DUI, The Law, And Grace

Let me introduce you to my dad, Mark Teats.  He and my mom have been visiting from Arizona this past week.  On a whim, I asked him to be a guest writer on my blog, and he said yes!  Thanks Dad!

It was a Phoenix area, combined law enforcement, DUI task force. One valley city was targeted, and several agencies combined efforts to stop and process drivers “under the influence.” As a Police Chaplain, I was riding with an officer from my agency. Since it was a holiday weekend I knew we would be busy stopping and booking many people.

One of the motorcycle officers in my agency is well known for being able to guess the blood alcohol level just by observing the person.  He had his work cut out for him this particular night.  Early in the evening our patrol car was dispatched for a traffic stop where this motorcycle officer had pulled over a car.  We arrived on the scene and I joined the officers at a discrete distance, but close enough to hear and observe.

A young lady was driving. When the officer approached the car and asked for her driver’s license and registration, she burst into tears.  As a volunteer police chaplain and a counselor by profession, I knew she was genuine in her remorse.  She explained, through her tears, that she was an elementary school teacher and was humiliated that she was stopped. She admitted to drinking a little, and as expected, she asked for the whole incident to be forgotten.

The officer asked her to blow into the alcohol meter.  She blew into the meter and was found to be well over the legal limit, which was very close to what the officer had predicted.  She was handcuffed and taken in a patrol car to the DUI area processing center, and booked. After the humiliation of the processing, she was released to find a ride home, and given a citation and court date.

As repentant and sorry for her actions as she was, she was guilty. Even her first offense did not lessen the consequences. As much as I felt sorry for her, her guilt remained. There are consequences for breaking the law.  Remorse did not erase her guilt. Begging for mercy did not get her out of a DUI charge. It was guilt and punishment according to state law.

Fortunately, God has a provision.  We are guilty, and there are consequences in this life for our sins. But when the grace of God steps in, there is forgiveness for the asking. Riding in the patrol car in handcuffs did not stop the consequences of breaking the law, but no matter the crime, or the sin, God’s grace is available.

We condemn each other. The law condemns. But there is no condemnation in Christ. Even in handcuffs, the young lady had freedom; true freedom in Christ.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.