Are DUI Laws Excessive in your state ... ?

[Cat_Driver]

...Good Evenin Cat,
Agreed, but we are not advocating drunk driving here !

scott_vt ... I know no one here is 'advocating" drunk driving and yes you are discussing two beers but therein lies the Dichotomy. One can not discuss "two beers" without discussing drunk driving since they are synonymous with each other, and I might add where most people kid themselves.

For someone about 150 pounds, two drinks ( equals two beers ) in two hours would probably make you legally drunk (.08 blood alcohol level). It doesn't take much alcohol at all to make you legally drunk, and alcohol stays in your system for hours before it is all gone.

All states in the United States have adopted 0.08% (80 mg/dL) as the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle for drivers aged 21 years or older. However, drivers under age 21 years are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle with any level of alcohol in their system.

According to the CDC - Note: Legal limits do not define a level below which it is safe to operate a vehicle or engage in some other activity. Impairment due to alcohol use begins to occur at levels well below the legal limit. YET, people in general define the level to operate a vehicle safely is TWO BEERS. Sorry to break peoples bubble but that level has never been defined and anyone who say it's two beers is frankly a liar.

No two people on the planet react the same to equal amounts of alcohol in two beers. Two beers for many is called a buzz, for others it's called getting your whistle wet.

Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many factors, including but not limited to

* Age.
* Gender.
* Race or ethnicity.
* Physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc).
* Amount of food consumed before drinking.
* How quickly the alcohol was consumed.
* Use of drugs or prescription medicines.
* Family history of alcohol problems.

A standard drink is equal to 13.7 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol or

* 12-ounces of beer.
* 8-ounces of malt liquor.
* 5-ounces of wine.
* 1.5-ounces or a 都hot of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).

So you can see two beers is equal to two drinks and in some states "depending on the above" you are considered drunk.

ANY alcohol use slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination, which are all skills needed to drive a car safely.2 The more alcohol consumed, the greater the impairment obviously, but two beers will also impair you and there is enough science out there to prove that, no matter what someone says.

 

[DieselPower]

Personally I think there is no such thing as a to strict a DWI law. You drink and drive you should be locked up and locked up for a long time. I have 0 pitty for DWI scumbags. I have had a couple of friends killed by DWI drivers over the years and having towed away dozens of DWI accident vehicles over the years feel the law can't punish them enough. It wouldn't bother me if they made it illegal to drink anything before driving. I to like many others here have a CDL and if they ever cought me with the slightest wiff of alcohol on my breath wouldn't have a problem if they locked me up and revoked my license, I would deserve it.

 

[jgrreed]

While I have been fortunate enough to never have had a loved killed by a drunk driver, what a horrible thing that would certainly be, I also hope that my kids never get caught up in the system and have their lives ruined by todays laws !

Rarely do laws ruin lives unless you break them. I'd look at it more like - "I hope that my kids never get caught up with, or become, the drunks and either kill someone, or die themselves".

A friends brother received his sentence for his second DUI just last week. No accidents, or injuries, just busted. He was sentenced to 3 MONTHS IN JAIL!!!! Apparently the Red Deer area has taken a zero-tolerance policy and have really tightened up on this stuff. At first I thought "Wow, that's harsh", but then I thought just how irate I would be if someone I love was hurt by a drunk driver.

Statistics tend to show that penalties are not a deterrent to crime. The DUI laws are no exception.

Oh?? I'm interested to know what would be a reasonable and effective deterrent??

While they have succeeded in making criminals out of ordinary people......

Every criminal, at the moment before he or she committed their first crime was an 'ordinary person'. Every 'ordinary person' has the ability to easily become a criminal be it via tax evasion, speeding, rape, or....... driving drunk. Unless they are one of the rare people wrongly accused, or framed, they've done it to themselves, and need to take responsibility for it.

A few of the responses in this thread are really poor in my mind. The laws are there because people are dying. When you put away TBN this eveing, stop and look at the family pictures on your walls and imagine that one of the people in that picture doesn't come home tomorrow morning, ever. Or, take yourself out of that picture, and imagine just how sad, and screwed, they'd be without you. Can't believe this is even being discussed.

-Jer.

 

[Skyco]

Every morning on my way to work I hear at least one hit-and-run on the radio traffic reports, sometimes there are 3 or more... This is in the Columbia SC area. I have no idea how many of these are DUIs, or not insured, or illegals or what....but I'd bet a fair percentage are DUIs.

 

[DieselPower]

I helped tow these DWI/DUI accidents away, any questions?

I didn't think so.

 

[Sigarms]

Oh?? I'm interested to know what would be a reasonable and effective deterrent??

You did not dispute the comment "Statistics tend to show that penalties are not a deterrent to crime. The DUI laws are no exception".

Fact is, by statistics, increased penalties by the law does not always change people's behavior. Mary Jane is a prime example.

I laugh when I hear about the "good old days" and how much better society was in the past compared to with what we have today. How many people do you think were killed by drunk drivers in the 1950's and how did society "back then" deal with that particular issue?

At least in todays society, we reconize the issues and problems at hand, and try to deal with it the best we can. Draconian laws somehwere usually come into play.

Yes, have two 12 oz beers within an hour, and chances are, you could be legally drunk in your state. With todays laws, get pulled over, even for a first time offense, and those two beers could, depending on where you are in your life, screw you over for the rest of your life.

No, I don't feel sorry for those who have killed while driving under the influence.

helped tow these DWI/DUI accidents away, any questions?

I didn't think so.

Anyone remember the movie "mechanized death" (I thought that was the name at least) that they showed in high school that was made by (I think) the Ohio State Police? You can show all the pictures of death and destruction you want, however, it still will not change everyones behavior.

The first time I went to an Bill W meeting, there were five guys there who were sent there by the court system (they had to go or they'd lose their drivers license). Those five guys went, made all the madatory meetings they had to, then guess what? They stopped coming. Laws will never change peoples behaviors (how many here have said "they can have my gun when they pry it from my cold dead hands?"), people themselves have to change their behavior.

Then again, if we want to go to the way Joseph Stalin used to run his office, I'm certain we probably can change peoples behaviors. The catch 22 living in one of the greatest nations on earth (for how much longer, I'm not so sure).

 

[scott_vt]

While I agree that the .04 limit isn't fair and should not apply to a commercial license holder when he's not on the job, it is what it is. If you got pulled over, I'd be very curious why? If you didn't have that one or two beers, would you still have done what drew attention to you and why you were pulled over?.

Eddie

Good Mornin Eddie,
I would think the most likely scenario would be if you were stopped at a DUI check setup that is screening all drivers that drive through that roadway or intersection. I highly doubt that anyone that has one beer and driving normally down the road would get pulled over IMO ! The only other possibility would be if you were driving a motor vehicle that is missing lights etc...

It is ridiculous to have different percentages of blood alcohol to meet DWI standards dependent upon the type of license that you have. If you are driving under the influence, which means that you do not have the ability to drive safely, it doesn't matter if you are driving a car or a big rig. Either one can easily kill or maim. But, in the event that you are caught driving DWI, and you have a cdl, I believe the penalties should be tougher.

Good Mornin Dudley,
Agreed ! If you have a CDL you are certainly held by a higher standard while driving commercially !

I confess to making the mistake several times of driving after a few drinks and thinking that I am sober enough to drive safely and pray that I never do that again risking the lives of myself and others regardless of whether or not I get stopped for DWI.

Dudley, I have made this mistake in years past myself. And thankyou for being man enough to admit it. With todays laws I am extra careful, and if there is any question in my mind I have my wife drive rather than myself and risk losing my CDL.

H

(i hit the wrong button while typing sorry)
needed surgery for two years but afraid to go back living in pain,

NOW WHAT I THINK THEY SHOULD DO TO A DRUNK DRIVER.

(1) first time caught DUI. with no one even hurt (20 years)

(2) first time caught DUI. and someone hurt (LIFE IN PRISON)
without ever getting out.
(3) FIRST TIME CAUGHT DUI. AND SOMEONE KILLED,
DEATH PENALTY

If someone is going to drink, they should stay home where they belong

(AND I LOST my CDL because of my wrist and leg ) JUST BECAUSE
SOMEONE WAS DRIVING DRUNK,

you asked what i thought about it and there it is

i have seen so many family's destroyed because of a drunk driver.

(lost children, fathers,mothers,sisters,brothers and grandparents)

Good Mornin Johndeere,
Im truly sorry that your life was so affected by a drunk ! Im also very sorry to hear that you were injured and lost your CDL.

But I have a hard time with someone being sent away to jail for 20 years after being stopped in a routine check after consumming two beers JMHO !
Which I guess Im entitled to an opinion also. So I guess Im saying that I dont agree with your system!

scott_vt ... I know no one here is 'advocating" drunk driving and yes you are discussing two beers but therein lies the Dichotomy. One can not discuss "two beers" without discussing drunk driving since they are synonymous with each other, and I might add where most people kid themselves.

For someone about 150 pounds, two drinks ( equals two beers ) in two hours would probably make you legally drunk (.08 blood alcohol level). It doesn't take much alcohol at all to make you legally drunk, and alcohol stays in your system for hours before it is all gone.

All states in the United States have adopted 0.08% (80 mg/dL) as the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle for drivers aged 21 years or older. However, drivers under age 21 years are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle with any level of alcohol in their system.

According to the CDC - Note: Legal limits do not define a level below which it is safe to operate a vehicle or engage in some other activity. Impairment due to alcohol use begins to occur at levels well below the legal limit. YET, people in general define the level to operate a vehicle safely is TWO BEERS. Sorry to break peoples bubble but that level has never been defined and anyone who say it's two beers is frankly a liar.

No two people on the planet react the same to equal amounts of alcohol in two beers. Two beers for many is called a buzz, for others it's called getting your whistle wet.

Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many factors, including but not limited to

* Age.
* Gender.
* Race or ethnicity.
* Physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc).
* Amount of food consumed before drinking.
* How quickly the alcohol was consumed.
* Use of drugs or prescription medicines.
* Family history of alcohol problems.

A standard drink is equal to 13.7 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol or

* 12-ounces of beer.
* 8-ounces of malt liquor.
* 5-ounces of wine.
* 1.5-ounces or a 都hot of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).

So you can see two beers is equal to two drinks and in some states "depending on the above" you are considered drunk.

ANY alcohol use slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination, which are all skills needed to drive a car safely.2 The more alcohol consumed, the greater the impairment obviously, but two beers will also impair you and there is enough science out there to prove that, no matter what someone says.

Good Mornin Cat,
That was an excellent post ! I dont think many could argue with most of what you stated ! I do hope that any future posters that add to this thread, are kind enough to go back and read my original post !

At almost 58 I have never been stopped for DWI. I have been stopped at routine roadblocks, once after having a glass of wine while visiting my elderly parents a few towns away, but have never been asked to exit my vehicle !

I also advocate getting the drunks off the road, I have been hit by one as rescently as last year !


Good Mornin Dieselpower,
I have been to some horrific accidents also just like yourself ! Both through the fire department of which I have been a volunteer for 25 years. And If you recall I drove a rollback car carrier for almost a year also ! I have had a front line look at what excessive alcohol can do on our roadways !

Thankyou to all the posters, whether I agree with what you have stated, or otherwise !

Have a good and safe day !

 

[milkman]

Everyone is all for getting the drunks off the road, and I agree. What about the impaired drivers, you drink, you're impaired period. In discussions in some of the other threads on this site, people brag about towing max. capacity weights and how well it does at 70 and 75mph. Driving in this rushed society takes all our attention because so many people don't pay attention, I don't like to share the road with a P/U pulling a trailer with a skidsteer doing 70 and 75 mph even if they're dead sober. If you have to have something to drink with a meal, there's lots of choices besides alcohol if you have to drive. I don't think the laws are too lenient, the penalties are not enforced.

 

[DocHeb]

Quote:
Originally Posted by scott_vt
In conclusion I think the laws need to be adjusted just a bit. I would like to see just a bit of liencency when it comes to some one consumming two beers, rather than be taken away in the police cruiser and have their life turned upside down. This is just my opinion, and Im sure you guys have your own feelings on this subject, please feel free !

All I know is after 25 years, I am tired of telling family members their relative has died, and if DUI laws prevent me from having to do it again I'll go for it.

The statement that "laws never prevent anything" - horse pucky. Of course hardened criminals will continue to drive while impaired, but even on this thread there are folks describing their altered drinking/driving habits because of these laws. You cannot measure a law's effectiveness by prevention since you can't measure the number of missed events caused by behavior modifaication. However, the percentage of deaths in car accidents associated with alcohol has been in steady decline over the past 11 years (from 60% of all traffic deaths in 1983 to 40% of all traffic deaths in 2003)

Statistically you can't just go by total number of deaths since car safety (air bags, "crumple zones", safety improvements) could account for the declining deaths. You also can't make a direct cause-and-effect conclusion between decreasing alcohol use and decreasing deaths, but as the laws have tightened up over the past years, there sure is a nice drop in alcohol related deaths.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Personally I think there is no such thing as a to strict a DWI law.
2*I have 0 pitty for DWI scumbags.
3*Ifeel the law can't punish them enough.
4*It wouldn't bother me if they made it illegal to drink anything before driving.
I to like many others here have a CDL and if they ever cought me with the slightest wiff of alcohol on my breath wouldn't have a problem if they locked me up and revoked my license, I would deserve it.

1*-4* I agree completely with you on all 4 points.