Originally Posted by
CHADsterss
Yes, I did make one of the worst decisions of my life at the time. Why wouldn't it be worth it to follow my dreams/goals? Yes it may be expensive (and it already is) but that doesn't mean it's going to stop me from doing what I want to do. Just because I say I have a few drinks when I go out which is maybe one time a week at the most!! doesn't mean I still drink and drive... Don't be so quick to judge. I made one bad decision and I learned A LOT and made some life changes during that period of my life. I would never drink and drive again in my entire life time.
You're awful defensive.
I wasn't judging.
I was giving you advice.
But let's talk about your attitude then CHAD if you want judgement.
"I made one bad decision"..............so you're going to tell us that this is the first time you've been out drinking and driving?
Having been YOU in a past life - I seriously doubt that is the truth.
Maybe it is..............but let's play the high side of statistics.
This is the first time you've been caught.
Why was the charge dismissed?
Dealing with, and being around a lot of lawyers, I certainly know that a case being dimissed certainly doesn't always mean that you weren't drinking and driving (you've already admitted you were) or that you weren't legally drunk.
Thinking back on this did you get a lucky break? I did once and it certainly changed my perspective.
I'm glad you say that aren't going to drink and drive in your entire lifetime.
I hope you can hold to that. Is is actually OK if you do if you do it smartly. The law doesn't required you to abstain from alcohol. I work with, and fly with, many people who have a beer on the road when we are flying. I myself decided around 25+ years ago that it wasn't worth giving up my chance to fly in the military to have a beer with my pizza, nor is it worth the pain and expense to go through what you are dealing with now to have that same beer - - - so I do abstain from drinking on the road.
As far as who has access to those records that you are so sure are destroyed or sealed away in a vault somewhere - I suggest that you learn a little more about who can, and can't, access those records. It isn't as cut and dry as you seem to think it is - and issues of public safety are given room to maneuver when it comes to gaining access to all sorts of records.
Why do I say that you have a decision to make whether you still want to be a professional pilot? Because you are seeing how finicky the profession can be. You are highly scrutinized and actions that you might take in other field that wouldn't raise an eyebrow make a big splash in the world of professional aviation - and liquor seems to be a leading problem.
On the final attitude check I'll suggest that you refrain from the "that the FAA is trying to screw me over with." You are the one drinking and driving. It wasn't the cops hunting you down, it wasn't the lawyers jonesing to put you away in prison, it wasn't the judge trying to make an example out of you. You got caught doing something illegal that happens to be on everyone's most sensitive radar screen (and often for good reason).
In the future, when you go on interview and you asked about this - the attitude that you have portrayed in the thread thus far will get you shown the door. This is the part that you want o concentrate on:
I learned A LOT and made some life changes during that period of my life. I would never drink and drive again in my entire life time.