Comments on: DWI Deaths: Is It Murder?

Bob Simon On One Prosecutor's Efforts To Increase Penalties For Drunk Drivers Who Kill

[mahdui]

You are so wrong. anyone who kills another person is a murderer. For far too long drunk drivers have killed and maimed under the excuse of I didn't mean to do it. If that were true then they wouldn't have gotten behind the wheel of an automobile and drove drunk. There's no excuse for taking someone's life, intentional or otherwise. Drinking and driving is a choice and a crime.

[mahdui]

I agree, drunk driving isn't an accident, it's a choice. You made mention that you drove and drank in your 20's. The human brain doesn't finish developing until they are in their mid-twnties. The frontal cortex of the brain is responsible for decision making. Therefore, age 25 and under really need to be educated about DUI in the school systems. I'd like to see the school systems nation wide really hit hard the responsibility and consequence of drinking and driving.

[mahdui]

Right on!

[mahdui]

If a drunk driver kills someone and it's his 'first offense,' it's probably just the first time he's been caught. Most drunk drivers are habitual abusers. I'd rather pay for them to be in prision than to have to pay the price of loosing another life to the idiot that chooses to drink and drive.

[mahdui]

So sorry for your loss. I totally agree with you! Murder is murder. Drinking and driving is a choice.

[The_Christian_Prophet]

This case, however tragic, and the prosecuter Kathleen Rice, only serve to illustrate the bankruptcy of our nation's criminal justice system. Not that the system was ever perfect, but where were the 'Judge' and jury during this fiasco - were they too asleep at the wheel of justice?

This case is hardly unique, but this arbitrary sentence is. This case is a moral outrage. One can only fear for a country who's people are blind to such madness.

To compare an automobile fatality, whether the result of driver fatigue, a mother looking over the back of her shoulder at her children while driving, or a driver playing with the radio, a cell-phone, a text-message, a computer, or as in this case the decision made by a young man to drive after he was too impaired to make rational decision can only be compared to murder in the land of Oz.

[mahdui]

You, sir, are an idiot! I hope you never have to know the pain of having a loved one killed by a drunk driver. When someone chooses to drink they need to choose NOT to drive. It's a choice that is made and a bad one if they choose to drink and drive. It's no different than buying a gun and shooting it in the air and having the bullet fall to the earth and kill someone. It's Russian Roulette with an automobile. As much as we hear about DUI, everyone who drives should know that drinking and driving kills. If they choose to drink and drive then they know they will go to jail for the rest of their lives if they kill someone, then just maybe it will deter the crime. I applaud Kathleen Rice. Mass tranist won't stop people who own a car from drinking and driving. That's not the solution. Education is the key to enlightenment. And, if you educate society that they will go to jail for DUI and it's a strict sentence then maybe that will curb the desire to drink and drive. I am so angry that there are repeat, chronic, habitual drunk drivers that time and time again get arrested for it and get off with a slap on the hand due to someone like you who 'gets them off' that I could just scream. Do a DUI drive along sometime and see what really happens. Look into the eyes of a mother who has lost her child due to someone's irresponsible actions, feelings of entitlement, and feelings of invincibility to drink and drive and tell me they shouldn't be prosecuted.

[billb3672]

I live in Arizona and as a former police officer I wish we had a Prosecutor like Kathleen Rice! With her and Sheriff Joe Arpio working together in our county we would have less issues with Drunk Drivers. I am sure the ovrall crime rate would drop even more.
Kathleen- Thanks for standing up for the victims of these drunks that seem to stay in the system and are only slapped on the wrist when arrested for DUI and when they kill someone they get off with probation.
Keep up the good work and hopefully we will se you in Arizona

[airports]

hello the TSA was created right afetr 9/11---and thats when the TSA took over the airports in secracy the way they did it ---- think a minute-- there were already screening companies in place right?? so that did not stop the TSA and going to airports except for SFO and getting rid of most people that were there doing a great job-and replacing screeners with experience--They came up with a test an apptitude test from a company --the name escapes me right now--- that could not even correct high scholl papers correctly--what happened a year or 2 before 9/11 high school kids took a test to pass but failed -the parants sued and won the company used the wrong test answer sheet--but theTSA used this company to screen new employees!!!! TSA govenment should never have been alowed to take over poples jobs the way they did

[emald]

As horrible as it is, drunk driving is not murder. It's not inevitable drunk drivers will injure themselves or others. How does Rice get away with making such an illogical statement? We need stiffer penalties, much more than a year in jail or community service, but it's a mistake to reinvent the meaning of murder.

[jtull2009]

Why not require a breatherlizer on all new cars?

Maybe in few years we could expand it to include used cars.

To me it is like not putting regulaters on cars. \

It is just another way for police to make money off people and totally preventable. Sad, but true.

Build cars that can't go faster than 55 and must be driven by a sober person and police revenue goes way down.

Truth hurts.

[saycapt]

yes, its horrible shame we have drunk drivers getting into accidents and killing innocent people

it is approximately 42000 a year hold a person in jail.I bet it would cost society less to have hired taxi drivers / services through out cities and when someone needed a ride home, give them one..even pick up their car in the morning.

42000 x the number of people in jail for drunk driving add up quick


putting people in jail will not stop other people from driving drunk

if a person does get a drunk driving ticket then make him or her pay
take it out of their paycheck and make some kind of restitution

we never weigh societal cost...why?

[grandmajeannie]

Thank you! Your solution not only save lives and is better use of our depleting funds, it would also resolve our newest and fastest growing issue of driving while using a cell phone...including hands free...and the 'texting' temptation. I'm deeply sadden by any death by highway caused by aggressive drivers, drunken drivers, cell phone drivers or drivers w/o sleep. No one likes to think so, but statics show that more are killed by cell phone drivers OR aggressive drivers than drunken drivers. Sad but true. (See cell phone use while driving study released recently by government which was completed a few years ago) It's easier for Ms. Rice to go after drinking drivers than aggressive drivers, drivers using cell phones, and drivers with deprived sleep. Thanks again.

[RandyInEugene]

YES, DUI is MURDER! Amen to that and kudos to Kathleen Rice for taking a tough stand. The good ol' boys who drink and drive will excuse the behavior by saying he didn't MEAN to kill anyone, but his victims are just as DEAD. For those who say we don't have enough jail room for them, I say shoot drunk drivers on sight. That probably won't sit well with the all the drinkers in this country. Speaking of drinkers, maybe Barack "Bud Light" Obama should invite Kathleen Rice and drunk driver/murderer Martin Heidgen to the White House for a beer. I'm sure that would be as productive as the last Beer Summit meeting. Wasn't that meeting a wonderful way to show how they deal with problems in Washington?

[grandmajeannie]

This story was absolutely heart breaking. However, Kathleen Rice either chooses to disregard or is not aware of the study released recently which indicates that driving while using a cell phone kills as many or more people than drunk drivers. Does Kathleen Rice use her cell phone while driving? If so, she is "acting so wrecklessly so that others were likely to die"..."deaths of others inevitable" so that if Ms. Rice causes a death on the highway while using her cell phone (as it did just a mile from my home), then Ms. Rice must also be charged with "murder by depraved indifference". Where is her warning and campaign against using a cell phone while driving, including using a hands free cell phone, let alone texting while driving? This study was completed several years ago. How many more deaths have happened since that study was completed? How many more must die before someone finally does something about this dangereous and fast growing problem? How many teenagers are 'addicted to texting' before they are old enough to drive? I employ Ms. Rice to get on this issue, ASAP.

[guest173]

it is a deterrent to give them long sentences, then they will be in jail and can't do it again. a lot of people drink and drive several times and even get caught more than once. the sentences should be very long if they kill someone, everyone in society is taught not to drink and drive, they shouldn't get off like they are innocent for killing someone when drinking and driving

[AleQC]

Thank God me or my family have never sufer a tragedy like this, but I think a person who chose to drive after been drinking have to be resposible for their acts. Bravo Mrs. Rice, sometimes this is the only way for people to understand the severity of this problem.

[demoty74]

Lets see if you feel the same way if one of your family members are killed by the very people that you want to protect and make excuses for!

[demoty74]

It is murder! Good for you DA Rice. It is about time that someone put their foot down and stand up for the people that lost their lives by the irresponsible citizens of our society. Let this harsh punishment apply to the rich and famous as well! No one should be above the law when they have taken an innocent life!

[dfigtreeee]

It's not so hard to seriously reduce the number of drunk driving accidents. For people who get drunk at a restaurant, sporting event or any mode of transportation, the business that sold the booze that got the patron drunk is responsible. These businesses already check ID when a drinker arrives. Then they can easily serve up a Breathalyzer test when they leave. If they are over the limit, serve coffee until the police arrive. After a while, this safety measure will take hold.