Comments on: DWI Deaths: Is It Murder?

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

[sly_64]

sly: There is such a service called The Designate. At least in my hometown (Metro Detroit)


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Posted by HonestAbe8

I''ve seen some around, but not enough. There''s still money to be made.

I passed a club the other day, on their sign it said "You drink, we drive".

[honestabe8]

sly: There is such a service called The Designate. At least in my hometown (Metro Detroit)

[sly_64]

There is a very good busniess opportunity to cater to the people who go to bars and drink. Have this service drive a person''s car home who has been drinking. I know that is an issue for some people who just want to get home and not have to worry about their car.

[honestabe8]

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

I agree about the not thinking straight comment, but not necessarily about the do not care comment.

[sly_64]

If you kill someone while DUI, it is murder.

But, the laws are not helping. Make sure the warnings are given by the doctor "Do not drive on this medication !". Take alcohol ads off TV. Make warning labels more explicit.

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.

[honestabe8]

wvu: I agree. You should not take ANYTHING that impairs your judgement and get behind the wheel. Given that, people driving on pot are much better than those driving on alcohol. Every study I have read on the subject confirms this.

[honestabe8]

Ok Gotcha!
Posted by wvu7462

Okay, I am assuming from your response that you understand my point. The next question is "Do you agree?" If not, why not?

[the9thcirc]

60 Minutes, I am suprised that you have not explored a) the economic impact of DA Rice''s approach to Nassau County Residents, b) legal review by experts of her approach vs. existing law and c) DA Rice''s background as I am sure that her college years at Catholic University would yield some "reasons" why the DA is so "determined" in perhaps a rather risky approach (e.g., political reasons, record as a ADA in Brooklyn or as a Federal ADA (risky decision making ability, etc.), perhaps she is a recovered alcoholic herself, similar tradgedy in her family, etc.). Clearly, there is more to this story...

[the9thcirc]

DA Rice''s approach, does provide a method to crack down on drunk driving but at what expense? Her approach seem to stretch the extent of the law in these cases. Existing convictions are currently under appeal. If the appeals are successful, DA Rice''s approach has exposed the county, and its taxpayers, to significant legal expense/risk/exposure and the benefits as yet are unquantifiable.

We can all agree that the law should provide stronger sentences for drunk drivers (who blow 3.0) and repeat offenders should also recieve stiffer penalties. Call me old fashioned, but I believe that pre-meditated murder is vastly different from having two many drinks, and while tragic, resulting in a unintended death (or risk thereof). Clearly, there should be a better lawful balance than exists today to deter this problem (drinking, driving, alcoholism) and crime fit the penalty laws to punish drunk drivers.

[honestabe8]

Are you saying it is OK to drive under the influence of drugs as opposed to alcohol?

WOW! that makes alot of sense. Pot still impaires your judgement.

Posted by wvu7462

I am not saying that at all. I would rather no one drive under the influence of anything. The laws as they are give tacit approval to the more dangerous of the two substances. People are going to drive under the influence. It is an unfortunate fact of life. However , one substance leads to aggressive driving, the other to passive driving. Which is the greater danger on the road? Both substances impair the judgement. The question is to what degree the judgement is impaired.

[dcbinwa]

As a former police officer, I can''t even begin to explain what''s wrong with DUI laws...where to start. Okay first, if you have the money, you can hire a good DUI attorney and beat most charges even if the guy was staggering drunk, they can be thrown out on the slightest little thing. Okay you may ask "How is this?" Most cops will never admit this but us older ones no it''s true; by lowering the Blood Alcohol Content to a ridiculous low amount and, because as a cop, and due to the threat of lawyers and a lawsuit you have to make the arrest, even if you think the guy (oh and yes ladies too) could actually make it home and drive just fine. This has bogged down the courts and DA''s office so the the DA is eager to plead down smaller DUI or a minor mistake by the officer. Thus the typical american, rather than realizing they just got a great break, say "oh hey that was fun, I can do it again"

I agree we need stricter laws and anyone who sits on a "de-sensatized" (spg??) that just because they have driven a little tipsy once in a while does not excuse the slob that wipes out a whole family.

[honestabe8]

Legalize marijuana and the drunk driving problem largely goes away. Pot makes people passive, alcohol makes them aggressive. Which is the greater danger on the road?

[honestabe8]

I am curious. There are those here who want to execute people for drinking and driving. At what level of drinking is it wrong to get behind a wheel? One? Two? With one drink in you, you are likely under the legal limit. Would the "shoot them all" crowd want a zero tolerance law enacted? It would be entertaining to see the alcohol lobby screaming bloody murder.

[erb0087]

"DWI Deaths: Is It Murder?"

Yes it is.

And the older the offender, the stiffer the penalty should be.

There"s never an excuse for drunk driving, but people still doing it in their "mature" years are lower than pedophiles.

Bravo Kathleen Rice.

[nehalem98]

Bottom line: if you think it''s a good idea to drink and drive (which obviously Martin did since his friends told him not to and he went anyway), just take a look at duipictures.com first. It is graphic and jarring, but really brings the point home.

[nehalem98]

Bottom line: if you think it''s a good idea to drink and drive (which obviously Martin did since his friends told him not to and he went anyway), just take a look at duipictures.com first. It is graphic and jarring, but really brings the point home.

[SargeNDaisy]

Anyone who gets in a car, truck or whatever after drinking should be hung or better yet be taken out and shot. I am so happy to hear that DA Rice in Long Island did something about the "DRUNKS IN THE WORLD". Thank You DA Rice. Also it is amazing that "THE DRUNK" never gets hurt but the person they hit is the one who dies or is crippled for life. My prayers go out to the family of that little girl who that guy murdered and I hope that guy "ROTS" in jail.

[nancywhiskey]

As a 13-year veteran of teaching driver''s ed, I have seen again and again that punishment, however severe, is an ineffective deterrent to drunk drivers. Why? The first thing alcohol affects is judgement. A sober brain fears consequences; an intoxicated one doesn''t.
We need to take the choice away from a brain too clouded to make it.

The sane thing to do here is prevention, not punishment. Waiting until after the tragedy occurs is a crime in itself, when we have the simple means to prevent it by requiring ignition interlocks on all cars. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers is pushing this approach. Let''s all get behind them.

[pennypal-2009]

Congratulations to D.A. Rice for being a pioneer in treating drunk drivers for what they are - MURDERERS!

You should be in Texas - I have lived here for several years and I continue to be amazed at the good ole'' boy attitude of law enforcement, and their "look the other way" mentality where DUI''s are concerned.

In a recent DUI case in an East Texas community, the driver''s license had been revoked 3 times, but she continued to drive. On her fourth DUI she killed a child riding his bicyle on the sidewalk. Neighbors previously reported her DUI to authorities. What was the outcome? She pled out . . . no jail time, but supposedly her license was permanently revoked. We''ll see . . . remember this is Texas.

[missingamerica]

lolll...I was just thinking: Alcohol-interlock devices on all vehicles would undoubtedly benefit that other great hindrance to American competitiveness: The insurance industry.

I betcha they would lower there rates were such devices prevalent....about $0.02 for every extra dollar they made.