5. A trip to jail

I could see the bouncing of the blue and red lights bouncing in the reflection of the glass. I felt the pressure of his hand on the back of my head as he guided me into the patrol car. As we began the journey across town, my mind became numb to the process I was about to endure. Frustrated at the feelings I was having, I wished I had never gone out drinking. Now I was going to jail and I wasn’t looking forward to it at all.
I heard the garage door opening. The patrol car slowed and we coasted inside. After stopping the car, the officer walked around to me and opened my door quickly. Then he ushered me to the booking room. I looked around at the barren building. There were no windows to look through. Nothing was hung on the walls, except two posters about drunk driving and the effects of drug use. The walls were dingy and yellowed. I was instructed to sit on a bench that was bolted to the floor. I was ready to get the process started. I knew once I was booked in they would remove the handcuffs. I began to get impatient and started tapping my feet loudly on the floor. I asked the officer when I would get a phone call and he only responded with a sneer. I mumbled snide remarks under my breath, then I began to think of all the problems I was going to have from getting arrested for drunk driving.
The officer instructed me to stand with my feet on the black line of tape stuck to the floor in front of a camera to get my picture taken. While IO was standing there, he took of my handcuffs. I rubbed the impression on my wrists the handcuffs had left. He informed me I was going to have to have a strip search, but we would have to wait until a female officer was available to do it. Moments later she arrived. She took me into a small room and instructed me to take off all of my clothes so she could check for any contraband (drugs or weapons) that I was not allowed to have in the jail. I believe this was the most degrading part of being arrested. It only took about five minutes for it to be done, but it felt like an eternity.
After putting on the jail issued jumpsuit I was ushered into a cell where I immediately noticed a payphone on the wall. I sure glad to see it. I immediately picked up the receiver and called a good friend explaining what had happened. She reassured me she was on her way to bond me out. I was thankful when I got home and swore to never drink and drive again.