Man Sentenced To Life For DWI

Click2Houston.com ^ | 10/29/2010 | Click2Houston.com

[Buffalo Bob]

CONROE, Texas — Montgomery County jurors sent a message that drunk driving in the county will not be tolerated.

George Harvey, 59, was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after a jury thought eight convictions for driving while intoxicated was too many to let him back on the streets.

[Wolfie]

No argument here. But when everyone from the Judge to the Prosecutor looks at the defendant’s table and sees someone very much like themselves, it ain’t gonna happen.

[CMAC51]

>>It is no different than stepping out in the street with a loaded gun and firing at random.<<

It is very different and a ridiculus anaology!

There is no diffence, in both cases the potential murderer has gone out on the street with a deadly weapon and threatened people at random. If you are on the street at that time your life is at serious risk.

What part of Drunk Drivers Kill Innoncent Victims do you not understand or are foolish enough to attempt to argue? Drunk drivers Kill innocent victims. I know it. You should know it. A repeat drunk driver knows it. Yet they still sit down behind the wheel and by choice proceed to put innocent peoples lives at risk. They deserve to be put away where they can't threaten people anymore.

[Vaquero]

So what about the millions of Americans who drive EQUALLY IMPAIRED while using their cellphone

cellphones nothing...once the call is dialed it should not interfere with most people's attention span...

.....what REALLY is dangerous is those who Drive and Text....deadly.

[Tex-Con-Man]

That wig and those glasses are a felony by themselves...

[Little Ray]

So we have to wait for him to kill someone, eh?

[EyeGuy]

“...once the call is dialed it should not interfere with most people’s attention span...”

####

My real world experience is in direct conflict with that assumption.

Nearly every day.

YMMV.

[HungarianGypsy]

It is excessive, when vehicular manslaughter, related to a DUI, carries less than a ten year sentence.

[wideawake]

Did you read your response before posting?

Indeed I did. You didn't read it after I posted it.

Here's a recap:

(1) "Substance" would refer to the dirtbag in question dying in prison.

(2) "Symbolism" would refer to the name you assign to the sentence that produces the substantive result - you could call it "20 years" you could call it "life", you could call it "Fred" if it makes people happy.

My posts so far have had the same message: you can call it what you like, as long as he dies in prison.

So, when I say that you can use any name you want as long as he's locked up for life, I am indeed putting the substance over the symbolism.

[Little Ray]

He can’t have a license. He’s probably lost his car at least once. He’s not going to stop. What do you suggest? Maybe the cops should beat the sh*t out him every time they catch him driving? Can we execute him after he’s killed somebody?

[TSgt]

So what about the millions of Americans who drive EQUALLY IMPAIRED while using their cellphone.

You're a damn fool if you believe they are the same level of impairment.

Airline pilots are not permitted to be intoxicated but it is okay for them to converse with controllers while flying a plane full of people. Could it be because the level of impairment is different or should we allow them to be intoxicated? Think about it.

[Liberty Valance]

*yikes* dude looks like a lady.

[SeeSac]

That's absurd and not justice. In no way is that sentence proportional to the crime...

Driving drunk with not lights on. This guy should not be on the streets. Three strikes and your out. Or are you against the three-strike rule?

Lucky this time he had an accident with another drunk driver. Took two drunks off the road with hurting innocents. I wonder what type of wrecks he had for his previous two felony convictions.

[SeeSac]

GPS ankle bracelet and court-ordered to only take public transportation? If he starts moving faster than running speed he’d better be able to show he was on public transportation, or it’s back to jail for another few years just for driving a car (whether drunk or not).

Woudn't stop this guy.

[SeeSac]

if no harm was done to anyone

Harm has been done. Three felony convictions.

[SeeSac]

I agree with you. Life for a DWI is crazy. 8th or not..

Whose life are you willing to sacrifice for his continued DWI's?

[EyeGuy]

Given the ridiculously low level of currently enforced DWI standards, you are a clueless ass if you don’t believe they represent the same level of impairment.

Absolutely ignorant comparison with an airline pilot communications. Totally irrelevant on many levels.

[thackney]

If we start locking people up because of "possible" dangers

It is far more than just possible when it is such a repeat offender. It isn't just that he might do this. He has demonstratively done it over and over.

[thackney]

He already had multiple convictions of driving without a license.

[bassmaner]

In Minority Report they were convicted before committing a crime. DUI is a crime.

He is being sentenced for crimes already committed.

True, but he received a sentence usually reserved for murderers. IMO, the 'Minority Report' comparison is valid since the justification is to 'keep him off the street before he kills someone'. Sounds like 'pre-crime' to me.

[SeeSac]

True, but he received a sentence usually reserved for murderers. IMO, the 'Minority Report' comparison is valid since the justification is to 'keep him off the street before he kills someone'. Sounds like 'pre-crime' to me.

So you are against the three-strikes and you're gone laws?