ATP RATED PLT RECEIVES ANOTHER DUI (DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE) CONVICTION WITHIN 3 YRS AND IS CONCERNED THAT HIS PLTS CERTIFICATE WILL BE SUSPENDED AGAIN AS IT WAS BEFORE.

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ON APR/XA/98; AT APPROX XA18; I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER A LONG DAY OF HEALTH INSURANCE SALES TRAINING. (I SELL HEALTH INSURANCE TO SUPPLEMENT MY INCOME AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACT PLT FOR SEVERAL COMPANIES.) I WAS SUFFERING FROM A BAD; PAINFUL ABSCESSED TOOTH. (DENTAL RECORDS AVAILABLE FOR VERIFICATION.) WHEN I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION FOR GAS; I SAW AND SPOKE WITH 2 GENTLEMEN THAT I HAVE KNOWN ON A CASUAL BASIS. DURING THE CONVERSATION IT BECAME APPARENT TO BOTH MEN THAT MY ABSCESSED TOOTH WAS CAUSING ME SUBSTANTIAL PAIN. ONE MAN TOOK OUT A 1 OUNCE BOTTLE OF VODKA FROM HIS TRUNK AND TOLD ME TO SOAK A PIECE OF NAPKIN AND PLACE IT ON MY TOOTH TO RELIEVE THE PAIN. I DID THIS; FINISHED PAYING FOR MY GAS; AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE REMAINING 3 MI TO HOME. ABOUT 2 MI DOWN THE ROAD I WAS PULLED OVER BY 2 YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS; OF A SMALL COMMUNITY; AND ARRESTED FOR DUI. AT THE SUBSEQUENT TRIAL; DESPITE THE TESTIMONY OF THE 2 MEN THAT TESTIFIED UNDER OATH THAT I WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND INDEED QUITE SOBER; I WAS FOUND GUILTY OF DUI. THE LAST DUI I RECEIVED 3 YRS AGO RESULTED IN THE SUSPENSION OF MY AIRMAN'S CERTIFICATE. AT THAT TIME THE FAA SAID THAT IF I HAD FILED AN ASRS RPT FORM WITH NASA I WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE SUSPENSION. LOOKING BACK AT THE SIT; I SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL I GOT HOME TO TRY AND RELIEVE THE PAIN WITH MY TOOTH. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE FAA WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE ACTION OF MY DUI CONVICTION; HOWEVER; DEPENDING IF THEY (FAA) GO BY ARREST DATE INSTEAD OF CONVICTION DATE THE LAST DUI WAS WITHIN 3 YRS. IT REALLY AMAZES ME HOW EASY IT IS TO BE ACCUSED OF; AND THEN FOUND GUILTY; OF DUI EVEN WHEN THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU WERE NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE. IT SEEMS LCL POLICE DEPTS HAVE TURNED DUI INTO A REAL REVENUE GENERATOR. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOW MANY OTHER PLTS HAVE FALLEN PREY TO THE DUI TRAPS.