Judge escaped long, costly ordeal

Regarding the news "Snohomish County judge won't be charged with DUI": If you ask anyone who has ever gotten a DWI or DUI what his or her experience was like, you will never hear the response, "no charges filed." Instead you'll hear a dreadful story that spans a time frame of about 3 to 5 years, about getting pulled over, going to jail, losing your license. Countless fines, labeled an "alcoholic," a forced, 2-year treatment program that runs anywhere from $2,000-$5,000. Having to be present at dozens of different appointments -- court, probation, treatment, A.A. meetings, etc. You can't legally drive yourself anymore. And you're likely to hear getting about getting additional driving with license suspended tickets while trying to get to work or one of the many appointments!

This is the reality for myself and every person I spoke with in my treatment classes because of DUI/DWI. A few of these people were forced to become homeless and/or forced to evict roommates because the terms of the probation doesn't allow them to have any alcohol in the house, regardless of who it belongs to.

For the common person whose circle of friends doesn't include judges and prosecutors, a DUI is a long, grueling, expensive process. And in my inexperience, along with countless others, it seems like the whole process is intentionally set up for failure. But Tim and friends seem to be exempt from all that. Hopefully his next DUI will stick.

Trever Laako
Lynnwood