DUI/DWI and the Concert Tour

centralmaPH · Post by **centralmaPH** » March 24, 2005 1:01 pm

Well... it took me a long time before I could write this piece, but here it goes... I was at GW for the Thursday Show in 2003. My buddy (JB virgin!) and I went golfing all day long... drinking about 8 Corona's each. We took separate cars to the show as he goes off in one direction, me to another. In any case, we wandered all around the GW parking lot with our red wagon full of beer, shrimp and munchies.

What a great day... having been to JB concerts for years at GW, it's always a thrill to spend quality time enjoying the people, food and festive experience of GW... and, it's always great to see it through a "virgin's" eyes. I usually go to both shows, Thursday being "Bring a virgin to GW night"AND Saturday being the "All my friends from every year night". Well, we really soaked it all in... and I was drunk. My friend and I had singles in Section 1 and 3 respectively. We lost each other during the rush to get in...

What a great show ( from what I can remember!). I left right after the 1st encore, still blitzed out of my mind. It is very true that alcohol makes you make some bad, bad decisions. I drove home got pulled over by the staties,flunked my field sobriety, blew a .15 on the breathalyzer, and was charged with DUI, 1st offense. The next day, I plead no contest, received a 45 day loss of license, fines and fees totalling over $2000, plus the humiliation of my name being posted in the newspaper (I am a teacher!)... all in all, not a great day. Oh, did I mention that my wife was not totally happy either...

So, what's the point? Well, I went back to GW on Saturday, attended another great show, totally sober, and since than have not had another drink. And, I want to say, that the show was tremendous without the alcohol. It was very interesting to see the crowd from the sober point of view.

Please... please ... please... if you are drinking and driving during this new JB concert season, remember the consequences of your actions... I was lucky, this was a wake-up callthat I answered. And, yes, you can still enjoy the shows without the booze. BTW, I'll be in San Jose for the show in April with my wife and 4 'keets (their 1st show!)

Remember, be careful out there and use good judgement!

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » March 24, 2005 1:05 pm

thanks for the reminder. one note you got off easy.

under AZ law .15 is extreme DUI you would have lost your license for 1 year, after that you would have to have installed on your car a breathalizer interlock for 1 year and you would have spent 10 days in jail

photogal · Post by **photogal** » March 24, 2005 2:36 pm

Wow that s**ks eh? My husband doesnt drink and we have a mini-van that we stuff as many people and other stuff into so he can drive us all. Its a good thing we have him.

PS where in cental ma are you from, a bunch of us live in worcester!!

SweetMelissa · Post by **SweetMelissa** » March 24, 2005 2:56 pm

Hey who lives in Worcester??... I go to Worcester State!

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » March 24, 2005 3:00 pm

SweetMelissa wrote:Hey who lives in Worcester??... I go to Worcester State!

I like to marinate my steaks in Worcester sauce!!!

SweetMelissa · Post by **SweetMelissa** » March 24, 2005 3:05 pm

well that counts for something!!!

centralmaPH · Post by **centralmaPH** » March 24, 2005 3:32 pm

photogal wrote:Wow that s**ks eh? My husband doesnt drink and we have a mini-van that we stuff as many people and other stuff into so he can drive us all. Its a good thing we have him.
PS where in cental ma are you from, a bunch of us live in worcester!!

I live in North central MA... up by Leominster...

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » March 24, 2005 5:22 pm

nycparrothead wrote:
SweetMelissa wrote:Hey who lives in Worcester??... I go to Worcester State!
I like to marinate my steaks in Worcester sauce!!!

mmmm worcester...

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » March 24, 2005 5:26 pm

I had a few too many Worcester's on my last steak.... blew a .08

that's pushing it in CA... liberal fascists

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » March 24, 2005 5:28 pm

I've been lucky, my wife or another concertgoer has been pregnant (the last few times. Built-in designated driver!

But still a good reminder.

You can't enjoy JB if you're dead!

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » March 24, 2005 7:28 pm

I like a margarita as much as the next Parrothead, but I'm here to tell ya that you CAN have a LOT of fun sober at a Buffett show!

cartmill72 · Post by **cartmill72** » March 24, 2005 7:34 pm

blackjack wrote:You can't enjoy JB if you're dead!

And those of us of who attend sober can't enjoy JB if we're killed by those driving DUI/DWI.

Great story. Thanks for sharing and I hope others listen.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » March 24, 2005 7:35 pm

CMPH, sorry about your experience, but thanks for the reminder. It takes real guts to come here and 'fess up, so the rest of us can take a lesson.

Looking forward to sharing a diet coke with you in the GW parking lot!!!!

SchoonerWharf · Post by **SchoonerWharf** » March 24, 2005 8:53 pm

Please... please ... please... if you are drinking and driving during this new JB concert season, remember the consequences of your actions... I was lucky, this was a wake-up callthat I answered

As I do the lord's work (criminal defense) I could not concur more. I love to party at Jimmy's shows. I have done some amazingly stupid things in my life. But I cannot imagine anything stupider then getting a SECOND DWI. If the first one doesn't wake you up, then you truly are dumb.

Glad to see you got the message.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » March 24, 2005 9:01 pm

Kudos to CentralmaPH for having the courage to share an important message.

There are many, many ways (beyond being over the limit) to have fun under the influence of Buffett.

centralmaPH · Post by **centralmaPH** » March 24, 2005 9:16 pm

thanks for all the feedback... it's really important that EVERYONE realizes that , as JB says, "THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU"... please turn your keys over to a non-drinking friend... or, perhaps, fall asleep in the parking lot... whatever the case... please make good choices...

Looking forward to the San JOse and GW shows... see you all there!

MA_Buffett_Fan23 · Post by **MA_Buffett_Fan23** » March 24, 2005 9:31 pm

centralmaPH wrote:
photogal wrote:Wow that s**ks eh? My husband doesnt drink and we have a mini-van that we stuff as many people and other stuff into so he can drive us all. Its a good thing we have him.
PS where in cental ma are you from, a bunch of us live in worcester!!
I live in North central MA... up by Leominster...

I drive through Leominster every day! I'm from Orange

centralmaPH · Post by **centralmaPH** » March 24, 2005 9:37 pm

How cool.... let's wave at each othre next time we pass... I drive a red van with a shark antenna topper!

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » March 24, 2005 11:29 pm

centralmaPH, thank you for the great reminder, and for your courage. If only one person changes their behavior as a result of your story you have done your job.

I will hopefully be at the San Jose show. I am know that the BN crew will protect me as much as possible, but I am *REALLY* afraid of the other drunk idjits who may fail to notice the dayglo pink cast on my leg, or the wheelchair/crutches and cause me even greater injury. Having seen some of the most amazingly STUPID behavior in Tampa I have good reason to be afraid. There is just no excuse for some of the stuff I have seen at shows.

It is my fear of the stupid people that makes my attendance at the San Jose show iffy.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » March 24, 2005 11:32 pm

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:centralmaPH, thank you for the great reminder, and for your courage. If only one person changes their behavior as a result of your story you have done your job.

I will hopefully be at the San Jose show. I am know that the BN crew will protect me as much as possible, but I am *REALLY* afraid of the other drunk idjits who may fail to notice the dayglo pink cast on my leg, or the wheelchair/crutches and cause me even greater injury. Having seen some of the most amazingly STUPID behavior in Tampa I have good reason to be afraid. There is just no excuse for some of the stuff I have seen at shows.

It is my fear of the stupid people that makes my attendance at the San Jose show iffy.

What have you done, BEG??