So I have a friend who will NOT stop driving drunk. I've tried talking to her about how stupid it is, how she could end up being arrested, and how her father WILL take away her car (she pays for it, he's on title) if she's caught...

Tonight she called me slurring so badly I could not understand her. Fifteen minutes later she calls me because she crashed her car into the garage at her apartment.

If you know someone is driving drunk 1-2 times a week, would you keep talking to them when they won't listen, or would you actually call in a DUI when you know they are on the road drunk... simply in hope it will scare them straight before someone gets hurt?

 

Since you tried to talk her out of it and she refused to listen, I'd say report it next time she's on the road. Don't tell her you did, so she won't get mad at you. Her life will suck for a little bit after that, but she might learn her lesson.

 

That's what I'm leaning toward...

(Warning: the following is politically incorrect)

The part making it hard is that I've seen her drive drunk, and she's actually a *good* drunk driver. I've never seen her hit lane lines, ect... after six years of doing it, tonight was her first incident. It makes me queston if she's really more likely to have a real accident before she either grows up or gets a DUI I don't report.

Knowing I'm 100% certain to make her life very difficult is tough, since there's probably a 5% chance she'd have anything worse happen if I don't do anything.

 

I completely understand what you're saying, and I've been there myself before. I got sick of bailing a friend out all the time by picking her up, and driving her back to her car the next day. The only other alternative was for me to report her to the police because she just wouldn't listen.

I did eventually tell her I told the police and boy was she pissed, but she also said she hasn't done it since. It kinda messed up our friendship [we're not really close anymore], but I'm glad I did it. She seems to have learned her lesson, and although it isn't my responsibility to look after her, I did it for everyone else as much as her. I don't want her irresponsible choices to be the reason someone else has to get hurt or worse.

 

Angelus, thanks for the reply...

Here is something I just thought about:

What about telling her if she doesn't quit, I'm going to tell her father exactly how the paint was scraped off the passenger door & fender? He knows me, and he would believe it. It would certainly make her life hell if he found out...

 

this is a tough one but if you really do care for her, you will do whats best for her. she thinks that its okay to drink and drive but her life will be hell once she gets caught doing it. I was there in one point in my life and man it took getting pulled over for me to stop. its also has alot to do with the people she hangs around with. her environment can influence her to do bad things. I left a lot of my friends behind and I rarely see them now but its well worth it for me to be safe. ultimately its up to her to change and learn.

 

think about it this way.

Some random night, she's driving drunk, runs a red light, and kills your mom. Would you have wished you had reported her sooner?

There is zero excuse (or tolerance) for driving drunk. Especially that frequently. This is severe alcohol abuse, pointing to alcoholism. Turn her in to the police. Tell her or don't, you decide. Let the legal system scare her straight, if it can be done. Through their actions, people who are that irresponsible simply are proving to you that they don't give two shits about anyone else (this means you)--or else they would not run the risk of hurting or killing someone by driving drunk.

YMMV, blah blah blah...

 

Yes, report her. Someone, even her could be killed.

 

this isn't that exgirlfriend is it?

 

Not at all. Just a friend who recently turned 21 and is worrying me to death at the bars nightly.