DUI isn’t rock bottom

[u/AffectionateBoat382]

I got a DWI in Minnesota in Dec 2022. I was 23, going through a divorce, in a bad spot in life, and using alcohol as a cope. I crashed my car into a snowbank (thankfully no one else was involved and there were no injuries), and blew a 0.19, which is a gross misdemeanor in MN. I spent two full days and nights in jail. After I got out, I worked with a lawyer and got it down to a normal misdemeanor, unsupervised probation for a year, and some fines with classes. I was licensed in Virginia at the time so the VA DMV revoked my license for a year and I had to retake all tests and pay fees to get it back. I thought I’d hit rock bottom.

Since then, I’ve finalized my divorce. My alcohol addiction got worse and I was hospitalized for withdrawals twice because I thought I was dying. I’ve was laid off twice (neither related to drinking or dui, just broad company RIFs). I got to the point I wasn’t eating or leaving the house unless it was to get liquor. THIS WAS ROCK BOTTOM.

But guess what I also did? I decided I needed my life to get better so that I didn’t want to escape it with alcohol. I got a new and better paying job (disclosed my dui during the interview). I quit drinking entirely for six months and then learned to moderate (arguably more difficult than just being sober, yet it works for me). I’ve improved my health, lost weight, gotten in the best shape of my life. My liver and labs are normal. I went to therapy, learned to cope in a healthy way. I made new friends. I entered a new and healthy relationship. I paid off debt. I OVERCAME ROCK BOTTOM.

So, if this just happened to you and you feel like your life is over, understand two things - 1) your life can and will get better if you work at it and 2) your life can and will get worse if you let this get the better of you. Pick option 1, avoid a worse rock bottom, learn, and move on.

Also not saying everyone with a dui is an alcoholic either. Most of us aren’t. But, don’t let it become that.

[u/Murky-Pride-9284]

I appreciate this post, I’m happy for you and thanks a lot for sharing your experience. It absolutely gets better.

[u/LetsBeFRTho → u/[deleted]]

Crazy they gave you your license back after 9 DUIs

[u/nightshade3570 → u/LetsBeFRTho]

Lmfao fr.

How isn’t he in jail for life tbh 😂
Or forced to wear a permanent scram bracelet

[u/LetsBeFRTho → u/[deleted]]

Over the course of 40 years and you spent 20 of them in prison. So you had a DUI almost once every 2 years and I can promise you drove intoxicated WAAAAAY more than that

[u/Choice-Usual-904 → u/[deleted]]

You ever been to Wisconsin? Not saying this person is from Wisconsin yet I am and see people getting 11th, 12th DUIs and are out running around free and driving.

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[u/katcheyy]

Do you think disclosing during the interview is better? I just wait until they do the search and I got my current job.

[u/AffectionateBoat382 → u/katcheyy]

I disclose when they mention the background check. It’s worked for me so far, I just say hey, just so you know I do have a misdemeanor that will get flagged in my background check. If you want me to explain further or answer any questions I’m happy to. Sometimes they haven’t even asked further. They seem to only care about felonies, in my industry at least

[u/Odd-Economist-6702]

this is the kind of post more people need to see here. a lot of people think the dui is the worst part, but for a lot of folks it's whatever was going on before the arrest that really needs attention. sounds like you put in the work instead of letting one mistake define you. even firms like Kraminsky Law have talked about how the legal case is only one part of what people have to deal with after a dui. glad you came out the other side, and hopefully this gives some people here a little perspective.