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30 years ago I had what I know consider the good fortune to be stopped and arrested for DUI. I had not killed or maimed anyone, and really wasn't speeding all that much (50 in a 40 zone) but I wasn't exactly going straight. I got all the law called for... a night in jail, a court appearance and a hefty fine, points on my drivers license and more expensive insurance. But it served as a wake up call for me. It would be accurate to say that there were dozens of times before that one where I was over the legal limit and behind the wheel and just did not get stopped. There were some mornings when I got up and couldn't remember driving home, times when my car was parked rather strangely. Realization set in that every time I had been drinking and got behind the wheel I was wantonly placing someone else's life in danger. Fortunately I never had an accident while drinking.

You can't just throw everyone in the clink who might drive drunk, because there are people who might be genetically predisposed to that weakness who never give in to it. Nonetheless, when someone is stopped for DWI we should come down on them hard enough to make them really think about drinking and driving. Perhaps pictures and descriptions of what happened to Siran and his family would drive home the point. And if a drunken driver does kill or injure someone while driving he should indeed be treated as a criminal.

If there are no injuries, deaths or property damage:

1st time: stiff fine, scare them straight if possible:

2nd time: suspend the license for a long time

3rd time: serious jail time, pemanent loss of license.

<blockquote data-quote="Guest" data-source="post: 432109">30 years ago I had what I know consider the good fortune to be stopped and arrested for DUI. I had not killed or maimed anyone, and really wasn&#039;t speeding all that much (50 in a 40 zone) but I wasn&#039;t exactly going straight. I got all the law called for... a night in jail, a court appearance and a hefty fine, points on my drivers license and more expensive insurance. But it served as a wake up call for me. It would be accurate to say that there were dozens of times before that one where I was over the legal limit and behind the wheel and just did not get stopped. There were some mornings when I got up and couldn&#039;t remember driving home, times when my car was parked rather strangely. Realization set in that every time I had been drinking and got behind the wheel I was wantonly placing someone else&#039;s life in danger. Fortunately I never had an accident while drinking. You can&#039;t just throw everyone in the clink who might drive drunk, because there are people who might be genetically predisposed to that weakness who never give in to it. Nonetheless, when someone is stopped for DWI we should come down on them hard enough to make them really think about drinking and driving. Perhaps pictures and descriptions of what happened to Siran and his family would drive home the point. And if a drunken driver does kill or injure someone while driving he should indeed be treated as a criminal. If there are no injuries, deaths or property damage:1st time: stiff fine, scare them straight if possible:2nd time: suspend the license for a long time 3rd time: serious jail time, pemanent loss of license.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Guest, post: 432109"] 30 years ago I had what I know consider the good fortune to be stopped and arrested for DUI. I had not killed or maimed anyone, and really wasn't speeding all that much (50 in a 40 zone) but I wasn't exactly going straight. I got all the law called for... a night in jail, a court appearance and a hefty fine, points on my drivers license and more expensive insurance. But it served as a wake up call for me. It would be accurate to say that there were dozens of times before that one where I was over the legal limit and behind the wheel and just did not get stopped. There were some mornings when I got up and couldn't remember driving home, times when my car was parked rather strangely. Realization set in that every time I had been drinking and got behind the wheel I was wantonly placing someone else's life in danger. Fortunately I never had an accident while drinking. You can't just throw everyone in the clink who might drive drunk, because there are people who might be genetically predisposed to that weakness who never give in to it. Nonetheless, when someone is stopped for DWI we should come down on them hard enough to make them really think about drinking and driving. Perhaps pictures and descriptions of what happened to Siran and his family would drive home the point. And if a drunken driver does kill or injure someone while driving he should indeed be treated as a criminal. If there are no injuries, deaths or property damage: 1st time: stiff fine, scare them straight if possible: 2nd time: suspend the license for a long time 3rd time: serious jail time, pemanent loss of license. [/QUOTE]