This is a very serious topic for me that is near & dear to my heart...as an ordinary "Joe" who values his few beers after a hard day's work ethic...I can't help but feel a bit persacuted as I'm 44 years of age and have been stopping for a few after work my whole life with no accidents or problems of any kind, even in bad weather.

I feel that it is the few who can't regulate their drinking that has ruined it for the rest of us.

I pull in and have a beer....than eat while consuming a beer...and most of the time that's it...sometimes....SOMETIMES...I'll have one more that I stretch out for an hour or more. And if I want to stay longer...I switch over to soda and eat something more. The bartenders @ the places I go often ridicule me as I give the cut-me-off signal (universal slashing of owns throat) after only 2 or 3 over a 2+ hour period & eating.

I've dodged countless deer running amok in my VX on the way home and knock on wood have yet to hit one. But, in the back of my mind...as happened to somebody I know...I might not be so lucky...hit one...call a tow truck...only for him to call the cops because he thinks you're over the limit.

In the mean time....I'll observe bikers pull in...drink 'til their three sheets to the wind...stumble out the door...rumble away on their bikes in a big pack...and never seem to ever get noticed by the law. Heck...a few times they WERE the law. Just one of the reasons I bought a bike!

There are no taxi's out where I reside or believe me...I'd be using them just so I could leave my VX @ home and have absolutely no worries about getting stopped. Also, it just doesn't seem right to try to find a designated driver just for happy hour on your way home after work.

I do feel that one can minimize your chances of getting stopped by following the behaviors on the list below:

1) Don't stay out late...(i.e after midnight)...especially until closing time...this is when the DUI checkpoints are in place and sometimes they are watching a bar from across the street.

2) Don't drink too much then drive on a holiday (St. Patricks Day, Labor Day, etc..) This should be when you line up a cab or designated driver!

3) Don't take the main roads home...if you live out in the country...use the back roads and go directly too #4.

4) Always do the speed limit....don't go faster as this draws attention...don't go slower as this REALLY draws attention...focus on doing the speed limit...cruise control can be your friend!

5) Always inspect your vehicular lighting before having any beer, and be on the look out for any burned out bulbs...This WILL get you pulled over even if you swerved to miss that poor bunny rabbit! I carry spare bulbs for sidemarker/license plate lights as these will ruin your day if noticed!


I'm not condoning drinking too much & killing of innocents....but I am standing up for the average American who just wants to unwind from a stress-filled day at the office....pay his morgage...pay his taxes...raise his family...and out to be a villainous outlaw of society.

I hope I haven't offended anyone here with my way of thinking as that was not my intent....but this is my viewpoint and I'm sticking too it!

Have a nice day!