What can be done about DWIs?

[wuapinmon]

BAC over .12 = forfeiture of license and vehicle.

No more DUI.

[frank ryan]

I agree that there are plenty of people who can and do drive (pretty safely) all the time at the lower limit of legal impairment.

Tough to feel bad for people who get arrested for DWI because most of them I'm sure have broken the law dozens if not hundreds of times without getting pulled over by the time they finally wreck or get pulled over once or twice. Throw the book at them!

I heard a stat in school. Those who get DUIs have driven an estimated 1,000 while over the limit w/out incident. Usually when you a DUI it's the result of a routine traffic stop. I'm not in favor of people driving drunk but giving DUIs to people who have had 1 beer is asinine. You can also get DUIs for over the counter cold medicine or the lingering effects of a Tylenol PM.

Texting and driving is just as dangerous and selfish.

[Copelius]

BAC over .12 = forfeiture of license and vehicle.

No more DUI.

I could get on board with that. I think .12 is a far more accurate level of actual impairment where driving ability is affected based on my non-scientific recollection of the hundreds of DUIs I screened as a prosecutor and have defended as well. But I wouldn't mind a less severe than the current DUI penalties warning shot starting at .05 or .08 either.

[Topper]

I can get on board with that position as well. My issue is if you are going to say don't drink and drive period then say it, but if you are saying that DUI is based more on impairment then .08 is too low and the penalties should reflect that.

Impairment isn't really at .08, and doesn't reflect the people who have some at a meal out.

[Topper]

I could get on board with that. I think .12 is a far more accurate level of actual impairment where driving ability is affected based on my non-scientific recollection of the hundreds of DUIs I screened as a prosecutor and have defended as well. But I wouldn't mind a less severe than the current DUI penalties warning shot starting at .05 or .08 either.

.05 is basically saying, don't have any. But culture is different than what we say through the legislatures. On one hand, culture endorses imbibing for meals or other entertainment, yet the traffic laws are saying don't follow culture. And yes, I know people respond by encouraging cabs, uber or a buddy, but it doesn't reflect the convenience factor. Restauranteurs need to find a solution as restaurants would stand to lose if people stopped having.

[Uncle Ted]

Why there will never be tough laws for DWI...

DUI On Your Record? No Problem, Go Into Politics


At some point prior to Monica Lewinsky’s unfortunate blue dress, politicians were held to the highest standards of lawfulness, and even a whiff of scandal was enough to guarantee non-electibility.


You probably won’t be too surprised to know that those days are over. It seems Americans will forgive their politicians anything, as long as they’re on the correct side of the aisle. We now elect—and re-elect—people with all kinds of sordid pasts, including DUI arrests. Is it because nobody cares anymore, or because there is a lack of choice? How is it possible that a person who thinks it was okay to drive a car while drunk, risking the lives of everyone else on the road, has the judgment required to hold public office? Apparently here in America, anything is possible.
[...]

http://stories.avvo.com/news/politic...-politics.html


A bunch of drunks are at the wheel of the government.

[SCcoug]

You should probably promote ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

Abstract:
The advent of smart-phone based, ride-sharing applications has revolutionized the vehicle for hire market. Advocates point to the ease of use and lower wait times compared to hailing a taxi or pre-arranging limousine service. Others argue that proper government oversight is necessary to protect ride-share passengers from driver error or vehicle part failure and violence from unlicensed strangers. Using a unique panel of over 150 cities and counties from 2010 through 2013, we investigate whether the introduction of the ride-sharing service, Uber, is associated with changes in fatal vehicle crashes and crime. We find that Uber’s entry lowers the rate of DUIs and fatal accidents. For most specifications, we also find declines in arrests for assault and disorderly conduct. Conversely, we observe an increase in vehicle thefts.

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...act_id=2783797