Drunks on the road

[Curry46]

Yeah, it's sucky stuff.

I'm not sure upping penalties will fix it. Society just needs to be convinced that you MUST have a designated driver.

But I guess I'm a little biased toward sympathizing. A friend of mine made the bad choice to drive drunk, flipped his car and died.

I think fixing the problem is more important than punishing the offenders. Punishing them is necessary, but thats treating the symptoms not the illness.

Hope you heal up dude.

 

[mkrtu9]

Hate to hear about your accident. Hope you're ok. I agree that punishments should be stonger....much much stonger. 1st offense should bear no difference, you get behind the wheel drunk= Prison. Maybe capital punishment would be good on this issue.

 

[Ericman197]

Yeah, it's sucky stuff.

I'm not sure upping penalties will fix it. Society just needs to be convinced that you MUST have a designated driver.

But I guess I'm a little biased toward sympathizing. A friend of mine made the bad choice to drive drunk, flipped his car and died.

I think fixing the problem is more important than punishing the offenders. Punishing them is necessary, but thats treating the symptoms not the illness.

Hope you heal up dude.

I'm not entirely convinced that the designated driver idea works. I usually don't drink at parties, but I hate being the designated driver. I did it so many times in high school that I've really had enough of it. It makes me feel like I'm being taken advantage of. I think it's more important that people be responsible - it doesn't take a lot of will power to decide not to drink to the point of vomiting all over the interior of my car (I'm a little bitter...).

Unfortunately, it's fairly common for high school and college age kids to have five (or more) drinks in a short period of time... and THEN try to figure out how to get back home. I'm not against the designated driver concept, but I think in this regard it fosters dependence and irresponsibility. If I didn't drive some of my friends around on a semi-regular basis, they may not have ended up drinking as much as they did. Or maybe they would've ran over an old lady like some of the other kids from my high school did... eh...

 

[Bassic83]

Where is it- Nicaragua, maybe, the police can and do execute drunk drivers involved in wrecks on the spot. Might be Guatemala, can't remember exactly...heard this from a missionary who lived there for quite a few years. Doubt he'd lie about it...too many shots puts you one shot over the line.

 

[tzadik]

I am so glad you are okay.

Scary stuff.

 

[kserg]

The definition of manslaughter is an unintentional murder.

Hmmm i guess it is. Attempted murder works for me.

 

[Bad Brains]

More reasons why alcohol should be against the law.

I'm all for those who get caught drinking and driving to get an automatic sentence of 20 years in prison. But that wouldn't be profitable.......

 

[zac2944]

More reasons why alcohol should be against the law.

I'm all for those who get caught drinking and driving to get an automatic sentence of 20 years in prison. But that wouldn't be profitable.......

This kind of talk just is just silly. I agree that drunk driving is a bad thing and can kill innocent people, but 20 years for a DWI?

A lot of people get snagged for DWI during routine stops or at DWI check points and may have only had 1-2 drinks. They were driving fine and totally in control. I'm not saying that what they are doing is right, but 20 years in prison?!?!? That seems like a bit much to me.

Think about all the murderers, child molesters and rapists that only get probation. Is the guy who had 1-2 beers with friends after work and hurt no one committed a worse crime than the guy who raped your 10 year old daughter?

Unless the drunk driver was really drunk, a multi-offender, or in an accident that hurt people, I think 20 years is just silly.

 

[Bad Brains]

This kind of talk just is just silly. I agree that drunk driving is a bad thing and can kill innocent people, but 20 years for a DWI?

A lot of people get snagged for DWI during routine stops or at DWI check points and may have only had 1-2 drinks. They were driving fine and totally in control. I'm not saying that what they are doing is right, but 20 years in prison?!?!? That seems like a bit much to me.

Think about all the murderers, child molesters and rapists that only get probation. Is the guy who had 1-2 beers with friends after work and hurt no one committed a worse crime than the guy who raped your 10 year old daughter?

Unless the drunk driver was really drunk, a multi-offender, or in an accident that hurt people, I think 20 years is just silly.

Well the 20 years in prison was just an example. In my opinion, drunk driving could be stopped if they really wanted to. Sending someone away for long periods of time wouldn't generate cash flow from fines, court costs, lawyer fees, etc.

Then you get these people who have had 5 or 6 DUI's, which proves they are too easy.

And I also think that punishments should vary on the amount they have drank. Someone who has only had a few beers, and that's barley over the limit, should not get the same penalties as someone who drunk a 5th and a half of Jack and could barley walk.

 

[zac2944]

Well the 20 years in prison was just an example. In my opinion, drunk driving could be stopped if they really wanted to. Sending someone away for long periods of time wouldn't generate cash flow from fines, court costs, lawyer fees, etc.

I don't think that extreme punishment would really work. You would get a backlash from people if the punishment didn't match the crime. Unfortunately, drinking is very popular and as a result drinking and driving.

Then you get these people who have had 5 or 6 DUI's, which proves they are too easy.

And I also think that punishments should vary on the amount they have drank. Someone who has only had a few beers, and that's barley over the limit, should not get the same penalties as someone who drunk a 5th and a half of Jack and could barley walk.

I agree with you here. I believe that this is the case in most states. But then again you do hear about the extreme cases where I guy kills someone while drunk driving and has already had 2-3 DWI.

 

[Bassic83]

A lot of people get snagged for DWI during routine stops or at DWI check points and may have only had 1-2 drinks. They were driving fine and totally in control. I'm not saying that what they are doing is right, but 20 years in prison?!?!? That seems like a bit much to me.

The law has a provision, it's called Blood Alcohol Level. It's a scientifically derived number that measures the amount of alcohol present in the blood. One drink in me might get me up to .02, while the same drink in a 90 lb. female could put her at .05. Two drinks in me, and I'm at .04, while she'd be .10. Three in me, .06, three in her, .15. So the 1-2 drinks thing cannot hold as a defense, as drinks hit people differently. That's the reasoning behind it- to have a uniform method of determining who is legally intoxicated. That's about as fair as they'll make it.

Think about all the murderers, child molesters and rapists that only get probation. Is the guy who had 1-2 beers with friends after work and hurt no one committed a worse crime than the guy who raped your 10 year old daughter?

Here in Texas, there is a lot of pandering on this issue. Some are calling for mandatory 25-year sentences for the first offense, mandatory execution for the second. Won't happen, and here's why- the punishment must be appropriate to the crime. If nobody dies, how can they justify taking a life? I hate pedophiles as much as anyone, but the sad fact is, they're out there. I have a daughter who is 5. If somoeone raped her, I can guarantee that there would be no 25-year sentence, even if it WAS the perv's "first time". It'd be death for him. Maybe for me too, or even life behind bars, if they caught me. It'd be worth it to me.

Unless the drunk driver was really drunk, a multi-offender, or in an accident that hurt people, I think 20 years is just silly.

Again, "really drunk"- as in actually drunk, or excessively drunk? Sort of like being "kind of pregnant". It's pretty much black and white, in the eyes of Johnny Law. Multi-offenders have a problem. Make them deal with it. 20 years to think about it? Sounds reasonable to me. Might put a little of the onus on the family of the drunk to prevent him from hurting himself, them, and others. Basically, there has been an overall abrogation of personal responsibility in this country, and I am sick of it. People need to wake up and accept that their choices have consequences. Don't want to do 20 years in the Greybar Hotel? Then don't drive after you've been drinking. Simple. Take a cab, have a non-drinking friend with you to drive your car, walk up to a cop and ask for a ride home. I know a cop who is so happy to not have to do the paperwork involved in either a DUI or a wreck, that he will gladly give a drunken bar patron a ride home, if it is in his patrol area- IF THEY HAVE THE BALLS TO ASK! If it's not, he'll call you a cab. If you try to get in your car, he gets to fit you with custom bracelets...

 

[Commreman]

I just got back from my first round of therapy with my chiropractor. He is going to be part of my daily routine for the next few weeks. I have a neck sprain and herniated discs - while annoying, in time it can be fixed. Again, thank God that it wasn't worse.

Drunk driving is drunk driving. Period. I don't care if you have had one or ten drinks - alcohol can and will impair your judgment and reflex times. If you elect to get behind the wheel after drinking, out of your own free will you have turned your vehicle into a lethal weapon. Like the nitwit that hit me, you may think that you are in control, but you really aren't - you are only kidding yourself, and putting everyone else on the road at risk. This jerk was drinking before 6:30 at night on a Tuesday. Who the hell in their late thirties/early forties parties on an early Tuesday night?? Maybe this experience will get this boob into AA. He can take his moped to the meetings, as he won't be driving for a while.

Drunk driving has a ripple effect. The guy who hit me has impacted my life, the lives of those around me, my family, friends, business associates, and my bands, as I'm out of commission for a while. He doesn't even know me. I'm certain that his serious lack of judgement has had the same impact on him (he deserves it).

I have no sympathy or compassion for drunk drivers, or for their apologists. Anyone who thinks that one or two drinks is manangeable and says they should be let off easier, I say that you are an enabler, and should reconsider that position. The next person hit or killed could be you, or those you care for.

I really appreciate all of the well wishes given here. I'll be up and rockin' again in short order (hopefully!) The entire drinking/driving/gigging conversation is a good one for this community to have, and I hope it continues and helps to open the eyes of some of the younger members here.

 

[kserg]

More reasons why alcohol should be against the law.

Because it worked so well in during 1920-1933 period (USA)... You are right, outlawing alcohol saved so many lives back then. No more organized crime, no more drinking, and police finally were able to turn away from fight with alcohol and solve bigger problems.

Let's all join Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

It didn't just work in USA, it also worked in Russia, Norway, and Finland!

Especially Russia where people started to make their own alcohol from sugar, so of course they banned sugar too! Well people were like "screw this, we are going to drink rubbing alcohol". So what do we do about that, oh yeah, we outlaw that too! But those dirt bags called "people" don't quit! They started to drink deodorant, so let's remove that from list of what is allowed. Oh boy, i miss living in country where everything is outlawed! Please please please!!!! turn USA into country I escaped from. I miss the misery.

 

[Curry46]

Well, by designated driving, I suggest switching off so that people have to do their part...

I'm not a big fan of the death penalty in the first place, but definitely not for driving drunk. Stupid? yeah. Dangerous? Definitely. But last time I checked, an eye for an eye never worked that well.

 

[kserg]

Well, by designated driving, I suggest switching off so that people have to do their part...

I'm not a big fan of the death penalty in the first place, but definitely not for driving drunk. Stupid? yeah. Dangerous? Definitely. But last time I checked, an eye for an eye never worked that well.

True, but in many cases of Drunk driving it would be eye for few eyes. My problem with todays DUI is that its very equal to how drunk you were. It seems that people who barely over the limit and people who are about to die from alcohol poisoning have very similar punishment. I don't think it's right that someone with .04 can get same punishment as someone who is .24...

I say chart should be like this:

.03-.08 = a ticket (no other penalties)
.08-.1 = 1 year or license suspension + community service for 3 years.
.1-.14 = year in prison
.14-.40 = year in prison + year for ever .01 after .15
.40 = medal for surviving that much alcohol.

 

[Commreman]

Kserg, with all due respect over the limit is just that - over the limit. At that point, your car becomes a loaded (pun definitely intended) weapon. Over the limit equals loss of license and jail time. I'd rather have the drunk dry out in a cell for a while rather than hurt or kill someone. If a person is over the limit, what are they doing behind the wheel in the first place?? The laws are well known, so unless they love to tempt fate or perhaps the person is a complete moron, they have no business driving a car in that condition.

I have nothing against having a drink with friends and having a good time. You have to rememember that, in a free society, you must be accountable for your own actions and decisions, and remember that there are consequenses. The laws are very well known when it comes to drinking and driving. Getting even a little wasted and then getting behind the wheel is the most arrogant, idiotic, selfish, and dangerous thing a person can probably do.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

If someone is drunk enough, they won't even realize that they made the decision to drive the car. You can't automatically assume that they got into the car knowing that they weren't able to operate the vehicle.

They walked into the bar, bought and drank the drinks, they take the consequences of what comes after. Let 'em burn as far as I'm concerned. If you *decide* to get ****ed up enough that you "accidentally" kill someone, that's murder in my book.

 

[Cambass]

They walked into the bar, bought and drank the drinks, they take the consequences of what comes after. Let 'em burn as far as I'm concerned. If you *decide* to get ****ed up enough that you "accidentally" kill someone, that's murder in my book.

True but alcohol makes you less inhibitive. I'm sure most drunk drivers never intend to kill or hurt others. That's not to excuse their choices and subsequent behaviours (which I agree, it is their choice to drink then drive).

 

[zac2944]

Here's what happens to drunks who don't drive:

Last night my fiancé and I went out, got drunk, and took a cab home. We went out with the intent of getting hammered, so the car stayed home. When we woke up this morning we both realized that we never paid the cab fair. We were so out of it that we didn't even realize what was going on. We just said "thanks" and went into our apartment. The driver must have been like "***?".

Sorry to go OT, but I've been laughing about it all morning and it made me think of this thread.

We called the cab company and are trying to find the guy so we can pay him, but no luck yet.

 

[Commreman]

Here's what happens to drunks who don't drive:

Last night my fiancé and I went out, got drunk, and took a cab home. We went out with the intent of getting hammered, so the car stayed home. When we woke up this morning we both realized that we never paid the cab fair. We were so out of it that we didn't even realize what was going on. We just said "thanks" and went into our apartment. The driver must have been like "***?".

Sorry to go OT, but I've been laughing about it all morning and it made me think of this thread.

We called the cab company and are trying to find the guy so we can pay him, but no luck yet.

Good for you - you and your fiance did the right thing. By looking for the cab company, you are also building goodwill, and contributing mightily to your own good karma.

More folks should pay attention to what you did. It would keep the roads safe and the bars full.