Re: DUI Penalty Proposal

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

If all states had the same law of a person "convicted of driving while intoxicated committing a homicide or more" was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, instead of kiddy gloves!

I doubt many that drive DUI or DWI that get caught, it is their 1st time. They have just been beating the odds. Throw the above charge, and penalty, if convicted on their 1st Offense. As I said above, "doubtful it was a 1 and got caught deal".

Don't just have "laws on the books", they are worth about as much a check written with no money in an account. Enforce the laws as written, at least that would remove some from the public roadways.

I have zero sympathy for anyone that is caught and convicted of DWI/DUI, or just plain old drunk. You "roll the dice, you pay the price".

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

Kalli · ‎03-11-2010

I think it's a feel good measure that, in reality, won't work to deter DUIs and won't help those individuals who are sick with this addiction.

The folks who have DUIs more than once likely require more intervention type programs that will help them actually try to stop their addiction by helping decrease the psycholigical factors involved in this kind of addiction.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Kalli wrote:
I think it's a feel good measure that, in reality, won't work to deter DUIs and won't help those individuals who are sick with this addiction.

Hi @Kalli

I have said this on several forums on this Bulletin Board over many years. I am a recovering alcoholic and it is a day by day issue. Had many discussions with the ones that chose to call it a "Disease", I disagree.

My sperm donor was an alcoholic who chose booze over his 4 kids. He left before I was old enough to know him. So, genetically speaking, I was/am more prone to be the same, than someone without those genetics.

Yes, it is an addiction, but it was a chosen 1 by me. Nobody else was/is responsible for the choices I made as an adult throughout my life.

Several of my co-workers were also addicted to alcohol, in many forms. Some went to AA, others did not. I chose to do it on my own, and decades later I am still successful.

Alcoholics still have functioning brains, even when under the influence. If they choose to get behind the wheel of a 2 to 4,000 pound weapon, and kill someone? It was their choice to take control of that weapon, an addict or a social drinker. Someone dies, they pay the price.

Hope you are well and ridin,

hckynut 🇺🇸

The folks who have DUIs more than once likely require more intervention type programs that will help them actually try to stop their addiction by helping decrease the psycholigical factors involved in this kind of addiction.

hckynut(john)

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

It's interesting how we regard drunkeness.

On the one hand we say that if a woman is drunk, she cannot consent to sex because she doesn not have sufficient mental capacity at that point to make that decision.

Yet when someone is drunk and drives (who is in the same state as above), we hold them absolutely accountable - apparently on the assumption that the "decision" was made at the first drink - which apparently is NOT true for the above situation.

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

@Isobel Archer The accountability is the person's unwillingness to manage the disease of alcoholism, if they in fact have it. Not all drunk drivers, crime victims, or criminals are alcoholics.

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

Alcoholism is a disease, or isn't it? Suppose a diabetic fails to manage his disease, passes out behind the wheel, smashes into a car and kills someone. Jail tearm for him? What about distracted drivers, I encounter more of them than those who are above .08.

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

@Laura14 wrote:
@Isobel Archer The accountability is the person's unwillingness to manage the disease of alcoholism, if they in fact have it. Not all drunk drivers, crime victims, or criminals are alcoholics.

Not understanding your point. If alcoholics are accountable for managing their disease, then are you saying that a non-alcoholic who becomes drunk is not accountable?

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

@Isobel Archer Everyone's accountable is my point.

I completely subscribe to alcoholism being a disease, but it's not a mitigating circumstance for criminal behavior and shouldn't be treated as a double standard or worse an excuse, in my opinion.

You choose to get behind the wheel of a car as an alcoholic or one time drunk, it doesn't matter. You live with the consequences (criminal and otherwise) of whatever comes your way.

Stelladorable · ‎08-22-2019

@Isobel Archer in either case in your example, the person is not in any state to make a rational decision. To drive. To consent to sex. If you drive drunk, your actions impact public safety.

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

@Stelladorable wrote:
@Isobel Archer in either case in your example, the person is not in any state to make a rational decision. To drive. To consent to sex. If you drive drunk, your actions impact public safety.

So then are you saying that in neither case, can you blame someone else for your actions?