Anyone can make a poor choice
Humans are fallible. We make mistakes. Sometimes, they are minor. We forget an anniversary or to stop at the grocery store on the way home to purchase an essential ingredient for dinner. Others are longer lasting and more problematic. Many criminal charges begin with a momentary bout of poor judgment.
Sticking something in your pocket at a store, driving away from a gas station without paying, or purchasing some marijuana from a guy who turns out to be an undercover cop. Sometime these are just that, poor decisions made with little thought. Other times they may suggest a more significant problem. But in the eyes of the law, they are all illegal and can lead to your arrest.
Add to that list speeding in front of the courthouse, while allegedly intoxicated. Courthouses are locations where law enforcement personnel congregate and are often found in large numbers. They also are where judges congregate. Or in the case of one unfortunate driver in Chattanooga, it’s where dad works.
The driver is the son of a Criminal Court judge. He was stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) speeding and crossing the centerline. During the stop, they then found two open bottles of the state’s favorite Tennessee whiskey.
The judge noted that his son has had no previous encounters with the law and asks that he not be singled-out for scrutiny simply because of his father’s job. This seems reasonable request, given his son is an adult and of the legal drinking age.
If you ever drink alcohol, you should not be too quick to judge, given the ease with which one can pass from a few drinks to intoxicated. Last year, in Tennessee, there was an average of nearly 81 DUI arrests every day.
And remember, something as minor as crossing the center line with your wheel would allow the THP to pull your vehicle over.
Source: Timesfreepress.com, “Judge’s son charged with DUI after speeding past courthouse,” Claire Wiseman, April 27, 2015