevermind how impaired the mind. It is a good thing that a DUI will haunt someone for the rest of their lives, especially multiple offenses.

Personally, I have no pity whatsoever for anyone who has been reckless, thoughtless, and selfish enough to drive drunk. I am very glad that society is becoming more and more intolerant of such people. Call it a disease, an addiction, a mental issue...whatever. Drunks kill people and ruin lives and families. There can be no remorse for drunk drivers.

I sure as heck hope that employers and the FAA will do their best to keep such people from sharing the airspace with the rest of us. I don't care if it was someone's life-long dream to be a pilot. They forfeited that dream with their careless, thoughtless, and purely selfish irresponsibility. I repeat...Drunks kill people and ruin lives and families. There can be no remorse for drunk drivers.

JohnBurke

Texting and driving is illegal and prosecuted as aggressively as driving chemically impaired, in my home state.