One Year Prison Sentence Is Appropriate For Drunk Drivers.

[Panacea]

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.

I agree

 

[HK]

I'm starting to come to the conclusion that rehabilitation is far better for society than punishment. What does putting a drunk driver in prison for a year achieve? Nothing, except presumably when they get out they won't have a job or a license, and they'll have gained a criminal record. Yay for making that person a functioning member of the community.

I think a lot of people overestimate their own ability/likelihood of an accident. I'd bet a lot of people who drink drive don't realise how much they've had, or how impaired they are. I don't think it's a case of them being 'like children', I think it's more that people realise that drink driving is bad, but don't apply the same thinking to themselves when they're actually in that situation because they don't 'feel that drunk' or they genuinely believe they're under the limit.

I'd rather see things like awareness courses and so on being used, especially for first time offenders, maybe coupled with community service rather than jail time. Obviously if someone actually kills a person, that's probably enough of a lesson on awareness right there.

 

[Panacea]

I do agree about rehabilitation over retribution in a lot of cases, but I swear, so many of the drunk drivers I see at work do not change...and in that same vein, too, I'm not saying the prison helps! They watch videos and attend MADD impact panels but after a time, they get behind the wheel drunk again.

Same for speeding...I slowed down for a good 7 months after I got my first ticket and went to a driving class...but eventually I started creeping up again. I think in general, the culture needs to be constantly reminded how dangerous driving can be.

We see commercials every five seconds for beer, how about one about driving safe?

 

[skyblue]

ok...hows this

over here the general rule of thumb is 2 pints of lager as the limit,now take the scenario that someone drinks his limit then has a dose of that cough medicine he has for that tickly cough he has,the medicine takes him over the limit.....should he get jailed?

 

[Panacea]

ok...hows this

over here the general rule of thumb is 2 pints of lager as the limit,now take the scenario that someone drinks his limit then has a dose of that cough medicine he has for that tickly cough he has,the medicine takes him over the limit.....should he get jailed?

I think if you're under the influence of a mood or mind altering substance and drive, you should be punished/fined/treated/jailed depending on the circumstances. Even if it's Nyquil, if you're over the limit, you probably know it.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Why should the rest of us pay the price because some elect to operate while under the influence in part because lawmakers won't do enough to decrease OUI rates in America?

Instead of having sympathy for those who are too irresponsible, how about sympathizing with those profoundly affected because they lost a loved one thanks to a drunk driver?

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

I'm tired of hearing how those who get behind the wheel drunk or stoned should get a break because they made a mistake.

Well when's the first reaction from society going to be that of how awful it is for these people to commit such a serious crime?! We're talking about people's safety being put in danger needlessly!

 

[Marla]

ok, new here, but just jumping into the convo....

about a week ago a senior citizen (over the age of 70) was drinking and driving then crashed into a church. to my amazement, everyone was posting "get well" wishes when commenting on him in the hospital. I'm sorry but, just because the gentleman was older, I dont feel is OK to just ignore the fact that 1. he was drunk and 2. he crashed into a building. But maybe thats just me?

 

[dancingpotato]

Not just you...

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Someone who kills one or more people while drinking and driving would likely get more than one year in the slammer, or at least I would hope so.

So for those who think an automatic one-year sentence for someone convicted of operating under the influence who was merely lucky enough not to have killed anyone else is too harsh should think again.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

I think people who believe that a one year jail sentence is too harsh for those who operate while under the influence are folks who generally don't take the potential consequences of drinking and driving serious enough.

 

[HK]

I think people who believe that a one year jail sentence is too harsh for those who operate while under the influence are folks who generally don't take the potential consequences of drinking and driving serious enough.

By all means, don't actually respond to anything anyone said. Just make a blanket statement about the apparent attitude of anyone who happens to not agree with every reaction to crime being to lock people up and forget about them.

 

[GuesSAngel]

1 year jail sentence for a dui? ridiculous lol

 

[Tim]

So which is worse...

A. Someone who drinks and drives?
B. Someone who texts while driving?
C. Someone who is reaching for something in the glove box while driving?
D. Someone who is eating a burger while driving?

All of these can and have lead to people being killed.

So if you pick up your ringing cell phone just long enough to see who was calling, and the police see that you were distracted and could have killed someone, should you also get a year in jail???