There are different degrees of homicide.
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Drink Driving....Life In Prison
- Thread starter Revoltingest
- Start date
There are different degrees of homicide.
Whatever the courts decide as far as the charges go. But this guy should never be allowed to drive again.
It doesn't give his full history, but clearly whatever happened before (punishment, treatment, etc) wasn't stopping him recently.
There have been lots of cases over the years where people have been repeat offenders for DWI and not lose their licenses, etc. (we had one in the last year or two where an individual had had 13 prior DUIs, but had managed to keep his license...until he finally killed someone in an accident). And, there was the fairly recent case where the kid pleaded "affluenza" (Read, being a spoiled rich brat) and got off with essentially probation...but then fled to Mexico with his mother...an ongoing soap opera/media circus.
Prevention and treatment is always better, but it's not always effective with addictions
There have been lots of cases over the years where people have been repeat offenders for DWI and not lose their licenses, etc. (we had one in the last year or two where an individual had had 13 prior DUIs, but had managed to keep his license...until he finally killed someone in an accident). And, there was the fairly recent case where the kid pleaded "affluenza" (Read, being a spoiled rich brat) and got off with essentially probation...but then fled to Mexico with his mother...an ongoing soap opera/media circus.
Prevention and treatment is always better, but it's not always effective with addictions
I think it's ridiculous that he accumulated so many before he was stopped. A guy like that has to be kept away from people.
My mother was hit by a drunk driver with almost that many DUIs as this guy, and I just can't fathom how someone could have so many DUIs and still be free to keep committing them. It seems like if a person moves around to multiple states they avoid severe consequences, but I don't know the details of the laws very well in this category.
IMO, multiple DUIs should result in federal permanent inability to get a driver's license in any state. Then if they drive without a license while drunk anyway, then a big prison sentence like this seems needed.
My mother was hit by a drunk driver with almost that many DUIs as this guy, and I just can't fathom how someone could have so many DUIs and still be free to keep committing them. It seems like if a person moves around to multiple states they avoid severe consequences, but I don't know the details of the laws very well in this category.
IMO, multiple DUIs should result in federal permanent inability to get a driver's license in any state. Then if they drive without a license while drunk anyway, then a big prison sentence like this seems needed.
Statistically, he's been extremely lucky not to have killed someone by now.
He has repeatedly broken the law to indulge in his abuse of alcohol proving that consequences are irrelevant to him and he will continue to flaunt the law.
Prison is where he belongs if for no other reason than to protect the public.
He has repeatedly broken the law to indulge in his abuse of alcohol proving that consequences are irrelevant to him and he will continue to flaunt the law.
Prison is where he belongs if for no other reason than to protect the public.
Excellent points, Penumbra. We used to take positive steps to 'fix' offenders, and take steps to prevent re-offense. now, it seems, we do nothing to correct a first offender. We wait till he does something really egregious, then throw the book at him and I have to pay for his incarceration for the next twenty years.
When did this happen?
As a young person I was a serious offender. I had a cop hide my empties, then he drove me and my friend to retrieve the shotgun out of the wreck.
I'm pretty old. I doubt that things are that simple any more, even down on the Ohio river banks near Corydon.
Tom
In Maryland state, USA, in the '70s, we used to have methadone programs for heroin addicts and Antabuse programs for drunk drivers. Judges would sentence offenders to these programs. The offenders would report to a dispensary every morning and drink the prescribed drug in front of a witness.
There were problems with the methadone programs, but, as far as I know, the Antabuse program worked well with most offenders. They were rendered physically incapable of tolerating alcohol. As much as they might want to drink, any attempt to do so rendered them violently ill.
Why are such successful programs no longer in place?
Prison-industrial complex?
There were problems with the methadone programs, but, as far as I know, the Antabuse program worked well with most offenders. They were rendered physically incapable of tolerating alcohol. As much as they might want to drink, any attempt to do so rendered them violently ill.
Why are such successful programs no longer in place?
Prison-industrial complex?
Timothy Bryce
Active Member
10 priors and wilfully breaching your bond conditions? Lol, as usual, the article omits some crucial details, but it sounds like this guy was given an incredible amount of "second chances" and opportunities to prevent this happening again and his response seems to be almost a complete "f--- you" to everyone but himself. 62 years old hey... I wonder what went so wrong all those convictions ago to create such an axe to grind with the world. I can't see how any court could deal with him in any other way.
The idea that a DUI should be linked with "attempted murder" is ridiculous though. That is, unless you can prove that someone deliberately got themselves drunk so that they could deliberately make an attempt on someone's life using the vehicle and "their drunkenness" as the lethal weapon. Very abstract conspiracy IMO. I've also heard more than one person state that they believe high range drink driving is "as bad as someone walking into a packed cinema and randomly spraying a machine gun" which is garbage.
I understand that DUI driving is an emotional issue for a lot of people. But those who are unfortunate enough to be charged with drink driving charges are treated mostly like dirt by the legal system and their rehabilitative agencies; sometimes to the extent that people's constitutional rights are undermined and people are often led into veiled punitive measures (such as redundant and misleading Traffic Offender's Programs) before they are even sentenced.
This dude was a prick who deserved this sentence. But drunk drivers are still human beings. Many people (presumably due to past tragedies) seem to glance at drink drivers and immediately presume: "what a scumbag - they don't deserve basic human rights". One of these "many people" actually ran a Traffic Offender's Program I was once in liaison with; the misinformation and treatment these people were given was abhorrent and completely against the grain of actually trying to improve our society.
The idea that a DUI should be linked with "attempted murder" is ridiculous though. That is, unless you can prove that someone deliberately got themselves drunk so that they could deliberately make an attempt on someone's life using the vehicle and "their drunkenness" as the lethal weapon. Very abstract conspiracy IMO. I've also heard more than one person state that they believe high range drink driving is "as bad as someone walking into a packed cinema and randomly spraying a machine gun" which is garbage.
I understand that DUI driving is an emotional issue for a lot of people. But those who are unfortunate enough to be charged with drink driving charges are treated mostly like dirt by the legal system and their rehabilitative agencies; sometimes to the extent that people's constitutional rights are undermined and people are often led into veiled punitive measures (such as redundant and misleading Traffic Offender's Programs) before they are even sentenced.
This dude was a prick who deserved this sentence. But drunk drivers are still human beings. Many people (presumably due to past tragedies) seem to glance at drink drivers and immediately presume: "what a scumbag - they don't deserve basic human rights". One of these "many people" actually ran a Traffic Offender's Program I was once in liaison with; the misinformation and treatment these people were given was abhorrent and completely against the grain of actually trying to improve our society.
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Timothy Bryce
Active Member
They are in place.
You can't force someone with capacity to take medication. Especially when that medication is detrimental to your health and wellbeing.
Methadone program = Allowing an opiate addict to have their addiction managed for them
Antabuse: a liver-wrecking, archaic medicine which should only be used for people who truly believe that they have zero self control when it comes to alcohol
These are last-resort measures that move to credit in the court's eyes, but the court can't compel someone to take drugs unless they are mentally ill.
This is a myth perpetuated by people who do not understand how the judicial system works.
I'm not saying that he deserved it, but it is not an unfair sentence.
I think the driving license should be taken away way before that instead of waiting this long and smack him with a life in prison!
I hear traffic accidents due to drink driving is high in USA. Is this true?
Ah, I keep reminded how glad I am for having alcohol banned where I live.
I think the driving license should be taken away way before that instead of waiting this long and smack him with a life in prison!
I hear traffic accidents due to drink driving is high in USA. Is this true?
Ah, I keep reminded how glad I am for having alcohol banned where I live.
FearGod
Freedom Of Mind
I don't blame him for driving while drunk, he's a victim of the society.
Poisonshady313
Well-Known Member
He's 62. I think any sentence that is bound to be both appropriate yet perhaps less than harsh would end up being a life sentence anyway. I very seriously doubt he'd make it 20 years. And if the drinking had made any lasting impact on his liver, I'd be surprised if he lasted even 10.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
Considering he cut off an in-home anklet and fled the state, and because you can't actually force someone to go to rehab, he either needs to go to jail for life or an institution for life. And you have to consider, at 62 it's very unlikely he'll change given his age and that he has such a problem with it. He clearly poses a great danger to himself and others, and lesser methods have not worked.
It's a huge problem.....about 10,000 deaths/year.
http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html
Taking away the license of drunk drivers doesn't work well.
Many drive anyway. (I've known some.)
If he dies quickly in prison, that'll save taxpayer money too.
esmith
Veteran Member
As far as the Antabuse program, it has to be on a voluntary bases. The only time I know that it worked on a semi-non-voluntary bases was in the Navy. We had this sailor who had a drinking problem, no NJP seemed to convince up to square away. The CO gave him a choice take Antabuse anytime he left the ship or remain aboard, it was his choice. It was administered by the OOD prior to him going ashore.
As to "been prevented from drinking". How are you going to stop someone from drinking without physically restraining them?
As far as rehab or therapy. It only works if the person wants it to work. Look at the examples of some of your Hollywood personalities for example. How many times do you hear about so and so being committed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to rehab or therapy for the X number of times.
Remember alcoholism is a disease that can only be treated by a persons willing to be treated.
Of course, the other aspect of drunk driving is that it's akin to walking out onto a public street, & randomly firing a gun.
One risks the life of others any time such a stunt is pulled.
He did this at least 10 times.
It could be seen as 10 attempts at murder.
The life sentence should've been imposed earlier.