The problem with taking away the drunk’s licence is that it never stops them from driving illegally. What it does stop them from doing is buying insurance for the car. I hate the fact that the drunk drivers seem to get away with WAY too much, but taking away their licence doesn’t seem to work either since when you get hit by one without the insurance, you have to cover everything (since you won’t get too much out of them). It’s time to get those breathalizers in every single car put on the raod. I would be willing to pay for it. And I am sure there are ways around it but I think it would help.
Yes, you’re right. The breathalyzers are probably the only thing that will stop them (or at least until they start borrowing cars). However, I hear about so many cases of drivers with several DUI’s who still have their license. I just don’t get that at all. Take it away. It won’t fix everything, but it’s a good first step.
Dawn
This makes my blood boil, since I’m 7 days removed from kissing the paint of a Ford motor co. product and then hitting the deck HARD! My buddy in Rocky Mount, NC is two weeks removed from having his ear reattached as his helmet strap severed it as he was run down from behind on a ride. Neither one of these idiots that hit us, were drunk as far as I know, but it doesn’t make my fingers and hip hurt any less.
The problem with suspending hard core drunks DL is that it’s basically asking them not to drive any more. If you know any cops they will tell you that their are PLENTY of drunks driving around with NO licence as they lost it eons ago. The lure of the bottle makes these fools drive with or without a DL.This case is terrible and a husband has lost his wife, and a little child has lost her mother, all because some fool had to get his drunk on then drive home, We should get medieval on these idiots. The judge ought to have this guys hands chopped off, let him walk to his brother eddie’s bar, and sip his whiskey through a straw and then walk his ass home!) At the least he should have to do some hard time, let him make his hootch in the shitter at chino or folsom, throw away the key!!!
“i’d probably be viewed as an ass.”
That’s where moral courage comes to play. You know what is right in that situation. Doing the right thing is hard, sometimes…especially when there is a good chance you can do the wrong thing without consequences…as here.
The other thing I’d say is that you shouldn’t assume that you’d be viewed this way if you’d taken action. More likely, you’d find that most folks would be appreciative… And at the end of the day…folks would know better what to expect from you. When you see something like this and don’t act…you aren’t being true to yourself…if you feel it is wrong.
This isn’t meant in any way as chastisement…Its meant more to help you take the courageous route next time. It gets easier the more you are true to yourself and do the right thing…
Taking away their liberty would though.
this guy needs 25 to life in prison. he should not get out again, and should be forced to live the remaining years of his life locked away, without the feel of sun ever again.
just imagine how many times he drove drunk before this happened. i read somewhere that on average drunk drivers drive drunk 100 times before getting a DUI.
This is the reason I stay on the flat paved trail…there are drunks everywhere at every time of day.
absolutely his brother’s bar needs to be held accountable…you know this guy got drunk there all the time and nothing was every brought up or done about the drunk driving.
what a damn shame.
please be careful on the roads.
kc
kittycat,
I agree with you completely, but we are swimming upstream on this one.
I think a vast majority of citizens have been conditioned to react to alcoholism as an illness and excuse the behavior and responsibility for the actions and consequences of alcoholics.
I, however, disagree with these people. These individuals make the choices to go to the bars and or pour the alcohol down their throats. They should be forced to accept full responsibility for all the pain they cause.
Its long past time for tough “love” for these irresponsible felons. They should be treated the same as a murderer because that is what they are!
Drinking and then driving and then killing someone with one’s vehicle should not be considered manslaughter. I really don’t see how this is any different than carrying around a loaded gun (parallel to getting intoxicated) brandishing the gun to intimidate others and then it goes off “accidently” and kills someone. Yes, he may not have had the intent to kill someone, but he took all the steps to complete the act if he had made up his mind that is what he wanted to do. At the very least, it should be treated as second degree murder.
In this particular instance, a lethal injection as fair and just punishment would not bother me. In my opinion, he has forfeited any “right” to life and the pursuit of happiness. As far as he must carry these burdens of the carnage he has caused and perhaps that is what causes him to drink, bullshit! He doesn’t care enough to stop! We must accept the responsibility to stop him permanently.
Just my 2 cents FWIW.
What’s up with the priorities of lawmakers these days? I just read an article about the ford explorer rollover aftermath where all vehicles are required to have low tire pressure monitors by 2006. This will save an estimated …120!!! lives per year. While I’m sure those 120 people will be glad they bought a car with a tire pressure monitor, drunk drivers killed 17,000 people in 2003, about 40% of ALL traffic fatalities. Automakers should install a breathalyzer instead.
I had a similar experience.
Walked out of the bar, got on my cell and called 911 with a driver and auto description. Don’t know if police ever followed-up but I felt a little better that I had done(in my small twisted mind) something about it.