Comments on: DWI Deaths: Is It Murder?

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

[RichardRoche]

MS Rice is a jerk pandering to the weak. I think 60 min. should check this holier then thou DA for her skeltons in her closet. Everyone dies and has a time. The great thing about life is her day will come and I hope she gets the mercy she gives!
I hate Madd !
Peace

[ss282]

You, are the Jerk, also an idiot that doesen't even spell check. Rave on

[valmak-2009]

I lost an 18 yr old son to a drunk driver; the undocumented alien was given 30 days jail time. People who make the decision to drive while/after drinking should be forced to forfeit there driving privileges for life. There is no way to ever make up for a life; there is always a choice. BEFORE the tragedy occurs. Laws should be universal and consistant.

[hilbilly8]

I applaud Kathleen Rices''s diligence in prosecuting drunk drivers, especially those who have caused bodily harm or death. Driving a two ton vehicle on todays roads is a serious undertaking and requires the highest level of care. Doing this while under the influence is more than a minor transgression. It is the equivalent of taking a loaded automatic rifle into a shopping mall and firing it randomly and then being surprised when someone is hurt or killed.
We need much tougher laws and the resulting penalties for DUI. State legislatures need to step up and realize their responsibilities and enact laws which carry much more severe penalties than now exist.
When I lived in Norway, one of the first things I was told was: Don''t drink and drive. They are tough on offenders here and the penalties are pretty strong. First offense gets you three weeks in jail and loss of license for a year. Second offense gets you six months in jail and loss of license for ten years.
So I say lets enact tougher laws and enforce them, in every state not just New York.

[brobofett]

The Death Penalty hasn''t deterred Murders from happening , Life sentences with out parole haven''t done a thing stop anyone from being killed .. So I guess if these doesn''t work when are we going to excute are first drunk driver

[erb0087]

Punishments don''''''''t deter DUIs, when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you are not thinging straight and therefore do not care.
Posted by sly_64

The point is to make them aware of the penalties before they start drinking. So they''ll make arrangements to drink at home or to have a designated driver.

Penalties don''t deter all crimes. You''re right. The penalties for rape and murder don''t deter all rapes and murders. But lets keep those penalties severe all the same. They do deter some people.

[texasbeta]

There is no sliding scale on the punishments...and MADD gets tax money based upon the # of arrests each year. Tell me, does a person who is .08 have a greater chance of killing someone than a 18 yr old on a cell phone or trying to text? What about an old person who is consistently jerking and thinks the rule they learned in 1940 are the same now? There are a great # of self righteous people on here..."people who drink and drive or use drugs...", are you serious? "Those people" huh? What about the people who made certain drugs illegal because of race? What about the pharmacy companies who push 50 drugs with tons of side effects on people and then lobby for anti pot laws. This isn''t just cut and dry

[sly_64]

Having stronger punishments would be a welcome change for many families and also would be a good deterrent for those who are intoxicated and have their car keys in their hand, considering driving.


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Posted by kameonq

These types of deterants don''t work. People who are drinking or on drugs rarely consider the fact they may kill someone. Education will stop these things from happening more often.
How many people know what (prescription/over the counter) medicine they can take and still drive ?

[kameonq-2009]

If your child or a loved one was killed by a drunk driver, you would most likely hope the offender was given a very long prison sentence. I work with families who have lost their children, spouses or parents to drunk drivers and sending the person who chose to drink and get behind the wheel to prison for just a few years is far from fair.
Having stronger punishments would be a welcome change for many families and also would be a good deterrent for those who are intoxicated and have their car keys in their hand, considering driving.

[sly_64]

Penalties and fines help bring money to the state. That''s the main reason for the elevated charges.

There''s no money in prevention, so the state doesn''t care about that.

[brobofett]

Mr. Heidgen did not go out and purposely Murder these people , but his action did end 2 peoples lives . but he does not deserve a charge of Murder , he does deserve a strict and just punishment, it could be a life sentence .. BUT NOT MURDER. If we as society decide and act on emotion and change are laws based on emotion expression , We then don''t live in a democracy or republic , we live in a society then that is ruled by the Majority , that changes there laws as society sees fit at the time. Isn''t that the LYNCH MOB mentally ?

[brobofett]

We have a problem with Drinking and driving in this country. We have focused less on Education and rehabilitation in the last 10 to 15 yrs. we have decided to put are resources to punishment believing that will deter people from drinking and driving. but it hasn''t its went up. When there was a focus on ADDS and Education the percentage dropped. But that not the society that we live in . By allowing Mrs Rice to do what she did , matter if you thinks right or wrong will open flood gate , you will see the possibility of people being prosecuted for murder on any crime that shows neglect. if you don''t believe just do your research on past cases evolving other laws. California is careful when they impose a sentence to life to dui accident evolving a death. for one there has to be a prior history . They carefully point out that matter how horrific act is there is still no MALICE in this action , so it can not be construed as Murder

[brobofett]

This isn''t seeing justice served, this isn''t about what is Murder and what is not Murder, Someone died in this case , 2 people died . And matter what nothing will ever bring them back. And its sad but its reality. I don''t believe that the young man who drove his car into that limo that night. purposely went out and premeditated a killing . No thats not what he did. But out of his own selfish malcontent neglect he decided to drive when he shouldn''t have. And I believe and know that he will have to deal for rest of his life the guilt that he holds everyday. Because he does nnot have the make up of unpassionate psycho path who kills at will

[sly_64]

You can get a DUI for driving hungover, if there is still enough alcohol in your system from the night before.

[brobofett]

Most of you people are focusing on the more extreme lenient cases out there , They are very strict on DUI . The Majority of first offender DUI cases that evolve in the result of someone being killed average a 10 to 8 yr sentence at 85 % in State Prison. I have met some who are doing 16 yrs. These are people who are considered first offender , to person below who has seizure yes you would be the punished same. There isn''t law that just focus on Alcohol , its intoxicated. its when your driving is impaired. Around the Area I grew up at a lady killed 4 people in a head on Accident , you Know what the cause the accident was ? it wasn''t alcohol it was a cell phone. ( continue )

[sly_64]

There are people out there on drugs prescribed by their doctor, who don''t even know they can get a DUI while driving on these medications.

[cwydner]

I take medication for seizures. would people want me to drive? By my state law I can''t. If I do I will be punished. Why can others use drugs, such as pot or alchohol, drive, even kill someone and not be punished. What if I killed you and said "oh I was only having a seizure and didn''t know I was doing it."

[honestabe8]

depends on which human being

[cwydner]

If I''m poor and steal food to eat I can be sentenced more time than a person who kills someone while driving drunk. What is more important, a few dollars or a human being?

[cwydner]

I think DUI''s should be punished more seriously. In my state if I am broke and starving then steal some food to eat I can be sentenced more time than a person could be for killing someone when they drive while drunk. I feel that the legal system needs to decide if a few dollars worth of food is more important than a human being.

[honestabe8]

sly: when i am out and will be driving, i stick to my one drink limit. most of my friends have DUI''s. i do not have one and do not want one.