Author's Note - I know the information about Vermont's drink-driving laws is incorrect, but plead artistic licence!
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Last year my friend Carole won a week's holiday at a plush health resort in Vermont. Not surprisingly her husband didn't fancy a week of manicures and spa treatments, so she invited me instead. My husband said I deserved a break and as he was happy I said yes.
For two women in their late thirties it was a wonderful week of relaxation and pampering. We stayed in a luxury log cabin in the hills and they provided a hire car which we used to drive the 3 miles each day to the spa building.
The cabin was superb though it was meant for a couple so Carole and I had to share a king-sized bed. We tried to switch to one with twin beds, but nothing was available and anyway it was no big deal.
On the last night but one we went to a local restaurant which had been recommended to us. We had a lovely meal with a couple of bottles of wine and then stayed on in the cosy bar and had a few more glasses of wine.
It was midnight by the time we left and Carole said she would drive.
However after she'd made a mess of one bend and nearly put us in a ditch she said that perhaps it was better if I drove. We stopped and swapped places. We'd only gone a few hundred yards when I noticed another car behind us. Then the flashing lights came on and I realised that it was a police car. I was panicking looking for a place to stop when I saw a parking sign indicating a lay-by. I pulled in, stopped and wound the window down as two officers came across.
They soon realised we were English tourists and the senior, older officer explained that we had been stopped because of Carole's erratic driving.
"Have either of you ladies been drinking?" he asked.
There was no point lying, so we admitted we had.
The officer said Vermont had a zero tolerance policy for drink driving so we would have to take a breath test. If the result was under a figure of 100 we'd get a ticket and a fine, but if it was over 100 it was more serious.
We stepped out of the car and Carole went first. Her reading was 170 - way over. Next it was my turn and I just prayed that by some miracle it was under 100. No chance - it was 145.
"OK" said the officer. "I'm afraid I have to read you your rights, arrest you and confiscate your passports. You'll be jailed overnight and only bailed if you can raise security of $100,000 each. Your case will come up in about 3 weeks time and the minimum you will receive is a 2 month jail term."
We were horrified at this and explained that we had husbands and families who were expecting us back in 2 days time.
"I'm sorry ma'am," he said. "That doesn't change anything."
"Look officer," said Carole. "There's been no accident, no-one's been hurt. Going to jail would be horrendous. We'll do something, anything if you help us out."
"You'll do anything?"
Carole gulped and nodded.
He looked at his younger colleague.
"What do you think Gary?"
"Up to you sarge. Perhaps we can find a way to help these ladies."
The older guy nodded and looked at me.
"Step over to the police car ma'am."
He held the back door open and I got in. At the same time I noticed Carole being ushered into the back seat of our hire car.
The sergeant got in the other back door.
"Unbutton your blouse please ma'am."