sram-ams(alcohol monitoring bracelet

[BANDIDA]

Anyone wearing or ever worn one of these gadgets? I was just fitted with one yesterday after having my 2nd Dui over a year ago. Am already forming skin abrasions and am concerned about ulceration sores,infection etc. I had been sober 2 years when I relapsed last march and I got popped again, it had been 2years since the first. I have been sober since and managed to drag the court thing on for 10 mnths until this past Jan. when I was sentenced this is part of a very harsh sentence I was given. No one has told me yet how long I have to wear it before I can petition to have it removed. The pain and the financial strain $400.00, a month is unreal. Anyone have any insight or advice about this? Thanks.

[ibizan]

well as the saying goes u did squeeze the toothpaste outta the tube with the DUI's and now u deal with the consequences!think about how much u spent on alcohol in ur life...and the possibility of killing someone driving drunk...bet it would exceed $400..i was stopped five times for dui's tween the years of 1972-1982..been sober /clean 24 years..so grateful i never hurt anyone else other than myself with my drunk driving.

[TJack]

Show your parole type person what it is doing to your wrist and get re-fitted for another one.  I am sure they want it tight enough so as not to be able to remove but should not cause you to have sores etc.  I know ibizan is so right on with her post.  You understand all that, right?  Someone could have died!  
I guess wearing that thing does allow you to go to work, right?  Or how else would you be able to have $$ to pay $1600. a month.  Hope you have a good paying job.

[BANDIDA]

i do take full responsibility for my actions and am not poo-pooing what I did. Yes I do thank God that I nor someone else was hurt much worse killed. But I think 2 yrs on house arrest followed by two years probation after serving 6mnths jailtime and this contraption is a bit excessive especially when it involves physical torture. What is this country coming to! And by the way this thing is not on my wrist, wish it were. It is on my very thin bony ankle, and no I do not have a good paying job I make $7.50 an hour at a Subway....So $400.00 a month plus phone is way over the top for me. I might as well have my paychecks directly deposited to the state of Florida.  I am pround to say that I have an remain sober since the day of my last dui and have done it all without a monitoring device aside from random checks which don't concern me in the least. It is the financial and physical aspect that is hurting me. I am just hoping that if it turns into a real medical thing that it will be removed before I end up in the hospital with staph,gangrene or who knows what. Can't afford hospital either or to lose what job I have which I can walk to since I can't drive. Almost feel like taking all the $$$$$ I have spent and will spen and buy airfare to Costa Rica or Brazil and just never come back to the US. The judicial system in this country has gone to the toilet. People were in jail with me did far worse things and got of so lightly its ridiculous. Guess I caught the judge on a bad day. Just so happens it was the day he was retiring from the bench. Oh well life goes on. Am basically a real happy person. I will continue to fight my addiction and stay sober but will also be tackling the legal system during my house arrest. Got plenty of TIME to research and make a pest out of myself until I see some fairness in all of this.  They could at least have a sliding pay scale!!!!!

[ibizan]

yes agree with tjack...sounds like thing is on too tite!most of em i see r on the ankles..dayjob substance abuse counselor...its all designed to hit u where it counts...the pocketbook..i've seen folks with 10-12 duis plus..some ppl never learn..and if u stay cool do what u posed too they may shorten that 2 year house arrest thing!do u have other alcohol/drug related arrests non-driving?any probs with the arrest?what state r u in?some states have stiffer 2nd dui penalties maybe due to high rate of multiple offenders......Virginia being one of em......

[TJack]

She says she is in Florida.  That says alot too.  They can't keep track of children in foster care down there (they just come up gone)  and people get away with murder sometimes.  I am sorry this price is so high for you to pay Bandida.  How can they take everything you make? I read your post wrong, i though it was 400 a week, but working for what you are paid $400 a month is alot!
That doesn't even make sense to me.  Can you appeal?  
I hear good things about Costa Rica and Belize, but how would you get the bracelet off and do you have a passport?  How old are you? children? family?  I thank God i never hurt anyone, wrecked or got stopped, because there were a few times i should not have been behind the wheel!  It scares me now to think about it.  Hang in there and go to a clinic or some doc to recommend a bigger bracelet.  tjack

[ibizan]

if u work 40 hrs.week at Subway( and most work more hours)[email protected]/hr u'd bring home $1120.00 b4 taxes!thats not  alot but more than 400 month unless ur working way less than 40 hrs. and tjack...doctors can't reccomend/remove a court ordered ankle monitor..the probation officer has to do that!Florida has a high rate of repeat DUI offenders so thats why the penalties r so stiff!

[TJack]

I just thought maybe it would take a dr. to tell them she has sores from the thing, unless they can use their own eyes and figure it out.  So, she could get a bigger size.
I am also wondering about the 40 hour work week?  

[ibizan]

yes the math is off on the work week unless she works below parttime there and i've seen po's adjust/change ankle monitors on those that had em too tite!

[TJack]

Good morning my firend.  Coffee is good this morning.  My shiner is better, but dang i hope it is gone in another week.  I doubt this gal gets 40 hrs. a week.   I think most of the food places make a point not to do that.  Have to  give some benefits then, don't they?  I just had a brain storm, Bandida could also wear a sock so it doesn't rub aginst the skin, yep a looser ankle bracelet and a sock.   Either that or head south of the border.  Naw, best not do that.  It might sound inviting but their are robbers down there in old costa rica and belize.   Not a safe place for a woman alone and on the lamb.
Bandida, just try to get the dang thing comfortable and wear it.  What about your family? kids?  Do you have family to support you through this and help you? tj

[BANDIDA]

No you were not wrong about the math, if I am able to wk 40 hrs your figure is correct. However what you may fail to realize is that I also have to have a place to live and pay 150wkly to rent a room in someones house. Now do the math, does not leave much left over and I am suppose to be psying probation too. Most of the time I wll at least get 32hrs. Think the bracelet is too loose if anything and no you can not put anything between it and your skin. My PO stopped by yesterday at wk and was able to holler across the store that it hurt, only he and I knew what I was reffering to. Will see him Tues. on my scheduled appt. If what you say is true about PO's being the one that can recommend it being removed then that at least makes me feel better mentally. He is a very nice person and has been on my side since I was released 3/26/08 he knows I have been doing all that I am suppose to do as quickly as $$$$$ially able, has also told me he might possibly be able to get his supervision fees waived,crossing my fingers on that. But I will still be strapped in more ways than 1 lol. I will be 49 next month  and have never been in trouble before. My mother passed away 41/2 yrs ago and I guess I just lost it, we were very very close. With the help of AA self-examination my bible and time I have come to terms with my grief of losing her. I don't have to drink to take away the pain which is what I was doing. My dui's occured right around the time of her B'day, which now I know is a trigger as well as the anniversay of her death. It feels better knowing in my mind why I made the mistakes I did. However I do not think the physical pain from this thing should be put on anyone. I understand the concept of it, why should anyone believe I won't drink again. Still physical torture is not the answer no one deserves that.

[BANDIDA]

Yes I have a son 19 who just gave me a grandson who I have yet too see. That hurts. My father is still alive and we are not real close but trying to mend the wounds and hurts that I created. He still has not gotten over my Mom either. My brother and I don't even speak he has his own alky problems. But the most special person in my life is my fiance who I don't know why, has stood and stands behind me and as he say's "loves me to death". I feel blessed despite all my circumstances.

[TJack]

I am glad to know some more about you and what has brought you to this point in your life.  I am so sorry you have lost your Mom.  Glad you have come to terms with your loss and are aware of the triggers.  That is major.  Gosh, Hon i hope you get through this and have a great life.  Having someone who truly loves and stands by you means the world.  My hubby of 38 years is my rock.  Never gives up on me.  19 is very young to be a Daddy these days, hope that works for your son and you get to see your grandson soon.  And no, the bracelet should not be painful!  So hope that goes soon.
keep posting and God Bless. TJ

[BANDIDA]

posted on mrmerrbs site as you can see my brother did not handle things to well either, time heals. Thanks for your blessing Bandida.

[BANDIDA]

What's with the shiner?

[TJack]

I had too much wine over a week ago and hit the sliding glass door with the side of my head.  I think looking at my face in the mornings has been good for me.  Dang it is slow to go away.  Between that and Campral (pill) and some willpower i am even able to avoid the wine aisle at the grocery store now.  I pray i can keep it up.
Now i will seeif i can find your post on mrmerrbs site?  

[BANDIDA]

Wanna borrow my bracelet for a day? Just kidding ...wouldn't wish this on my wortst enemy lol!

[TJack]

I read your post there.   That is such a sad situation.   I am glad your brother is better,
hope he does leave the booze alone and maybe get some brain cells back and be willing to communicate with you.  But, if not forgiveness on your part is the key.
I have forgiven a few and am going to a therapist weekly now.  It seems some things we forgive, we still let drag us down.  I am 57 now and can still feel the pain from childhood abuse!  That crud has got to Go.  So, we all work on ourselves and try to get better.

[TJack]

A friend of mines sister had to wear a bracelet but it was on her wrist.  It wasn't for drinking, embezzelment, i think.  That's calif. though.  Is this thing plastic or metal?
Maybe you can put some bag balm around your ankle to help.  That stuff is a real healer.

[ibizan]

ur PO should replace that thing sooner than next week..i would press him for that!yes i know u don't make much and the fines etc....it doesn't leave u with much.....and that sucks!so glad u have ur fiance....stay sober and cherish his support.....i lost my dad 2 years ago.....it stunk.....and now my mom age 89 is in her last lap of the race of life....there isn't enough alcohol/drugs in the world to quash the pain i feel now watching her dimished quality of life....and when she leaves it will suck so bad but i want her to be comfortable.She has been so proud of me staying sober...and i will remain that way!ur mom looks down upon u and is proud of ur sobriety....continue to put  a smile on her face!:)

[BANDIDA]

It is a mostly plastic thing with 2 sensor boxes on each side about the size of a pack if cig, maybe you saw a picture of Lindsey Lohan wearing one? If not you can google scram bracelet and see it for youself, Nothing and I mean nothing can be in between my skin and this thing. That is considered an obstruction and they would cart my skinny little butt back to jail. I have to read the labels on everything I use because there is alcohol in things we all are not even aware of,and even if you make a boo boo and use something by accident that contains alcohol, the burden and I mean burden (court lawyeretc) is on you. I figure if something like that happens to me (hope not) I will insist that they take me to the closest clinic hospital whatever and have urine,blood and btreathalizer test done. They are very strict. Can.t even go swimming and my house has a pool! Bummer.

[BANDIDA]

Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement, my prayers and well wishes for youare being mentally sent as I type.

[ibizan]

and the same for u my dear!thank u and ur welcome!there are many good ppl here to offer support and their sobriety xperience to help u...its all one hour atta time one day atta time on this earth....ur on my long prayer list......and u 2 tjack!:))))its shaken iced tea time here in Ohio..high 80's..hot humid..i hate it!gimme back that breeze!:)

[BANDIDA]

high 80s? Try mid 90's and humid, and I have to walk to work......good thing theres A/C at work! MMmmmmm......that pool sure looks invitiing..maybe I can stand on my head in it so this thing does'nt get wet lol! Have a great day!!!!!!!

[BANDIDA]

like the dunkin donut guy says Time to make the SUBS, catch ya'll later tonight maybe Bye