Drunk Drivers

What a sad and unfortunate situation. She definitely needs help, and I could never condone her actions. I also do not believe that you "should try and get everything out of her". Perhaps this is God's way of reaching her. Maybe your testimony and actions can bring her to Christ, or back to Christ, if she is backslidden. God is merciful towards us even though we are sinners.

 

I forgot to mention that I will be praying for you.

 

Amen John!! God's grace is awesome. I would pray about what you should do when you go to court.

You need to be honest, but with every wrongful action, there are consequences. That does not mean you should try and get all you can get out of this young lady. Neither should you try and lessen the charges to the point that she will not understand the seriousness of her actions. Perhaps this might be a wake up call for her and just might be a deterrant to recidivism (A tendency to lapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially a pattern of criminal habits.)

I can personally attest to the "wrist slapping" of our court system, and especially some attorneys who will "plea bargain" their clients right back into the "recidivism" of drinking and driving. I truly believe my husband just might be alive today had his attorney not "plea bargained" him out of a drunk driving charge and got him off on less severe charges. Had he gone to jail for what he did, he may have had time to "think" about what he had done. He crashed his car into two parked vehicles in a school crossing zone--going at a speed of 60 in a 25mph zone. Thank the Lord it was very late at night and there were no children around. He was injured slightly (broken collar bone and shoulder), his car was totaled, and one of the parked cars incurred major damage while the other parked car was only slightly damaged. My late husband died of "acute ethanol toxicity" 5 years ago. I sincerely believe he committed suicide.

Didn't mean to go into all this stuff about my late husband, but when I saw your post, it just brought that all up again. What I am trying to say is this: This young lady needs to know that what she did has serious consequences and that won't happen if her attorney "plea bargains". That will not help her. There is a lesson to be learned here. I'm sure she wants to be around to see that little baby grow up. Seriously pray about what you will say in court to help this young lady and also her child.

BTW--my late husband professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. I will be praying for you too--like Filmproducer said, maybe this will bring this young lady to see Christ in you.

[ January 05, 2006, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: Linda64 ]

 

If she is drunk with a baby in the car it shows her committment to responsibility.

I would let the state decide the penalty.

 

The best thing to do would be to go and bring the matter up with the Elders of your church and get their counsel on what you should do, they know you and the local laws and what is the best thing to do.

 

It will be mostly out of your hands. The state will charge her. The lawyers will work it out. You will just be a wittness for the state.

However, I wonder if there is a way you could contact her maybe in jail in person or by letter. Let her know you forgive her and tell her about what Christ has done in your life. The Lord could by useing you and this situation to get thru to her.

I will pray for you and her and her baby. I pray your neck and back will be just sore muscles and heal and her and her baby for the obvious reasons.

 

I believe she should be help responsible for her actions. Not only did she endanger her life, but your's and the life of her baby. That doesn't show any responsibility. Ultimately, the state or local laws will decide on her fate and it is unlikely there is anything you could do to change the position of the state. Was it her first, second, third offense? That will also play a part in her outcome.

As a Christian, we know the grace of God, praise His Name for that, but we also know that He holds us accountable for our actions. Forgiving her would be a great Christlike thing to do and I would strongly encourage you to let her know that she is forgiven. That will go a long way in showing her Christ. . . whether she is lost or saved.

 

drunk driving is a national problem. We see public figures like NFL player steve mcnair get caught and get away with it using the legal system.Prosecute drunk drivers to the fullest.

 

The fact that she had dope, alcohol, and her baby all in one car, and the fact that she appeared remorseful ONLY after she was caught, reveals that she is an irresponsible person.

While a cop, I saw all to many crooks skate from court, and the majority of my arrests were upon repeat offenders.

I would certainly collect every penny for the repair of my car, at the least. the fact that she had the money to score dope & booze shows she can scarf up the money to fix your car. It may take monthly installments, but why should YOU, or your insurance pay for HER crime?

I believe you'd be OK to be fair, but FIRM. If you're required to testify, simply do the Christian thing & tell the truth. If you're asked, I believe you should request restitution for your car at the very least. If you speak to her, please let her know you're a Christian and are willing to lead her to Christ if she's willing, but I wouldn't offer forgiveness unless SHE ASKS.

 

Robycop3,

I don't think he should wait until she asks. Matthew 6:14-15 says, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

I just did a quick check of this, so I can't be certain I'm not taking the verses out of context, but Jesus had just given the model prayer to the disciples and didn't mention waiting until someone asks us for forgiveness. It's a lot easier to choose to forgive than it is to carry the weight of unforgiveness.

 

AF Guy, I certainly will be praying for you. I will also be praying for the drunkard (the correct term as the Bible says) and the precious baby.

God spared all of your lives and for that I am grateful. I cannot think of the pain and sorrow your family would have felt had they lost you. I know what it's like to have a drunkard take away part of your family. My beautiful aunt was hit head on by a drunk and it killed her instantly. The steering wheel crushed Aunt Glenda's chest. She never had a chance. When paramedics arrived on the scene, the drunk was out of his car staggering around...unhurt. My aunt was dead and her son (my cousin who was seven at the time) was huddled up to her just saying, "Mama...mama...mama." That is his last memory of his precious mama. In the accident, my cousin received a broken jaw and a broken hip. Now, even in his 30s, he has a daily reminder with the slight limp. The man who hit them did not go to jail because of a technicality. He went on to do it again.

As you can see by this one example, you should try everything in your power to make sure this girl does not do it again. At the same time, be a witness. The only thing that will help this girl is Christ.

 

Bro. Ian, this was much more than a 'trespass'...This was an irresponsible, dangerous act by an irresponsible person. No one made that woman get wasted before she drove a car. No one made her try to flee after she struck another car. She evidently doesn't care a lot for her baby or she wouldn'ta got wasted to begin with. Ever seen a drunk properly care for a baby?

just because we're Christians doesn't mean we brush aside every wrong done against us. If I turn the other cheek & get slapped again, then I'm outta cheeks & will resort to the fist if another slap attempt is made.

As a former cop, I've seen all too closely the results of being lenient on crooks. We look at them from a Christian perspective, while THEY look at US from a strictly-secular, me-first, "what a softie" perspective. I once busted a burglar who often hit churches, whose excuse was, "Them churchies won't prosecute if I tell'em I'm sorry. They're suckers for a sob story." While a cop, I got a first-hand view of the underbelly of society, and that burglar's 'tude is typical. There are an unbelievable number of goat ropers out there constantly on the lookout for potential victims. There are vast numbers of space cadets out there willing to do anything for enough money to support their habit. Until these people are made to see their actions have consequences, they have no reason to change their behavior.

Without wishing to insult anyone, many of you have lived a more genteel life than I have, and just don't realize the extent of evil many of your neighbors are capable of, or how many "invisible people" there are in your 'hoods. You see, as a cop I had authority to enter private homes & places where few civilians would go if not a gang member, etc. I've had to go into "homes" where I wouldn't let a dog go in, and there aren't too many lifestyles in the US I haven't seen, from mansions to cardboard boxes, from the well-educated, rich & famous to needle parks with 3 inches of puke shoshing around my boots. therefore I am very dubious, to put it mildly, when someone like the young woman in this discussion start sobbing, etc. Usually, their only regret is GETTING CAUGHT.

 

robycop3,

Amen. I have ridden with my old boss who was a Greensboro, NC police officer. I have seen the very things you speak of. People in situations such as this lady's are only sorry when they realize they have been caught. We must realize there are penalties for crimes done in the flesh.

 

IMO,

If you are to have any grace on the 6 month old child, you will do what you can (as little as that may be) to make sure this mother loses her baby and it is placed in a home with loving parents.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Now that's pickled. She's lucky no one got hurt. If I were you I would not try to prevent prosecution.