Man With 22 DWI's: I Shouldn't Be Locked Up

Update: Here's the broadcast report I was promising earlier:



This morning I had the rare opportunity to hear from an inmate whom I've written about before.

State Police say he has 22 DWI arrests. Amazing.

Delano Vigil says he doesn't have 22 DWI's but rather only 8 of them.

Here's a snippet of our phone conversation (I'll post the story with audio here shortly).

Jojola: Even if you say you have eight DWI's, it still seems you have a problem with alcohol and getting behind the wheel. Is there any explanation for that?

Vigil: Well, I was a product of my environment. My mom and dad used to be alcoholics, in all my family. I'm also diagnosed as a schizophrenic, so I sometimes don't know the difference between reality and fantasy. So I end up drinking.

Jojola: Do you believe you should be locked up for your crime?
Vigil: No actually I think I just need to go to a program. I've never been to one before.

Jojola: People listening to you would say you have a blatant disregard for the law and for heir safety.
Vigil: Well I've never been in a wreck. I got a high tolerance for alcohol.
Jojola: So what you're saying then, is because you have a high tolerance for alcohol, you should be allowed to drive?
Vigil: No, I'm not saying that, I drive pretty well.

Jojola: Aren't you worried that you're going to end up killing yourself or killing someone else.
Vigil: Uh, I don't plan on driving anymore...but I don't know, I'm not worried about that. I have never been in a wreck.

Unbelievable? Listen to the audio.
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