Should the DUI laws be changed?

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

I read about it in the newspaper, drunk driver caused a crash that kills one. The laws for these drunk drivers are not strong enough. What does everyone else thinks? I think bars should have a breath analyzer test at the door and people have to blow on it before they leave. Now for the people that drink at home and that go to parties and drink and drive, I don't have an idea for them. Maybe if anyone gets caught drinking and driving or driving while drunk they get 6 months to a year in prison.

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

They aren't strong enough here either.

I used to work with some categories of people where drink/driving offences were involved.

Apart from the odd one or two people who had lost their license due to being caught just over the limit, I can practically guarantee that the remainder had been well over, and had been convicted more than once.

If you are thoughtless enough to drink to insensibility once and then drive, you are thoughtless enough to do it again.

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

Yes, that is so true. Taking a license away for set amount of time isn't good enough. Maybe taking away the license forever might help.

Thumperfive · Mayor Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 222

I remember centuries ago in my youth that it was just considered bad luck if you got hit or killed by a drunk driver - it just wasn't considered to be a major problem.

then we all woke up.

I'd pull the license and never let them drive again after ONE DUI - but people consider it an American right to drive, so they keep on killing people.

Crying or Very sad

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

You are 100% right Thumperfive. If the law would change and take the license after their first offense maybe it will wake up others that drink and drive.

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

Well I don't know about the US, but here in the UK people still keep driving when they are banned.

Realistically, how do you stop individuals just getting in a car and going?

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

If they are drunk and don't have a license and you know them. Call the police with he license plate number. If you're talking about in general, you can't stop them. That's up to the police.

Thumperfive · Mayor Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 222

you can't stop them, but you can make the people around them more responsible - like now if the bartender keeps giving them drinks after they're drunk, they can be sued.

make it so that if you lend your friend your car, you go to jail.

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

Isn't it already an offence for a bartender to keep serving drinks to somebody they know is driving and already had too much?

I thought it was over here, but maybe I got it wrong. I don't ever remember anybody being prosecuted for it.

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

I got another idea. Maybe when someone gets their license took for DUI, they have to get random alcohol tests at anytime without any notices. If they fail they lose their license for good. If they get caught driving without a license, they go to jail for 6 months to a year.

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

I think that is a good idea.

Thing is, what people forget is, if you are an alcoholic, you are!
A little thing like losing a license isn't going to stop you driving.

I knew a woman who got picked up for DD. She was charged, went back home, got drunk and took out her sons car.

What can you say?

Thumperfive · Mayor Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 222

some people just don't get it. They never will.

toss their butts in jail, tear up their licenses and then tell their family that THEY'll be joining mom in jail if they let her drive.

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

...nobody wants to help them? Surely not, Nogard. Not in this society. There are loads of people wanting to help if people want to access it.

Alcoholics don't change for a couple of reasons. One is denial, the other is wanting to. When they get to that stage then they can.

Trouble is, a lot of them still drive up to that point.
And since, alchohol is such an accepted part of our society, they have ever excuse to delay those stages.