Posted on 04/01/2011 2:22:59 PM PDT by chessplayer
You are right. What began as a crusade against drunk driving is now a crusade against drinking and driving.
I work in a prison counseling substance abuse offenders, many of whom are now sent to prison for first offenses. These guys need interventions, treatment, whatever...but they are getting prison sentences because the screws keep turning only one way. I have guys that got inside their car in a bar parking lot without keys in the ignition, and were still busted by the police. Others hadn’t put the car in drive and were arrested anyway. Others were on bicycles.
These are otherwise good men who are separated from their jobs and families and sent to prison to learn how to become real criminals. The murderers and rapists have high powered lawyers and the ACLU to get them off.
These guys almost always get public defenders who give their cases little effort. The repeat offenders will often tell you they deserve prison and are sorry. Many here would be shocked at the decency of these men. But the heavy yowlers on threads like these would want no doubt them to be punished further.
And if any of the nutcase, know it all, fascist pukes on this thread want to call me a drunk driver, I haven’t had a drink since 1989. I don’t drink at all, let alone drink and drive. Most of these people could goose step and work for TSA. They love the government as much as the libs do, but only as long as it harasses who they want it to harass.
Someday this gigantic, superlegal, P.C government will come for these folks too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HEAR HEAR!
I’m just glad this thread did not occur in a room face to face. I would’ve been guilty of a crime. I literally HATE people like the ones on this thread. They are the reason life in modern society sucks the way it does. They are a disease and they are the worst kind of problem to have in a modern civilized society.
Based on the post I originally responded to you seem to have a pretty definite opinion of what “under the influence” is, or should be, eh. Ya know what they say about those who have to resort to name calling dontcha?
And if you fail, its the same for a 25 year old male who had some beers, or a 78 year old lady who really shouldn't be driving.
Throw them them both in prison.
no, why don’t you educate me, you pompous shit. You sicken me even more than the tree huggers.
Not anymore.
But in the 80s I averaged 105 on a long western stretch of I-90.
Thanks for posting a bit of commonsense.
I’m with you.
Point zero eight is bullshit and people who live in Cleveland or San Diego or for that matter Fargo don’t know what the hell they are talking about in regard to Montana.
This representative lives near Interstate 15 (which is hardly the Van Wyck Expressway) but there are scores of Montana towns a long way from nowhere and in the past communities-—families, kids, grandkids, guests-—have gathered in the small town pubs in a frequency right up there with the community churches and not far behind school sporting events.
Some little burgs too small for a school still have a pub and people do congregate there. Is everybody getting blasted? Hardly. Do some? Yes, no doubt, but stricter DUI laws won’t change that. Do patrons or residents have to worry about drunken clowns on the highway? Sure they do. Do drivers nowadays also have to worry about a state patrol car waiting at the town limits to bust peoples’ chops over a .08 reading? Damn straight.
You can call for DUIs at as low a blood alcohol content as you want but don’t write off these tiny towns as somehow booze-sodden and don’t label the representative an idiot.
He’s a small-town working man and he might be the mayor too for all I know and he knows a hell of a lot more about the pace and patterns of Basin, Montana than anyone here.
Well if you’re not up to educating yourself I suppose you could start here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_calling. Choose whichever you feel fits best.
Well, there ya go! Your sensible argument and smooth delivery have won me over!
Good I’m glad. someone had to talk some sense into your melon.
http://dui.drivinglaws.org/montana.php
http://www.duiattorney.com/montana/penalties
And this isn't “tough enough on crime?”
Realize, this doesn't take into consideration the impact this has on ones career, in case one works for the federal government the double jeopardy (which they laughingly get around) a soldier/etc is exposed too (The get punished twice). This doesn't take into consideration the long term impact on a clearance and what a criminal record does to future job prospects.
There are some things that just like global warming snow ball out of control and have no rationale behind them anymore. While DUI/DWI is a danger and should be punished, ALREADY today we deal with this matter completely disporportiate with the real risk and costs it imposes. The argument is always the same, “think of the children” and “we haven't got the rate down to zero yet.” Some think that be ever cranking up the punishment that this makes them “tough on crime” and they never sit back and think about this very much.
Our dealing with this issue is in reality very shallow. There is this perception on the conservative side that we must always simply be for more and tougher punishments.
(First time)
•Jail – 24 Hours to 6 Months (Criminal record)
•Jail – 48 Hours to 12 Months (Passenger under 16 in Vehicle)
•Fine - $300-$1,000
•Fine - $600-$2,000 (Passenger under 16 in Vehicle)
•License Suspension – 6 Months
•Ignition Interlock Device / Probationary License Possible
•Complete Chemical Dependency Education Course or Treatment
Most DUI arrests do NOT involve an accident, most are NOT someone that blows off the scale or stubble's all over the place, if someone is hurt because an accident was caused additional charges are tacked on..... Where can one reasonably argue that given the fact that nothing happened and this is a first arrest, that this isn't “tough” enough?
Since people here asked me about my reasoning, I'd like to hear some of your arguments.
Knee jerk reaction- States passed all sorts of laws making it a punishable offense leaving children in a car unattended. Technically if my 6 year old son gets into my car in front of the house and plays like he's driving the car, I could get a class C misdemeanor here in Texas. -ASININE- It is now a punishable offense to run into a store on a nice cool day and leave a 7 year old alone in a car for 5 minutes, even though she might be able to open the car door, operate the window......... But there is little point in arguing what amounts to “feelings.” People here “feel” they need to be tough on DUI/DWI or “feel” we need more laws for XYZ........
**** You nailed it. Too many laws, most of them to either force you to make someone else rich or to protect you from yourself.
No
>>>but .08 is too low for the legal limit.
>>>That is what I have long thought. You are giving police records to basically responsible people.
Responsible people don’t get behind the wheel when they’ve imbibed. Period.
And yeah, I’ve been irresponsible - and been lucky enough to not get caught.
Responsible people don’t whine and cry until more stupid laws are passed.
Responsible people don’t crave control over everyone else on the planet.
Responsible people are not cowards
The opposite of courage is conformity.
The drinking laws are no longer about public safety. They are about control and conformity.
You sir are no conservative.
Blow it out your arse.
Traveling on Wyoming roads at night can be a scary experience.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.