My brother got caught drunk driving last night. He rear ended a cabbie. Had twice the legal limit (which is 0.08 here. Was driving our parent's car.
And he works half the year in the US.

So he's jeopordized the income of one man, dragged my parents into his mess as they're now liable as well and since DUI is a summary convinction he can't dispute it's at least a $1000 fine, a year without his licence and he quite probably won't be able to cross the border now. And to top it off my sister was saying, "Well, he wasn't drunk, that's maybe four beers. I've had that much and driven" I feel like slapping her.

I am ready to rip his head off. I don't like driving too late at night precisely because of drunk drivers. He's no drunk, but he's casual and thoughtless about how his drinking and driving could affect others, which I think is worse. And we have a Christmas get together next weekend.

I've no doubt he's feeling bad and realizing just what he's done so I have got to keep my mouth shut around him but it's going to be so hard. And I think that's what I'm really •••••• off at. We were going to have an early Christmas with the whole family and have some real fun. And now there's going to be this huge source of tension messing the whole thing up.

I hope I'm big enough to support him through this without condoning or trying to excuse what he's done...and giving him a beating.

By Vicki on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 12:45 pm:

Oh, this is one of those things I have zero tolerance for. Driving while you have been drinking is one of the most selfish, self centered things you can do. I know I couldn't be either supportive or non-condoning. You made your bed, now go lie in it would be my thoughts.

By Heaventree on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 12:52 pm:

They are trying to lower the limit in Ontario to 0.05. I hope they do.

I have zero tolerance, if you drink at all don't drive.

In Montreal they have had the Red Nose program for years and years. The President of a company I worked for was one of the founders. They are starting this year in Toronto (not the safest city), not sure if I would want to be a volunteer here.

It's a wonderful program I wish more cities would adopt it. It is a donation only program, if you are out and have been drinking you call Red Nose, they come with another car and two drivers. They drive you home in their car and the other person drives your car home.

Love it!

By Tink on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 12:55 pm:

I don't blame you for being so upset! It is such a stupid, selfish decision. DH and I trade off when each of us can drink at get-togethers and the designated driver doesn't drink at all that night. I think it's just too hard to determine when you've been drinking, if you've had too much. What an awful thing to have over your heads at your family Christmas. I hope you are able to have enough self-control not to beat him...even though I think he probably deserves it!

By Ilovetom on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 01:09 pm:

Yeah, and this tolerance has even gotten less for me since I have 3 children driving. Their lives could be ended for someone else's drunk driving.

I would let him sink or swim on this one.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 05:44 pm:

4 beers and he thought he could drive? And his wife thought so, too? They are both a piece of work!

DH needs his car for work. He is very careful!

By Unschoolmom on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 08:10 pm:

Not his wife, our sister. They're both single, young and invunerable. And stupid of course.

I'm not going to let him sink in terms of shunning him. I'll still be his sister and friend but there's no way I'll be condoning or minimizing what he did to make him feel better.

But if I could just smack him once. Just once.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, December 3, 2005 - 09:51 pm:

Oh, your sister! I read that wrong. Still doesn't excuse what he did. My DH had 4 beers one night. He had just lost a job. He was pretty pickled. I drove home.