As many people who have been accused of drunk driving know, you don't have to be an alcoholic to make a bad judgment call. But if you're convicted, that poor choice can stay with you for years afterward. In addition to possible jail time and fines, the offense will stay on your driving record and affect your insurance rates and your criminal record, not to mention your personal reputation.
There are ways to keep the offense off your record, however. In a recent case, a Portland man admitted to driving drunk one night in January. Several witnesses told authorities he was driving his car erratically on eastbound U.S. Highway 26 near Hillsboro and had several near-misses with oncoming vehicles, including an Oregon State Police cruiser. The state trooper eventually pulled over the man, who admitted to driving drunk.
The man pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of intoxicants. But he has a good chance of shedding that charge under Oregon's DUII Diversion Program, which he entered at his sentencing last month. He must meet all the conditions of the program, which include attending a Victims Impact Panel, completing alcohol abuse treatment and paying diversion program fees. He also must not operate a motor vehicle without a valid license. If he meets all of the conditions for one year, the DUII conviction will be removed from his record.
Not all DUII convicts are eligible for the diversion program. Usually candidates are first-time offenders or those who haven't had a drunk-driving conviction or diversion in the past 10 years. And drivers involved in accidents that seriously injured or killed someone generally don't qualify. But if you are eligible, a diversion program can mean a fresh start and a way to demonstrate that you're committed to correcting the mistake of driving drunk and not repeating it in the future.
Source: Oregon Live, "Driver who nearly hit state trooper near Hillsboro admits to drunken driving," Roger Gregory, March 13, 2012
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