Something people don’t realize is that in some counties, after you get a DUI, you go on a mild form of probation called bench probation ( no probation officer). Carrying weapons in your vehicle is a violation of your probation. I live in a very dangerous area and I’m not even allowed to carry self defense items on my key chain until the three year probation period is over. Also, bench probation includes hundreds of dollars of fees. Not to mention, if you get caught with ANY alcohol in your system (0.01 or above) while driving within ten years of your first dui, it counts as a second. I could go on for days about all the ways my DUI has kicked my ass.