COLUMNS
Now, Life - January 2009
by Tiffany Peterson
In 2003, I pled guilty in a court of law and was convicted on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. Because of my choice to get in my car and drive drunk, I killed a 21- year old woman and her unborn baby girl. I was sentenced to three years in prison (Ohio Reformatory for Women) and lost my driver’s license for life.
It has been five years since the crash and my life has changed dramatically. I know that I am a different person than I once was. I haven’t had a drop of alcohol since the crash, nor do I ever want any. I think that would be an insult to the lives I took. And God has removed all desire for any alcohol from me.
God has blessed me abundantly in many ways. One way he blessed me was to bring an amazing man into my life as my husband in order for us to share our journey and serve Him together. Another way was by providing a great job for me. Since I got married, I now live in an area with no public transportation and my job is over 30 miles from my home. This has been quite a challenge since I am not allowed to drive.
With the economy slumping these past several months, I haven’t found any jobs near me, and I don’t want to lose the pay and benefits with the job I do have. For these reasons, I began researching the possibility of getting driving-to-work privileges. I recently came across the following article on the DUI Foundation’s website: http://www.duifoundation.org/legalguide/finespenalties/licenserevocation.
Mandatory license revocation also applies to vehicular homicide. However, the courts can rule that the offender permanently lose his driving privileges. If a driver convicted of DUI manslaughter has no prior DUI-related convictions, he or she may be eligible for hardship reinstatement after five years, even if it was ruled that the license be permanently revoked.
I was really excited when I read this policy since I do meet the listed criteria: I have no prior DUI-related convictions and it has been five years since I was sentenced. Together, my boss and I went to my congresswoman to apply for a hardship license. Although she seemed hopeful at first, she later informed me that Ohio does not offer a hardship license. So, there was nothing else I could do. As long as I live in Ohio I cannot drive.
I have to admit I was disappointed when I heard that. But I do know that God has a plan for my future. I also know that I am the only one that put myself in this position. Even though I can’t drive to work and that puts my job in jeopardy, I think of what I put Katy’s family through and realize that I am blessed in so many ways.
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I think that is something we must do in life: we must not let the enemy steal our hope or our joy. God has a plan for each of us and we can’t lose sight of that. I believe that we must do our parts to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, but not force things to happen the way we think they should. We need to accept that His ways are not our ways, and know God can turn around anything that the enemy means for evil to glorify Him.
I am not worried about my future because I know that I serve a merciful God. I know that He has forgiven me for my horrible mistakes, and this is not Him punishing me for what I did. These are the consequences of my choices and we must all face consequences for our choices. I believe that if and when it is time for me to drive, God will make a way.
I have realized how crucial it is that we are prepared before we come into the turmoil of life. That we must already know God’s truth, so when disappointment comes we don’t believe the lies of the enemy or lose our joy, but we are able to keep our peace, knowing his promise is to love us and to never put more on us than we can handle.
I encourage you today to think about this passage from the Bible: Ephesians 6:15 “… put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” This is how I’ve prepared myself.
Tiffany's wedding day
Read Tiffany Peterson’s feature essay on new developments since her release from prison a few years ago.
To have Tiffany speak, contact her at tiffstransformation@yahoo.com or visit www.mtmchoices.org.