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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.
It's true -- NJ's DWI convictions are not criminal, it's a Motor Vehicle Violation. In other states, like CA I believe it is something that you eventually need to get wiped off your record.
Did you also know? In NJ, you can also have an open container in the car and as long as you are not over the limit it's not a DWI offense? You get points on your license and a fine, but you can still keep driving. Crazy right?
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?
You make a good point but sometimes it falls on deaf ears. I am completely against DUI checkpoints because there is no probable cause for the stop (swerving, not using signal, speeding, etc) and its been proven that its 10x more effective to patrol to catch impaired drivers.
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 there is an offense 1st, I agree. If its because of a checkpoint, I disagree. Thousands of people are given 1st offenses (66% never get another one by the way) and many of them come from checkpoints. I consider Driving Under the Influence a serious issue, but I don't let my emotions get in the way.
To put it in perspective, I help a sister almost daily who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury incurred when someone talking on their phone hit her. Do I think cell phone abusers should receive similar offenses? No. I'm just saying that impaired driving is impaired driving. Any and all of it puts others at risk.
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.
That's a terrible story and I'm sorry to hear about your friend. My sister was nearly killed by someone on their cell phone.
IMO we just have to use discretion in each case. Some people are not threats on the road, others are. We all make mistakes and even when completely sober, people have accidents. I think its an issue that we need to look into more.
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