Deadly Decisions: What's the Price of Partying too Hard?
By: Maria Chandler WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: February 4, 2013
PEORIA- In a special report Sunday night, we introduced you to a woman who killed her best friend in a drunk driving accident. Jamie Duhs-McBride is still dealing with the consequences of her deadly decision, three years later.
Just how much has it cost her?
We sat down with a legal expert to figure out the price of partying too hard.
"You are literally taking a gamble when you get behind that wheel. The dice may not roll in your favor," explains Duhs-McBride.
Jamie took the gamble and lost.
Lost her best friend.
Lost six months of her life, locked in a jail cell.
Because she made the decision to drink and drive.
"Even if you don't hurt anyone, just getting a dui, a ticket is life wrecking," she explains.
Attorney Joseph Borsberry is in the business of defending people who get DUIs.
He warns, the cases are complex.
"You're dealing with a criminal offense, DUI is a crime in the state of Illinois," says Borsberry.
A judge could sentence you to up to 364 days in jail if the crime is a misdemeanor.
You're also looking at two years of probation and a $2,500 dollar fine, along with court costs.
"In addition to being a crime, you're dealing with the Secretary of State's Office. If your license is, your license will be revoked if you're convicted of a DUI," Borsberry explains.
That's not the end of it.
If the officer gives you a breathalyzer and there's any trace of alcohol above a certain level, or any illegal drugs, your license could immediately be taken away.
Borsberry says he usually sees the same type of people come to his firm after they get that ticket.
"They feel overwhelmed. They need help. Most people that come to me and most people that get a DUI, they only get one DUI," Borsberry says.
Still, that one DUI can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 dollars.
Things like attorney fees, drug and alcohol treatment, license reinstatement, probation and time missed from work all add up.
For people like Jamie, it can take years to get back on track.
"I'm a felon now, you know? It's like who's gonna give me a job?," says Duhs-McBride.
She's also trying to drive again.
"Your life depends on where you can get a ride, not having a license, you have no independence," she says.
Still, she's driven to make this tragic situation into something better.
She speaks to high school kids, victim impact panels, anyone who will listen, helping turn people away from getting behind the wheel if they've had too much.
"With such a negative thing happening, you have to make something positive come of this," Duhs-McBride explains.
Jamie is off her probation this may.
