One Year Prison Sentence Is Appropriate For Drunk Drivers.

[MainerMikeBrown]

Those who drink irresponsibly are like little kids in the sense that they don't realize the potential consequences of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

However, if our nation forced those who elect to drink and drive and risk my life as well as yours to go to prison for one year, all of a sudden a lot of people will see how serious it is to commit such a crime.

Of course, some people would still learn the hard way that operating while under the influence is childish, dangerous, and immoral. Heck, some would never get the message and would re-offend. But I bet it would still lower OUI rates across America.

Think a one year prison sentences are too harsh? Try telling that to parents who lost their child thanks to a drunk driver.

 

[Dana]

Prison sentences are only warranted if you're habitual and have commit a heinous act like committing manslaughter or hit someone while intoxicated. Why imprison a first timer on a mistake. I say commit him to take a mandatory drivers safety course and subject him to a few AA meetings.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Dana, do you realize how serious of an offense it is to operate while under the influence?

That's the problem with our society in America. We don't take drinking and driving seriously enough! Don't forget, you could be driving down the road minding your own business when all of a sudden your life can change forever (or end) because someone was too childish to realize what can happen when they drink and drive.

If that's not a serious offense, than what is?

 

[Dana]

Why not just revoke their license on the spot and bring them to jail? If they're caught driving without a license then bring their ass in. I just think a prison sentence is going a bit extreme unless they've actually hit someone while intoxicated.

 

[AnitaBeer]

I think you are forgetting that most DUI's don't end in a crash and most of those people learn from their first mistake. There are a lot of cases where longer than a one year prison term would be perfect because the person was driving very dangerously and caused a death or an accident or those with multiple offences.

 

[Panacea]

My dad drives buzzed pretty much every day of his life, and has for 30+ years. He hasn't ever gotten in trouble or in an accident that I know of, but it's ridiculous. People don't give a shit. They want to drink, they want to get home without a hassle, and they'll risk everything to do it. It's so frustrating that anyone would drive intoxicated/distracted...we're a selfish, me-first, convenience culture.

For a lot of these habitual offenders, nothing stops them. I'm talking 3rd 3rds, already done 1 year in prison, license revoked for life...they still get behind the wheel.

It's hard to keep someone from driving in this country.

 

[Dana]

My dad drives buzzed pretty much every day of his life, and has for 30+ years. He hasn't ever gotten in trouble or in an accident that I know of, but it's ridiculous. People don't give a shit. They want to drink, they want to get home without a hassle, and they'll risk everything to do it. It's so frustrating that anyone would drive intoxicated/distracted...we're a selfish, me-first, convenience culture.

For a lot of these habitual offenders, nothing stops them. I'm talking 3rd 3rds, already done 1 year in prison, license revoked for life...they still get behind the wheel.

It's hard to keep someone from driving in this country.

I know people like that. Hell I know people who drink in the car...

 

[Panacea]

I know people like that. Hell I know people who drink in the car...

Ya my dad does too...how he hasn't been put in jail I'll never know!

 

[porterjack]

Ya my dad does too...how he hasn't been put in jail I'll never know!

Sadly it make take a death to stop him

 

[dancingpotato]

I don't even drive after one drink, even if i know I am well under the limit. Mostly because when I drink properly, I get shit faced and cant drive for about 3 days after. I have too much to lose to get caught and even if I didnt, I wouldnt risk other people's lives for the sake of me getting home. It's what taxi or daddy is for haha

 

[Joe the meek]

How many people are pulled over each year in the US for DUW/DWI?

How much would it cost the prison system to take in all those people for a year?

Where do we get the money?

 

[Niamh]

My dad drives buzzed pretty much every day of his life, and has for 30+ years. He hasn't ever gotten in trouble or in an accident that I know of, but it's ridiculous. People don't give a shit. They want to drink, they want to get home without a hassle, and they'll risk everything to do it. It's so frustrating that anyone would drive intoxicated/distracted...we're a selfish, me-first, convenience culture.

For a lot of these habitual offenders, nothing stops them. I'm talking 3rd 3rds, already done 1 year in prison, license revoked for life...they still get behind the wheel.

It's hard to keep someone from driving in this country.

I agree. My husbands mother was killed in a car crash when he was 13. A drunk priest was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit her head on. He got fined a minimal amount and that was it. He apparently got into another crash, injuring another person, while under the influence a few months after that so if killing a young mother of 3 wasn't enough of a wake up call for him, then I doubt anything would have stopped him.

 

[Panacea]

I agree. My husbands mother was killed in a car crash when he was 13. A drunk priest was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit her head on. He got fined a minimal amount and that was it. He apparently got into another crash, injuring another person, while under the influence a few months after that so if killing a young mother of 3 wasn't enough of a wake up call for him, then I doubt anything would have stopped him.

That's so infuriating, beyond words.

 

[darkcgi]

I saw hang em in the town square

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

I knew a guy who, years ago, killed somebody while drinking and driving. Yet after serving time in prison because of it, he was arrested again for operating while under the influence.

 

[hart]

When I was in my twenties I admit, I did drink and drive. I will not drink more than one beer and drive now, it's just not worth it, I have friends I can call who will pick me up and/or call a taxi. As for punishment for drinking and driving I think it depends on the individual case. Certainly there should be a madatory sentence if someone has been injured. And a repeat offender, throw the book at.

 

[Panacea]

I remember, in ethics, discussing two scenarios. Person A drinks and drives, but arrives home safe. Person B drinks and drives, but strikes and kills a child on the way home. Which person is 'worse'?

 

[darkcgi]

some people can have a quick response rate and more mind and body control than others regardless of the same amount of alchohol in their system
but the only way to measure it is by blood/alchohol ratio
so its just oppion about which one is worse

 

[Panacea]

It was suggested luck plays into it, too. Maybe nothing ever crossed person A's path. It's interesting for sure.

 

[dancingpotato]

Both as bad as each other for driving under the influence in the first place. It was just luck of the draw that one got home without any incidents.