Gotta vent - drunk /DUI driver

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

so, yesterday an idiot rear ended a car with a mom and a 4 yr old inside. Flew into a parked car and into the entrance of a restaurant. LUCKILY, no innocent people were hurt. The driver had minor injuries.

Turns out the guy was drunk, high, in possession, and speeding. To top it all off, it was the first day of his license suspension from a similar charge in November!

Forward to tonight, sirens start going off around nine. Something is going on over at the road that parallels our main road. Head on crash. One man airlifted in critical condition - one man with minor injuries.

You guessed it - SAME excuse for a human being!!!! Crossed the center line and MAY have killed someone this time. Chances are I will know the other person involved when they give his name.

I am sorry, but when the news said it was the same guy, I just kinda lost it.
Why wasn't he in jail given the situation??? This stuff just gets to me.....

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I don't know much about the law, so someone please correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't they impound his car so that he cannot drive it? I don't understand how people just get to go out and keep making these same mistakes. I hope that if it is someone you know they com out okay (well, I hope they come out okay even if it is someone you don't know.)

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I don't know much about the law, so someone please correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't they impound his car so that he cannot drive it? I don't understand how people just get to go out and keep making these same mistakes. I hope that if it is someone you know they com out okay (well, I hope they come out okay even if it is someone you don't know.)

he totaled his SUV yesterday.....rolled it numerous times before crashing into the building. Then they had to peel the top off to get him out. He found another vehicle to drive tonight.

Keep the other guy in your thoughts and prayers!!

 

[FireDancer]

I can understand someone making a bad decision and getting one DUI. This person has demonstrated that he is either unable or unwilling to be trusted with a vehicle and while I am not sure what can legally be done something has to be before he kills someone.

 

[tonilea]

I don't know much about the law, so someone please correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't they impound his car so that he cannot drive it? I don't understand how people just get to go out and keep making these same mistakes. I hope that if it is someone you know they com out okay (well, I hope they come out okay even if it is someone you don't know.)

He would still drive. If a suspended license doesn't stop him, taking his vehicle won't either. He will buy another car and get some stupid buddy to license it for him or run ficticious plates or just borrow a car. The only real answer for fools like him are prision and unless some one dies that is highly unlikely to happen. Even if some one dies, jail time would be painfully short.

 

[SandrA9810]

that is very scary. I think he needs a mental hospital rather than jail. Because a high paid lawyer can cut that jail time down.

I know some that just got a DUI, with no accident, and is still facing a couple months jail time, with the car impounded. And this is with a paid lawyer.

I also know of a teenager (19), who decided to get drunk new years eve. Spent a couple nights in jail, and finally has a court date in a couple of weeks (who knows why it's taken them 6 months, the previous person was only a few weeks). And now trying to find lame excusses to put off the date because they know they are going back to jail for a while longer. And this person doesn't have money for a lawyer.

Usually after three DUIs, they're no longer allowed to have a lisence. But i doubt that will prevent him from borrowing a car. I love how the law is willing to do nothing these days....

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I wish sentences were much harsher- even for first time offenders, even if they did not have an a's such accident. It's such a stupid and selfish thing to do. There was a case in our hometown where a kid killed his best friend while driving drunk. They gave him a suspended sentence as long as he was not caught again. You would think that killing your best friend would change your ways, right? Nope! I don't think it was more than 6 months before he went to prison because he did it again.

Hopefully they will lock this guy up and throw away the key. That is just sick. I also hope those families sue him for as much as they can. Maybe that will make him think twice (and I'm not normally sue happy, but in this case, I think it is warranted.)

 

[winefairie]

Unfortunatly there is little that can be done with alcoholics who chose to drink and drive, they will find a way. I have a family member who is an alcoholic and is killing herself with it (her liver is gone and she is yellow, has three to six months to live if she keeps drinking). Three DUI's under her belt, suspended license in two state, 18 months unsupervised probation scared1: really?) and is still driving thanks to the car rental agencies that don't check her license. Until we have serious sentences for these people you will continue to see more of this happening.

The family has forced her into rehab 6 times in the last three years and were hoping that the judicial system would do its part and give her a jail term. There is not much you can do when someone is an addict. Pray for the rest of us who have to live with these selfish people.

 

[rigs32]

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Why wasn't he in jail given the situation??? This stuff just gets to me.....

Because many police agencies give people appearance tickets rather than holding them for arraignment.

I wish sentences were much harsher- even for first time offenders

NY has a new law going into effect mid-August that requires all people convicted of DWI to install an ignition interlock in their car for awhile after their plea/conviction. It won't let you drive without being sober. It costs a lot of money to install and has a monthly maintenance fee. Sounds like a good idea, right? It's going to cripple the criminal justice system in big counties with lots of DWI arrests. No one will plea. Everyone is going to go to trial. The DAs in my county already handle almost double the number of cases as the NYC area DAs. And of course there's no money to hire additional staff attached to the bill.

 

[tonilea]

Unless we can get Washington to enact laws that require stiffer penalties, there isn't much that can really be done. And you would be suprised at how many of our law makers have had DWIs.....

 

[cybrkitn]

NY has a new law going into effect mid-August that requires all people convicted of DWI to install an ignition interlock in their car for awhile after their plea/conviction. It won't let you drive without being sober. It costs a lot of money to install and has a monthly maintenance fee. Sounds like a good idea, right? It's going to cripple the criminal justice system in big counties with lots of DWI arrests. No one will plea. Everyone is going to go to trial. The DAs in my county already handle almost double the number of cases as the NYC area DAs. And of course there's no money to hire additional staff attached to the bill.

How far back is NYS going? I have a family member who was convicted of DWI back in 2008 (thankfully, he didn't get into an accident, but was pulled over). This family member has been sober for over 3 months now They say that only the alcoholic can make the change to stop drinking. He finally realized that he couldn't live like this anymore and has made the decision to stop. He hasn't had any cravings for the alcohol to date and has been going every week to couseling as well as weekly AA meetings. It will a while yet before he is ready to get his license back again.

 

[bored]

Story in local paper yesterday was about guy who wrecked and was charged with his 6th DWI in last two years. Why wasn't he in jail is my question? Our legal system is a freakin joke!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

thank you all for responding!

we definitely need tougher laws and to get these people off the road somehow.

I am not even sure that new NY law would have helped in this case, both vehicles were registered to the girlfriend!

still haven't heard much on the condition of the 23 yr old who was seriously injured. Keeping him in my thoughts!!

 

[Took]

As one with two (now deceased) relatives who were alcoholics, I support the confinement of alcoholics in mental institutions and monitored half-way house situations. What most alcoholics need is not (just) punishment but a way to permanently change their behavior and strong motivation to do so. Just putting them in jail for a time will not change things most likely.

I also don't think the locking devices or anything like that will change most alcoholics. However, I do support the advent of much more and much better public transportation.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Bulgaria used to have a nice solution. I don't know if they still use this.

1st DUI conviction - At least 6 months in prison.

2nd DUI conviction - At least five years in prison.

3rd (and final) DUI conviction - Firing Squad!

 

[AlleyKat]

Unfortunatly there is little that can be done with alcoholics who chose to drink and drive, they will find a way. I have a family member who is an alcoholic and is killing herself with it (her liver is gone and she is yellow, has three to six months to live if she keeps drinking). Three DUI's under her belt, suspended license in two state, 18 months unsupervised probation scared1: really?) and is still driving thanks to the car rental agencies that don't check her license. Until we have serious sentences for these people you will continue to see more of this happening.

The family has forced her into rehab 6 times in the last three years and were hoping that the judicial system would do its part and give her a jail term. There is not much you can do when someone is an addict. Pray for the rest of us who have to live with these selfish people.

Amen!

 

[minkydog]

I am sorry, but when the news said it was the same guy, I just kinda lost it.
Why wasn't he in jail given the situation??? This stuff just gets to me.....

I wonder if he wasn't booked in, posted bail, and released. Happens more often than you think.

If a suspended license doesn't stop him, taking his vehicle won't either. He will buy another car and get some stupid buddy to license it for him or run ficticious plates or just borrow a car. The only real answer for fools like him are prision and unless some one dies that is highly unlikely to happen. Even if some one dies, jail time would be painfully short.

Sad, but true.

that is very scary. I think he needs a mental hospital rather than jail. Because a high paid lawyer can cut that jail time down.



Usually after three DUIs, they're no longer allowed to have a lisence. But i doubt that will prevent him from borrowing a car. I love how the law is willing to do nothing these days....

He probably does need to be in an addiction rehab facility. And the only way it's gonna happen is if it's court ordered. Taking his license away will do nothing to stop him. And addict/alcoholic will do whatever he's going to do without thought to the people he might hurt.

NY has a new law going into effect mid-August that requires all people convicted of DWI to install an ignition interlock in their car for awhile after their plea/conviction. It won't let you drive without being sober. It costs a lot of money to install and has a monthly maintenance fee. Sounds like a good idea, right? It's going to cripple the criminal justice system in big counties with lots of DWI arrests. No one will plea. Everyone is going to go to trial. The DAs in my county already handle almost double the number of cases as the NYC area DAs. And of course there's no money to hire additional staff attached to the bill.

And still addicts/ alcoholics will get around it. All they have to do is get their buddy or their kid to blow into the tube. Voila! They're back in business.


A friend of mine has a 21 yo son who got 2 drug convictions, fortunately neither of them involved innocent people. The judge offered him a choice of prison or court ordered rehab with 5 years probation. He took the rehab. This boy has been sober for a year and will soon have his license restored. He has a job now. He faithfully attends AA every night and has become a mentor for other young adults. He takes random drug tests several times a month, which are sent to the court(and pays out of pocket for them, I might add--$60 a pop.) This kid has really turned his life around and he has great incentive to continue in his recovery. Prison for most 21yo's is scarier than going clean.

I think this driver needs to be thrown under the jail, frankly. They have rehab and AA/NA/CA in prison And the police and court system need to answer for it as well.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

apparently he was only issued an appearance ticket because he was only facing traffic violations

even after last night's accident - the charges against him would not be enough to hold him, had he not been injured enough to go to the hospital.

I think they are looking into further charges - as the public is wanting something done. They do not "think" drugs or alcohol were involved, but I bet the tests are being done. Some wonder if he had pain meds from his night in the hospital from the first accident.

 

[legalsea]

On Monday the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal government may keep sex offenders in prison even after their prison sentence is completed, if the authorities consider the person potentially dangerous. Some years earlier the Court had upheld a similar Kansas law designed to keep sexual predators behind bars after their sentence is complete.

Hence, perhaps, in future, we will see various States enact laws allowing chronic alcoholics convicted of repeated DWIs to remain in confinement after their sentence is served, should there be compelling evidence that the prisoner, due to his or her past history (repeated DWIs; driving without a license), or resistance to treatment, or simply a mental disorder rendering the person incapable of treatment (e.g., organic mental disorder secondary to heavy alcohol usage) is likely to resume drinking and driving, thus posing a risk to the public safety.

 

[surfergirl602]

Disturbing. Its just like on the news when you hear about an accident, and its someone's 17th DUI or something insane like that. How does that happen?!?