topic Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th in Community Chat

DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:23:27 GMT

They started road blocks last night and stopped 234 cars in one location. 19 DUIs were issued. This will go on all weekend. That's a lot of drunks on the road and just in that one location. Think about how many all over that don't get caught.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

MikafromTopeka — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:32:11 GMT

I live in a very small town. I've counted 12-15 establishments where you can drink from taverns to restaurants within a 5 mile radius of my home. Four of them within 2 county blocks or 1/4 mile.

Even if each place only served 10 people per night that would be 120-150 people driving impaired on the roads in this little town every night and that would be a very slow night. Even if you factor in that some of these customers are making the rounds.

This also doesn't include the grocery store and gas station/mini marts that sell alcohol.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

CouponQueen — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:39:36 GMT

What really STINKS Is how many will actually get that on their record?? Not many!!

Part of my job is running criminal background checks on our clients..and I have access to the same dashboard computer State Police have..links in right with the Federal System etc.

If you only knew how many people out there have been arrested for many major felony's and they are plead down to next to nothing..Grand Larceny...Burglary..Possession of Burglar Tools etc..plead down to Petit Larceny. Just the other day somebody had FOURTEEN Grand Larceny/ Burglary charges alone..all plead down..total jail time served COMBINED.. 5 -years and that is with a total of 27 arrests..the other 13 were driving while drinking or some form.

I don't understand the criteria for various charges..difference between the multiple Driving While Intoxicated..Driving while over % of alcohol charges..but what stands out to me and this is with most..if not all..

You get charged Driving While Under the Influence of alcohol - first offense..or drving while intoxicated first offense..Plead down to DWAI..and get arrested a year later..you get Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol..first offense..cause you plead it down the first time..and were not convicted of it.

The penal system needs a complete over haul on the pleas..it is horrible..how many major crimes are reduced down..Forcible touching, etc...gets plead down to Public Lewdness..I can go on all day on the crimes people get away with.

Possession of drugs/instruments, tools etc..often plead to Disorderly Conduct..

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

ennui1 — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 20:42:07 GMT

On 7/4/2014 CouponQueen said:
If you only knew how many people out there have been arrested for many major felony's and they are plead down to next to nothing..Grand Larceny...Burglary..Possession of Burglar Tools etc..plead down to Petit Larceny. Just the other day somebody had FOURTEEN Grand Larceny/ Burglary charges alone..all plead down..total jail time served COMBINED.. 5 -years and that is with a total of 27 arrests..the other 13 were driving while drinking or some form.

I don't understand the criteria for various charges..

The way it works ... the District Attorney's office charges for the highest possible offense, the defense attorney offers to plead to a lesser charge, they agree, so the DA has a "win," the defense attorney has done his job, it saves the costs of court trials, and everyone goes home happy.

Very few criminal charges actually go to trial.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

Kachina624 — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:04:31 GMT

All you have to do here is ask a server or bartender to call you a FREE taxi.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

sylviahomeatlast — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:05:25 GMT

checkpoints are a very good thing---in CO, we travel on interstates to get around---also secondary highways

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

brewhaha — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:39:59 GMT

Good

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

ennui1 — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 02:41:12 GMT

On 7/4/2014 BonnieBelle said:
Very sad that people would actually drive drunk!!

People don't plan ahead ... the designated driver needs to be appointed before the party starts.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

Lila Belle — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 03:11:23 GMT

I'd like to see checkpoints done much more often, not just on holidays.

At least the drivers who are stopped aren't on the roads endangering innocent people.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

prisrob — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 03:19:25 GMT

Alcohol is one of the most deadly of drugs.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

Shorty2U — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 03:34:20 GMT

Isnt it disgusting that people still drive drunk? Here they do check points on various weekends during the whole year (not just holidays). AND they put it in the paper warning people (but they don't say where they'll be) and people STILL drive drunk! Also before the 4th of July it was in the paper 1st offense you are going to JAIL (good!). Also here they have services that will drive you home or drive you and your car home. There is no reason to drink and drive!

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

Kellean — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 03:41:28 GMT

Many years ago I had two really good friends get arrested at a check point. I think it's good - I think it stops some really bad accidents from drunk drivers. I have driven drunk several times on the reservation as a kid - and cringe thinking back on those days, Also. Being raised on a reservation - breeds lot's of passes! Not good - but, we Indians do take care of our own!

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

Kellean — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 03:43:37 GMT

I am not saying this is good! It's cultural- and punishment and accountability happens! No govt. is involved .

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

Kachina624 — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 06:10:56 GMT

Now they want to legalize marijuana so we'll have another substance to make people drive and act erratically. Just what we need.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

emmysmom — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 14:13:57 GMT

So scary!!

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

emmysmom — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 14:16:38 GMT

On 7/4/2014 prisrob said: Alcohol is one of the most deadly of drugs.

Amen!

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

luvdoodles — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 14:38:35 GMT

These people use any excuse to drink excessively. We have company over and they usually leave before all the activities begin around town. We haven't gone to see the fireworks in years. Too many crazy people on the road and too much traffic. Same with New Years. We have stayed home lately.

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

hckynut — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 20:12:59 GMT

Won't be long and motor vehicle fatalities from talking or texting will catch up with the ones killed by impaired drivers.

I see distraction as dangerous as being impaired. If 100% of the one driving a motor vehicle on a public roadway is not on driving the vehicle? At some point bad things are going to happen, and in my view I do not see them as "accidents".

Re: DUI Checkpoints for July 4th

luvmyteddy4 — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 21:50:09 GMT

In the same report on the news they said that people falling asleep at the wheel have taken over drunk fatalities.

I couldn't drink that much when I found out I was allergic to booze in the 70s. Probably saved me from drinking and driving. I would say 8 out of 10 people I know have multiple DUIs. Not just one. It's surprising to know there are that many.

I have been in two road blocks and luckily I wasn't drinking either time but the police swore I had been. Just because you pull out of a bar doesn't mean you were drinking. I was threatened and treated very badly until they gave me the test and then one cop was very upset I wasn't drunk and she had to let me go. The first time it was freezing and snowing and I couldn't walk a straight line because I was so cold.

They do post them in the paper about the roadblocks and I'm surprised more people don't know about it. I don't think they should post them and do them more often. I won't even drive at night anymore. A DUI shows up on your background check if they run a report and you don't get hired with a criminal record or bad credit report if a company runs one.