Alcohol awareness minute: The cost of a DUI Published April 20, 2012 By By Staff Sgt. Anna Salvador 533d Training Squadron Enlisted Space Undergraduate Training instructor VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The cost of a DUI in California is over $6,000 and your military career will definitely be in jeopardy. How much does it cost to get a ride from a volunteer with Airmen Against Drunk Driving? Nothing! AADD is 100 percent free, safe, and anonymous! Volunteers are standing by to provide safe rides Fridays, Saturdays and any night before a holiday or family day from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The dispatcher will get a call at the GI Java and ask the callers for their location, a brief description (so the drivers know whom to look for), a call-back number (only used in case the caller can't be found), drop-off location and the number of passengers. Male or female drivers respond within the limits of Lompoc, Orcutt, Santa Maria, or Vandenberg. Dispatchers also have a list of hotels and cab companies to assist callers outside AADD limits. All Team Vandenberg members are encouraged to use AADD in their time of need. We never turn a caller away and we don't report the identity of callers to leadership. It sounds convenient, but many people are still reluctant to use AADD. Why? Is it for fear of repercussions? I have been involved with AADD for two years, and never once has leadership asked for the names of people that have called AADD. We don't take the names of the callers. Our statistics are based solely on how many lives and careers we have saved each weekend. We don't care who you are...its totally anonymous! So, if you're thinking about getting behind the wheel after a few drinks...don't do it! No one is immune to the negative effects of drinking and driving, whether you are the driver, passenger, or an innocent victim on the road. A simple call may save your career, your life, or injury to someone else. Remember that AADD is a program created by Airmen for Airmen. We are fortunate to have volunteers willing to sacrifice a few hours of their weekend for the safety of their wingmen, but AADD needs your support. Whether it is volunteering on a weekend, campaigning for alcohol awareness or simply promoting the AADD cause, we need your help to eliminate alcohol related incidents. If you would like to get involved with AADD, please call me at 606-1541 ext.3110 or attend our monthly meetings at the Pacific Coast Club's enlisted lounge, every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. AADD is now on Facebook! Don't forget to LIKE our page: facebook.com/AADDVandenberg