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A Simple Fix for Drunken Driving
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Aug. 14, 2015 | KEITH HUMPHREYS

Posted on 08/15/2015 9:33:07 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion

A decade ago, as attorney general of South Dakota, Larry Long saw the need for a more direct approach and launched a program called “24/7 Sobriety.” I first encountered 24/7 Sobriety five years ago, and it confounded much of what I had learned in my years as an addiction-treatment professional.

On a clear South Dakota morning, I found myself in a Sioux Falls police station, waiting for more than a hundred repeat offenders to appear for court-mandated appointments. They had to blow into a breathalyzer to prove that they had not been drinking. I expected that many wouldn’t show up; I felt sure that many of those who did show up would be intoxicated—and the rest would be surly.

But every single offender trooped peacefully by, chatted briefly with a friendly officer, blew a negative test and went on his or her way. This was remarkable and new to me, particularly because it was almost absurdly simple.

Offenders in 24/7 Sobriety can drive all they want to, but they are under a court order not to drink. Every morning and evening, for an average of five months, they visit a police facility to take a breathalyzer test. Unlike most consequences imposed by the criminal justice system, the penalties for noncompliance are swift, certain and modest. Drinking results in mandatory arrest, with a night or two in jail as the typical penalty.

The results have been stunning. Since 2005, the program has administered more than 7 million breathalyzer tests to over 30,000 participants. Offenders have both showed up and passed the test at a rate of over 99%.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Religion; Society
KEYWORDS: addiction; neoprohibition; papersplease; prohibitionists; revenuetickets
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To: elcid1970

I actually love that kind of weather myself.


21 posted on 08/15/2015 10:03:45 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Someone help me out here: is this thread about drunken drivers, or the WSJ itself?


22 posted on 08/15/2015 10:10:36 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Alberta's Child

I’d much prefer that governments address any problems with bad drivers, period — regardless of what else is going on with them.


I propose that if you have an accident causing injury or death then there be a through investigation. If negligence is found to be a cause then you go to jail. Term being related to the severity of the injury. Someone dies and you go to jail for negligent homicide.


23 posted on 08/15/2015 10:11:05 AM PDT by saleman (?)
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To: 1rudeboy

Speaking of driving, have you checked out the Woodward Dream Cruise? Looks like a good time for car lovers.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3324886/posts


24 posted on 08/15/2015 10:15:21 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: cripplecreek

Yes, it means not looking out your window & watching the grass turn brown.

A rainy afternoon with the tall trees swaying - relaxing.


25 posted on 08/15/2015 10:15:29 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: humblegunner

There’s an easy way to beat the WSJ paywall. Copy the title, then go to Google. From a Google Search page (search box doesn’t do the trick), the first link will be straight to the WSJ article. . .no nags. . .


26 posted on 08/15/2015 10:15:57 AM PDT by Salgak (Peace Through Superior Firepower. . . .)
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To: elcid1970

I could never live in southern California. It could rain pretty much every day and I would be happy.


27 posted on 08/15/2015 10:18:36 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.)
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To: cripplecreek
I was out on Woodward at 7:45am, and people already had their lawn chairs placed. I ate breakfast at Toast, and evacuated to the house (I kinda' need a/c today anyway, I'm resting). That craziness is happening right now within walking distance. I might go out tonight, but the event will be over.

Beautiful cars everywhere I looked. God Bless Motown.

28 posted on 08/15/2015 10:19:06 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Harmless Teddy Bear - I agree with you completely. In Michigan, where I live, If you are convicted of your second DWI you automatically lose you license for up to, meaning at least, one year. No one can go without a driver’s license for a year in Michigan (Michigan, because of the reliance on the automobile producers has virtually no mass transit). So you either put your life on hold for a year or you drive illegally.


29 posted on 08/15/2015 10:23:03 AM PDT by glabbe
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

It’s a great idea.Let’s set up testing stations in the halls of Congress.Show up drunk,get escorted out.


30 posted on 08/15/2015 10:43:36 AM PDT by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: WKTimpco

“There should be a rule: no WSJ-based threads unless the poster gives a synopsis of the entire article.”

Yeah. And all sites that use the piano media firewall to that rule as well.


31 posted on 08/15/2015 10:44:10 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: glabbe
or you drive illegally.
Way too many do.
32 posted on 08/15/2015 10:45:50 AM PDT by DYngbld (I have read the back of the Book and we WIN!!!! (this post approved by the NSA))
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To: Salgak

“There’s an easy way to beat the WSJ paywall. Copy the title, then go to Google. From a Google Search page (search box doesn’t do the trick), the first link will be straight to the WSJ article. . .no nags. “

That’s not working any more for me. Have you tried it with this article?


33 posted on 08/15/2015 10:47:57 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: cripplecreek

I actually love that kind of weather myself.

Ditto!

Unless I’m at the shore the sun bores the hell out of me.


34 posted on 08/15/2015 10:59:06 AM PDT by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job...)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Everyone needs to ride once in The Convincer, a device state registries bring around periodically to safety fairs.


35 posted on 08/15/2015 11:00:17 AM PDT by pabianice (LINE)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

I appreciate the desire for this to work, but if these people are showing up, in the morning, according to a schedule, then what’s to stop them from stopping in, taking the test, and then hitting the bottle.

As long as they quit at the right time to get the BAC back to zero, I think this is wishful thinking.


36 posted on 08/15/2015 11:01:29 AM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

I would imagine it would not be too difficult for a smart phone app with breathalyzer to be linked to a parole officer that a person can blow in to each morning and night eliminating the need for a physical visit to the police station. Put it on a smart phone, have it film the blow, then link the results. Any cheating is severley punished but would be difficult with the modern technology that can live document the entire test would make it difficult. If one does not have a smart phone I hear Obamaphones are easy to get.

Any one takes the idea and makes millions just split it with me.


37 posted on 08/15/2015 11:18:32 AM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: elcid1970
My absolute favorite is the one where the family of rats (father, mother and two little ones) are trying to climb up a mooring rope to board a ship. There's a huge rat guard right in their path. The mother turns to the children and says, "Shutup! Your father's trying to think!"
38 posted on 08/15/2015 11:34:26 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: catnipman

It worked for me.


39 posted on 08/15/2015 11:35:01 AM PDT by RedWhiteBlue (Mama tried)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
Conceptually, it's the most fascinating approach to drunk driving developed since cars.

And it appears to work!

40 posted on 08/15/2015 11:36:19 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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