**Almost Died Today, No Joke**

You did well by not hitting him. If you had, you would have gone from being right, to being wrong. If anything comes up between you guys in the future, and it goes to court, you can bet the fact that you stuck him at one point would come up again and bite you on the ***. Maybe even lose the case for you. Striking someone like that in a fit of anger is simply stupid. Defending yourself is a completely different story. Had he tried to hit you first, then all bets are off, but you're still better off letting the police handle it.

Where I think you went wrong was in not reporting it to the police. Even if nothing became of it, you would have established a base line. I do believe he would have been arrested for DUI (or DWI, whichever). That would have cost him a day in jail, a fine, a suspension of his license, and an increase in his insurance premiums. A phone call, and an hour of your time would have given him the gift that keeps on giving.

just my 2¢