Arrested on a 34 hour reset, criminal mischeif.

I don't know if anyone is still looking at this post or not, but I figured since you all were nice enough (or not so nice like some), I could at least give you guys an update/a bit more information.

Today I consulted an attorney. I had calls out Friday but didn't get a call-back/consultation until today - of which I had several.

Goes to find out - which, /sigh - the incident of my arrest is as follows. In my blackout state, I went to the truck stop where my truck was located, went inside, and demanded a scale ticket. When I didn't get a scale ticket, apparently I got upset and knocked some stuff off the attendants desk. Then when leaving (not towards my truck), the police arrived and arrested me - and I was not nice about it.

I wish I could explain it but frankly I can't. It's just so ridiculous. And as previously stated, this "blackout" drunk thing has never happened to me before in my adult life - the last occurring when I was around 16 years old, over 12 years ago.

I do not blame my co-driver. He was a new guy like myself and frankly didn't know what to do. Granted, I wouldn't have done what he did, immediately calling my dispatch like that/not bailing me out of jail - but still. He was drunk too, and the only reason he wasn't with me was because he was getting a tattoo - some ####### cartoon cat (not garfield) on his left shoulder blade.

The lawyer I hired cost me $2500 and is confident that he can get the case dismissed - that given the amount of loss/suffering I've endured already over this as punishment enough, leaving me only to pay restitution for whatever I damaged - which will be under $200, he estimates less than $20. The suffering being the fact I lost my job, spent 24 hours in county, lost my cell phone, had to ride Greyhound back to Ohio, and the damage to my DAC - toppled by the fact I have no criminal record whatsoever.

I don't blame anyone for this incident other than myself - as an adult it's my responsibility to claim my own actions. I chose to get drunk, granted not to that extent, but it was still my decision. I do not blame the bartender or my co-driver.

Also, scrolling through the previous posts - No. I had not got the hotel room yet at the time of this arrest, I was planning on walking across the way after I was done at the bar. I get uneasy at hotels regarding matters of cleanliness, I figured getting drunk would help me overlook this and allow me to sleep more comfortably. Not a great excuse, just happens to be the truth.

Regarding my job - I haven't gone through the company handbook or anything like that yet - as I foolishly left it all in the truck. When I was packing for Greyhound, I only packed 1 bag with plans to get the rest of my stuff off the truck when my co-driver returns to our home terminal for his/my former home time request - which will be Friday this week. Until then I'm stuck. But from the few people I've contacted inside the company about this incident, apparently I was very, very, very, wrong to think it was okay to drink AT ALL while in possession of company equipment, 34 or not. And by admitting that I had been drinking when questioned the following day once out of county - that sealed my fate.

I returned to my truck around 9pm the following day after I got out of county where I used my co-drivers phone to call dispatch - they had voided our load and instructed me to contact Safety the following morning at 8am. When I called them the next morning, they asked me what happened - and I told them; I got drunk with intention of getting a hotel room, over did it and blacked out, got arrested. Not 100% what for. They said I was terminated and that I needed to get off the truck immediately, that they would Qualcomm me a confirmation number for a Greyhound bus ticket.

I probably let the fact I was so embarrassed dictate my actions here, maybe if I had argued more or something I would still have my job. And that's something I'm going to continue thinking about and researching once I clear my items from the truck and retrieve my handbook. Maybe I can talk them into keeping me on, especially if I'm able to get my case dismissed - but really, I don't hold out much hope for that.

Again, I don't blame anyone for this incident other than myself. It was a foolish mistake, one that I can promise you will NEVER happen again. Should I be so lucky to find another trucking job, of which I'm fairly certain I will, I will only drink at home on my actual home time. Period.

I thank you all for your comments - well, maybe not all. Some of you really suck as individuals, sincerely lacking compassion/understanding over what surely 99% of all people can understand/have done themselves - that it was a stupid mistake that did not harm anyone other than myself.

Anyway. That's it.