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DUI is a crime, just not a felony, which would be a more accurate heading.
States vary but on a 1st offense with no accident or injuries the penalties range in the area of loss of license (or having a controlled license for work reasons with an alcohol ignition interlock), somewhat heavy fines, anti-alcohol program attendance. Subsequent offense punishments become progressively more severe with imprisonment in some states on the 3rd or 4th offense. One problem we have in MD is the continued driving of people even when their license has been suspended.
A car operated by someone under the influence is a weapon and definitely should be a felony.
I don't know why. How is someone driving down an empty street at 3am, going under the speed limit, any more dangerous than some idiot driving in rush hour traffic while eating a burger and texting on their cell phone?
The laws are stupid - we don't punish bad driving, we punish people who have had an arbitrary number of drinks.
In my opinion, the person speeding while talking on their phone, texting, etc is much more dangerous than the person driving the speed limit at 3am who didn't use their blinker but the police officer pulls over so they hope they can grab a DUI. Who is more dangerous?
A family member of mine recently got a DUI, here in the state of New Jersey. To my surprise, his lawyer told him that it was NOT a criminal offense in NJ. It is a motor vehicle offense, more serious than running a stop sign but still not technically criminal. (I used to think it was criminal) Hence, is NJ alone in this regard? Isn't drinking and driving in other states a downright criminal offense in which a record of your arrest is sent to the FBI? What are the laws in your state? Additionally, should DUI (even if no one is injured) should be a criminal offense or a motor vehicle offense (like a traffic ticket)? Please debate the pros and cons of this technicality.
DUI should definitely be a CRIMINAL offense. Drunk driving costs the lives of thousands of innocent Americans each year. It is no joke and the problem needs to be taken *far* more seriously than it is now. We should adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to DUI, i.e. caught over the limit just once = instant one year ban. Anyone who causes death of injury as a result of drunk driving should be given a lengthy prison sentence and habitual drunk drivers (caught more than 3 times) should be banned from driving for life.
I don't know why. How is someone driving down an empty street at 3am, going under the speed limit, any more dangerous than some idiot driving in rush hour traffic while eating a burger and texting on their cell phone?
The laws are stupid - we don't punish bad driving, we punish people who have had an arbitrary number of drinks.
In my opinion, the person speeding while talking on their phone, texting, etc is much more dangerous than the person driving the speed limit at 3am who didn't use their blinker but the police officer pulls over so they hope they can grab a DUI. Who is more dangerous?
All fo the above should be severely punished, but drunk driving is the worst of the worst. It represents recklessness and a sheer disregard for human life.
If memory serves NJ is the only state where DUI is not a felony. The insurance surcharge in NJ is a killer though. Something on the order of $5,000.00 a year.
A car operated by someone under the influence is a weapon and definitely should be a felony. But each state is free to make its own laws. NJ has chosen not to make it a felony.
It's a class B midemeanor in Utah until the third time, when it becomes a 3rd degree felony.
DUI should definitely be a CRIMINAL offense. Drunk driving costs the lives of thousands of innocent Americans each year. It is no joke and the problem needs to be taken *far* more seriously than it is now. We should adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to DUI, i.e. caught over the limit just once = instant one year ban. Anyone who causes death of injury as a result of drunk driving should be given a lengthy prison sentence and habitual drunk drivers (caught more than 3 times) should be banned from driving for life.
I can not say for certain, but I do not think DUI convictions are automatically sent to the FBI.
I also have to agree with someone who said, "anyone can make a mistake" just be thankful the mistake didn't cost anyone thier life and let's hope the person used his head next time he/she is drinking. Many of us can look back and remembe a time we should not have been behind the wheel. I don't know if it age or knowledge, but I know, today, I would never drink and drive.
Nita
I surely agree with what you have said. Hopefully as most get older, they will think twice about drinking and driving.
I don't know why. How is someone driving down an empty street at 3am, going under the speed limit, any more dangerous than some idiot driving in rush hour traffic while eating a burger and texting on their cell phone?
The laws are stupid - we don't punish bad driving, we punish people who have had an arbitrary number of drinks.
In my opinion, the person speeding while talking on their phone, texting, etc is much more dangerous than the person driving the speed limit at 3am who didn't use their blinker but the police officer pulls over so they hope they can grab a DUI. Who is more dangerous?
I tried to rep you for your words of wisdom but I was unable to do so.
The main reason we've made drinking drivers the big bad wolves of our society (along with smokers) is there's a powerful media-driven org. behind it: MADD.
It's now open knowledge that sleep-deprived drivers are as dangerous on the roads as drunk drivers, but where's the movement to bully these big, bad wolves? We need another group, to be called MASDD.
My mother predicted years ago I'd probably die in a car accident due to my being such a big daydreamer. And I reckon that could yet happen. All one needs to be doing is daydreaming at the wrong time, wrong place, and Bam!
Of course, the police will automatically give this stone-sober day-dreamer a sobriety test. LOL! So let's get a group going for these hazards on the road. Call it MADDD.
Some drivers can get easily distracted by the littlest things, taking their eyes off the road at the wrong time, wrong place: A cup of hot Starbucks coffee spilled on your lap, a big large Slurpee spilling all over for a quick unexpected stop on the freeway, a cellphone ringing, the blazing east or west sun in your eyes, a child in the car distracting you, it could be anything, all at the wrong place, wrong time.
Americans are provenly sheep-like. All waiting to jump aboard the next ship to bully someone. That went on continuously during the late 40's and 50's during the red scare, everyone thinking there were commies hiding everywhere, even in their attics and closets. All jumped aboard the ship.
And when the ship went down, it was gurgle, gurgle, gurgle. All went down together without a life raft or life preserver.
Americans are never happier when they're on a witch hunt, finding someone to bully.
It's time to start bullying some of the other bad wolves on the road who are just as dangerous, this daydreamer included. Stone-sober daydreaming bad wolf I am!
I don't know why. How is someone driving down an empty street at 3am, going under the speed limit, any more dangerous than some idiot driving in rush hour traffic while eating a burger and texting on their cell phone?
The laws are stupid - we don't punish bad driving, we punish people who have had an arbitrary number of drinks.
In my opinion, the person speeding while talking on their phone, texting, etc is much more dangerous than the person driving the speed limit at 3am who didn't use their blinker but the police officer pulls over so they hope they can grab a DUI. Who is more dangerous?
My friend was a pedestrian killed by a car which careened into her. The driver of one car was fiddling with her coffee, leaned over, took her eyes off the road 'for a split second' and drove head on into another car, which bounced off Car 1 only to strike and kill my friend.
The woman who caused the fatal accident received a slap on the wrist.
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Madd, maddd, masdd
