CA Vice Mayor Arrested for Drunk Driving
There is no shortage of police officers and politicians involved in scandals these days. It seems that more than a few of our public services are having a hard time avoiding vices like alcohol abuse, drug abuse, drug addiction and more.
The latest news is this: the vice mayor of San Carlos, Andy Klein, was recently arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol. This happened just two days after the town’s mayor, Omar Ahmad, died suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving the vice mayor in charge of operations in San Carlos.
Interestingly, the arrest didn’t occur because Klein was driving recklessly, got into an accident, or even doing anything wrong. On the contrary, he had responsibly pulled over to the side of the interstate to answer a call on his cell phone when a police officer saw him and stopped. To be fair, it was an interstate off-ramp where Klein had decided to pull over onto the shoulder – a dubious practice, since in most places, signs are posted that stopping for any reason on an off-ramp is illegal. The officer felt that Klein had been drinking when he talked to him and the arrest occurred soon after field sobriety, breathalyzer, and blood tests had been administered.
Drinking and Driving: When Does Drinking Turn Into Alcohol Abuse?
If you often have a drink with dinner, you may not realize how much or how little that drink affects your ability to operate a car and drive effectively. Though drunk driving is more obvious and easier for officers to spot, “buzzed” driving is just as dangerous. Those who have a couple drinks at dinner and then drive to bar, have another drink, drive to the next bar, drink again, and drive home may not realize just how impaired they are – especially if they often get away with this behavior, not realizing that they are risking their own lives and the lives of others on the road. Alcohol abuse can be just as deadly as alcohol addiction.
When Alcohol Abuse Becomes Alcohol Addiction
The stereotypical alcoholic who has lost his home and his job and drinks the cheapest rotgut available day in and day out is not the only type of person who can be classified as an alcoholic. In fact, one of the most common types of alcoholics are binge alcoholics, those who go for days without a drink and then drink five or more alcoholic beverages in the course of an evening on a regular basis. These are the ones most likely to drive drunk, to die in a car accident, or to make other poor choices that cause them and others a lifetime of pain and suffering. Legal problems and public embarrassment are minimal risks in comparison to paralysis, liver failure, manslaughter, and inadvertent death. Call now to find out more about alcohol addiction treatment programs and how they can help you.
