Can we get serious about drunk driving already?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewkowski

You use drugs and you might kill yourself (and that depends heavily on the type of drug). Drink and drive you can kill others. HUGE difference.

---

Wrong, as usual. Driving while under the influence of drugs is an offence here in the UK, the police will test you for it, and you will be prosecuted if tested positive. Because of fatalities and serious injury caused by driving under said influence.

And that goes for legal drugs and prescription meds too if the police judge them to be impairing your driving.

Much of the rest of the EU is legislating similarly.

That's probably not quite what "the war on drugs" refers to though

Oh indeed it isn't.

Just refuting Lewk's point that there is a 'HUGE' difference between drink driving and drug driving, because the former can kill others and the latter only kills the imbiber. Which, of course, is silly.

I don't think Lewk said anything about doing drugs and driving. If asked, he may agree with you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GGT

Actually, it IS complicated! If you're dining at a restaurant, and have a cocktail before the meal, or a liquor infused coffer after-dinner drink over several hours....or if you have a quick beer with your pizza after work.....a breathalyzer that detects any alcohol consumption can be considered an "impairment" under zero-tolerance policies.

For that matter, anyone who takes prescribed meds can be considered an "impaired" driver, too. But it's not like cops are posted at Chili's or Applebee's parking lots, or pharmacy drive-thrus. :rolleyes:

---

If you have a cocktail or liquor or beer and then you deserve to be arrested. No sympathy for them.

The limit should be low but non-zero due to trace amounts being possible for a variety of reasons, not so you can have an acceptable number of drinks. The acceptable number of drinks is zero. Unless you're an alcoholic you should be more than capable of having zero drinks while driving.

Tim I think you've called Lewk wrong here. He's not talking about drug-driving, he's talking about (I think) drink-driving versus taking drugs and not driving. Eg taking drugs at home, which is more comparable to drinking at home not drink-driving.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GGT

Right, what makes it 'complicated' in the US -- is that our legislation and policies don't work together. It doesn't make sense to serve alcohol until 2am if the public bus stops running at 11pm, especially when there's no train/subway or readily available taxi service (which is pretty typical even in suburban areas). And believing or hoping every single person who's drinking has a "designated driver" is either denial or delusional. :rolleyes:

I'm complaining because of how it's expanded police powers, allowing them to conduct dragnet-style road block checks, with cops waiting in expectation of arrest even for other things not related to drunk driving. :down: And if the goal is to reduce impaired driving accidents....then where's the same crack-down for talking on cell phones or texting while driving?

---

Its not denial or delusional to think that everyone who's drinking isn't a vile criminal. Bars are open later than buses because people can get taxis, or have friends pick them up, or can walk, or have a designated driver or plenty of other options. Drink driving is NOT one of them. Anyone who drinks drives should be locked up before they kill someone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Timbuk2

Wrong, as usual. Driving while under the influence of drugs is an offence here in the UK, the police will test you for it, and you will be prosecuted if tested positive. Because of fatalities and serious injury caused by driving under said influence.

And that goes for legal drugs and prescription meds too if the police judge them to be impairing your driving.

Much of the rest of the EU is legislating similarly.

---

As others have mentioned I wasn't referring to operating a vehicle while using drugs. That's just as bad as drinking and driving. In fact drugs should be treated LIKE alcohol. Legal to buy/sell and taxed.

Ah fair enough I'd misunderstood.

And I agree that moves should be made to de-criminalise recreational drugs and control them in similar ways to the provision to alcohol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Being

That's old. Where's the follow up story? Prosecutors can appeal a sentence can't they?

---

What a scumbag and what a scumbag system that let it happen. Though...the families of his friends he paralyzed are also rich and kinda helped keep him out of jail...I wonder if the kid is still alive??

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...rned-fugitive/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/us/tex...ing/index.html

You've got no idea how much I hope he gets found, thrown in prison and ends up beaten to death. Scum like this shouldn't be breathing the same air. I bet the little shit doesn't even have an ounce of remorse.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewkowski

Bull shit cases like this are why we should have mandatory sentencing guidelines for drunk drivers.

http://rt.com/usa/affluenza-drink-driving-prison-879/

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Being

That's old. Where's the follow up story? Prosecutors can appeal a sentence can't they?

---

Its been in the news for a bit, but this teen and his mom have vanished after the teen was caught violating his probation by being a horrible beer pong player. Everyone knocks the original probation sentence, but the more I read on this the more I think the judge was a genius. A jail sentence could have been wiped since the kid was a juvenile, but 10 years probation was plenty of rope for this kid to hang himself, which is exactly what he did. Now the law has to find him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewkowski

You've got no idea how much I hope he gets found, thrown in prison and ends up beaten to death. Scum like this shouldn't be breathing the same air. I bet the little shit doesn't even have an ounce of remorse.

---

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0UC07420151229

Oh happy day! The first part of what I wanted to occur has happened - hopefully the rest will follow suite shortly. :)

FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas teen from a wealthy family, a fugitive after breaking his probation sentence for killing four people while driving drunk, has been taken into custody in Mexico, a law enforcement official said on Monday.

Ethan Couch, 18, nicknamed the "affluenza" teen, was serving 10 years probation for intoxication manslaughter in the 2013 incident.

He and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, disappeared this month, prompting officials in Tarrant County. Texas, to place the teen on the county's most wanted list and issue a warrant for his apprehension.

Couch became known as the "affluenza" teen during his trial in juvenile court, when a psychologist said he was so wealthy and spoiled he could not tell the difference between right and wrong.

A Tarrant County law enforcement official confirmed on Monday that Couch had been detained in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but declined to give further details.

I just holidayed in Puerto Vallarta :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RandBlade

I just holidayed in Puerto Vallarta :cool:

---

You're lucky the little ass didn't drunk drive into you as you walked the streets. I hope the Mexican prison they are holding him in is as awful as what is portrayed on TV. As long as they keep him jailed I'm fine with his fighting extradition. I hope his mom gets the maximum penalty for her involvement. I don't understand why the parents of the friends he paralyzed aren't more vocal??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Being

I don't understand why the parents of the friends he paralyzed aren't more vocal??

---

$2 million settlement

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer

$2 million settlement

---

Get out. That won't pay for many years of medical bills.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RandBlade

Its not denial or delusional to think that everyone who's drinking isn't a vile criminal. Bars are open later than buses because people can get taxis, or have friends pick them up, or can walk, or have a designated driver or plenty of other options. Drink driving is NOT one of them. Anyone who drinks drives should be locked up before they kill someone.

---

I was saying US policy goals and state legislation often work against each other, and just don't make sense. <See the drunk driving Texas juvenile who got probation for killing four people.> :bored:

I assume that's because it was a juvenile?

He could have gotten 20 years. Judge gave him probation and promptly retired. If and when he does come back, the max he will face is 120 days in jail.

Can the judge's decision not be appealed?

Over here if a jury finds you innocent then that's the end of it (double jeopardy) but if you're guilty and the judge gives an overly-lenient sentence then that can be appealed by the government.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RandBlade

Can the judge's decision not be appealed?

Over here if a jury finds you innocent then that's the end of it (double jeopardy) but if you're guilty and the judge gives an overly-lenient sentence then that can be appealed by the government.

---

Indeed. Such a judgment would probably not hold much water when you appeal it over here. I did a short look and it would probably be revised on the grounds that the punishment was far too lenient.