Here is my dilemma , There's a younger guy (25) at my work that unfortunately made some extremely stupid mistakes involving alcohol and cars during his youth and is paying for it with a 10 year suspended license with no time served. No Deaths or wrecks occurred, Just sloppy rural hwy driving, 3 strikes and the judge let him have it. I'll bet that was a shocker to him then as a 19 yr old.
Good on the Judge for sure and I have told the guy that. I have had family members hurt by drunk driving so I offer no sympathy for the ruling on keeping him out of a car for that long if he saw it fit.
So ........Skip ahead 5 years. He sobered up, became a dedicated member of AA went to trade school for 3 years at night while working with us for 4 years and 6 days a week . He has been sober for 5 years and never once fought his suspension. One day I was talking to his Dad when he came to town to visit him. (He stopped by after work to pick him up). He asked how he was doing there and I Told him he is a asset to the company. He smiled and said Yeah it was like he grew up the night after the conviction.
I personally found out he didn't have a License a just a few years ago. He Moved into a Apt near work and walks to work every day and took the bus to the city for night classes all this time.
I Asked him why he never asked for a hardship license once he got his head out of his arse and he just stated "I never Needed one I live so close to work and the grocery store"
Well , All That's about to change. He has to move out of his Apt near work because a developer bought it for commercial use. The next closest thing he can get is 3 miles away. He knows he is going to be in a bind and doesn't have family in town that can help him out. He does ride the Bus, but sometimes the Bus just cant cut it.
Then the other day we were sitting outside at lunch, on the one nice day we had last week...
and a guy went zinging by on a scooter. I knew he used to ride dirt bikes when he was a kid. I told him he needs to re-think getting a hardship license and get a scooter, he isn't going to be 2 blocks away anymore from work and 5 of his years is up. He thought about it for a while and then came back to me and said he really liked the idea of gaining some mobile independence back and was interested in just getting a little scooter if the judge would let him.
He wants to contact the judge but he doesn't know how to go about it.
I Suggested just writing the Judge a hand written letter and letting him know What changes he has made in his life and he is interested in getting a hardship license just for use of a scooter to and from work and limited use on the weekends. I told him not beg, just state his case. I told him if the Judge comes back and says "No Way" he should just Abide and finish out his punishment.
But......
I'm no Expert but heres a Young Man that ....acted selfishly no doubt..... and put a lot of life's in danger, But heres also a Young Man that turned all that around and became a asset to our company and I Assume to the public. Since he has been at work I think he has been one hell of a role model to all of the younger guys in our shop. I think asking for use of a scooter isn't too much to ask is it? My Cousin *the deadbeat* has had so many dui's and wreck's its pathetic. And he has been at it for 40 years and still has the right to drive a car!
I certainly don't fault the Judge for throwing the book at him I'm just thinking he's been sober for 5 years never any issues with the law since and he might just impress the judge enough to warrant it.
What do you guys think. Would he would be asking too much by inquiring of the use of a scooter for limited use?
Any Suggestions as to what he should discuss in correspondence with the Judge? I don't think he should beg for sure but this young man has turned his life around and I think the judge needs to know that.
Anyone Think he should say the heck with it and not bother the Judge?
Thanks ahead of time..
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