The Price Of Apathy
I was still shaking an hour later.... further proof that I'm a Colossal Grade-A Wuss.
But in this situation all I could think of was Spiderman. Yes, you read that right.
Spiderman.
You know; the part where Peter lets a criminal go free, only to discover that same fugitive kills his Uncle Ben (ooops, sorry... I hope I didn't spoil it for you).
So what happened? Well last night as I was leaving home to pick up daughter at work, I noticed two cars stopped up the street, side-by-side facing me. I guess they were having a discussion or getting directions. I wondered how the heck I was going to get past them as they were blocking both lanes. As I walked around the back of our van, the first car filled with young party-goers suddenly left and squealed past me at top speed. I came this close to yelling "slow down!" at them. After all, we're on a residential street with little kids and it was only about 8:30 pm. The second car, also filled with teens or early-20-somethings, pealed past me, following close behind their friends.
And I couldn't believe my eyes. As he passed, the DRIVER of the second car was pulling a long swig from a beer.
Holy crap! I made a mental note of the licence plate. I repeated it over and over and when I got in my car, wrote it down.
Do I follow them? What the heck would I do then?
My mind was in turmoil. All I could think of on my way to the nearby mall was what if something happened, what if someone got hurt, because I DIDN'T do anything?
So when I parked 5 minutes later, waiting for Daughter to come out I did it.
I called 911.
I've never called 911 before.... and asked timidly if this was the right place to report a drinking driver. It was.
After making the report, I began to shake. I felt like a tattletale, scared that somehow this was going to bite me in the butt somehow.
But I know I did the right thing.
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28 People would rather be commenting:
Absolutely you did the right thing!
Good for you! You totally did the right thing.
Good for you! In that type of situation, calling the police is definitely NOT being a tattletale!
You went with your instinct and it was a good decision. How many car crashes do we have to keep hearing about involving drunk drivers? Good on you!
You are a hero!
I'm so glad you made that call. I would have worried all night too.
A drunk driver almost robbed me of my brother and sister a few years back. I have ZERO tolerance for drinking and driving so I absolutely think you did the right thing!
Did you follow up and see if they nailed the dumb ass???
Reforming Geek: Thanks. I hate being put in this situation.
Thanks Drowsey! I wonder what the hell the idiot was thinking??
Heather: Aw, thank you.
Thank you Kathy... I know; I was sick thinking the worst. He must not have seen me coming around the back of my van. But I am glad I did.
Aw, VP, you're too kind. I wish there were no reason to be a hero this way...
Mamma: After I stopped shaking, I was glad too.
JC: Oh no! I am glad they were NOT taken from you. No, I haven't heard anything. Yet. But the police have my name, address and phone number; but I don't know if they'd keep me updated.
GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! I know it's scary, but if no one does anything, the world will go to hell in a hand basket. I applaud you!
You did the right thing, Maureen. There are few things more dangerous than a drunk driver. Imagine the damage they can cause. Infinite amounts of damage and people get killed. Bravo to you!
Yes, you did the right thing. You acted like a grownup.
Good for you! You definitely did the right thing. I know you must have felt funny calling 911 because I would too, especially since it may not seem like an emergency. Who knows, you may have saved someone's life. Hopefully the cops followed up on it and did something about it.
You definitely did do the right thing! I would be more likely to forget the license plate number though, and then curse myself for not being able do the right thing.
Just remember you may have saved someone's life. It takes US to watch out for each other. I applaud you.
You absolutely did the right thing!
There's an accident I won't forget in a hurry, which occurred only a couple of miles away from my house. A drunk driver had taken a roundabout (I think they're called 'circles' in America?) at nearly 100mph, hit the central kerb, spun up into the air and flipped over, and this car had then flown about fifty yards and become lodged halfway into the side of the UPPER story of someone's house - just missing their sleeping child. I didn't see the car wedged (only in the newspaper picture) but I drove past the hole in the side of the building each time I went into town for the next couple of weeks.
The driver and his young son were killed, and he only narrowly missed killing other people inside the house.
I'm sure everyone can think of a horror story. You may have prevented something similar. You can stop shaking now. ;)
Without question that was the right thing to do. Even if those kids never got into an accident, getting caught by the police will most likely stop them from drinking and driving again.
Good job. I hope the guy got busted.
You absolutely did the right thing. Imagine how horrible you'd feel if you later found out that a fatal accident had occurred. You may have saved several lives. Good for you!
*gold star*
Yes. Good job.
In Spiderman's case, stopping the criminal and saving Uncle Ben would have made for a much shorter, much more boring movie, but you made the right call.
Good job! Too many people wouldn't have bothered which often has disastrous consequences.
P.S. I looked at your art page and your paintings are awesome! :)
Aw, thank you Louise!
The Green Stone Woman: It amazes me that someone could be so thoughtless when behind the wheel. Thank you.
Feefifoto: Oh, crap. I AM a grownup, aren't I? I'm just glad those weren't MY kids.
Karen: I hope they caught them too. If anything to scare the crap outta them!
Babs: Luckily it rhymed... I kept repeating it and repeating it so I wouldn't forget before I wrote it down.
Ettarose, thank you so much.
Oh Jay, what a horrible story; but you are right, there are far too many terrible outcomes. I do hope I never witness one.
I hope so Jeff! I wonder if they ever realized what I saw.
Badass Geek: Me too.
Jo-Jo: Exactly, how would I have felt if I heard of an accident? I would have been sick with guilt. Probably more so than that driver. Woot! I gotta Gold Star!!!
LOL Kevin! Yes, you are right about Spiderman... wouldn't have been the same somehow, eh? Ha!
Hi Hannah! Aw, thank you so much; you are too kind.
Good for you. You may have saved a life that night.
Here. Here. You did the right thing and awesome! Tattletale shmattletale...if someone's life is in danger that doesn't make you a tattletale it makes you a life saver!
Thank you Tara!
Lisa: "Tattletale Shmattletale" Har! Love it!
You ROCK! Awesome thing to do!
Aw, thanks Janet! ;)
Oh yeah, I've done that a few times. It's only tattling if the purpose is to get the person "in trouble". It's not tattling if someone's in danger of being hurt. You done good. :-)
Thanks Jill...
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