Are the punishments for DUI too severe?

Question

I know it's a picky subject, and that I could've killed someone and I have since been very careful and respectful. But the fines, andprobation and counseling are adding up in both terms of time and money.
I am grateful I make a decent amount of money, but what about those people who do not?

As aprt of my judgement I'm am not allowed in bars. That blows. Even if I don't drink I do quite a bit of socializing and business meetings at bars and it's going to affect me greatly.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

This is a very tough, very sensitive subject.

Let me start by stating that I do not drink and drive. Many of you will read my post, get partway through it and decide that I am a lunatic or an idiot. I assure you that I am neither. Be patient and read the entire post.

On one hand I could argue that the penalties are not nearly tough enough, but I could also argue that the penalties are too severe. I can argue emotionally and rationally.

One of the biggest problems I have with DUI laws is that they do not take into account functionality. I have a friend who literally is incapable of driving after she has one - YES ONE - drink. Her BAC would be around .03 (recall that drunk is .08). She would be sober but I would be drunk at .08 and still able to function.

Another issue I have is that when drunk, you are incapable of making decisions, due to mental incapacity. You cannot sign a contract, you cannot technically give consent to have sexual relations, but you can be punished for driving.

On the other hand, without having a hard number to use, there is room to argue that a driver wasn't unable to drive; the officer exaggerated the incident etc. So, having a concrete number is good.

If you have lost anyone, or know people who have, you understand the emotion tied to this issue. Any topic so emotionally charged is very hard to address rationally and consistently. So we must try to find ways to address it.

There is no perfect answer. So we have to go with an answer that works, not always well, but that works. By making the penalties severe, but humane (the penalties in other countries are rather draconian) we hope to instill a fear of the results in people. The idea is that just maybe you will think about the penalties before you start drinking and you will make alternate plans.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

The punishments are not severe enough they should snatch away your license, and you should serve time. I had a friend 18 years old, months away from graduating weeks away from prom, and he was hit by a drunk driver and killed. The back of his skull gone, you know what happened to that man? Nothing. these people do not notice what there driving under the infuence really does. You should be so lucky u got pulled over ooooh a ticket and counceling, u cant go into a bar. Who ever was walking home or driving towards you a couple miles down is still alive because u were pulled over. So would u rather be refused in bars pay some extra money or live with killing someone because u wanted to drive home? So no i dont think the punishments are too severe, in most cases they are just not good enough. If it was up to me first offence 5 years in prison secound buh bye for ever buddy!

Answer 4

I thnk the punishments are not consistent. I've never heard of anyone not being allowed in bars.. how would they enforce that?

I think the money and time aspect is quite selfish thinking on your part.
If you did kill someone, there isn't enough money in the world to replace that person. And you've taken away all their time they should've had... So, in fairness, you have a small price to pay.

I've been very lucky. I've probably driven when I shouldn't way more times than anyone should be allowed. But I consider now, how lucky I am and that someone is watching over me, therefore, I will not drive while intoxicated to any degree ever again.

Answer 5

They're not strict enough. You're behind the wheel of a dangerous machine after drinking. Yes, you can kill someone. That alone should tell you what kind of penalty you deserve. Remember, you can pay a fine and earn money to pay for counseling and such. NOTHING can bring back a life. If you don't have the money to pay the fine, you don't have the money to commit the crime!! I think the drivers license should be taken away permanently. Just think, that way, you should socialize in the bars again because they know you wouldn't be driving.

No, sorry, the penalty isn't tough enough considering the other side of what happens.

Answer 6

I think that you should be more thoughtful of the people who's life have been saved by telling you that you can't go into the bar. You should be ashamed of yourself. There a ton of adversaries about driving drunk and none of this comes as a surprise. If you could afford to drive drunk you can afford to pay whatever they make you pay.

Cars don't drive themselves and Busch doesn't get the money from the citations for his bogus war (funny BTW) the city that gave you the citation does.

You are lucky your still driving. Pick a new place to socialize and meet with clients. Count your blessings you didn't kill anyone and learn something from the mistake that YOU made. Move on and get over it. Good luck to you, you clearly need it.

Answer 7

I don't think they're too severe. My friend and his wife were hit by a drunk driver in Hawaii 2 years ago. He got away with cuts and bruises, but his wife and unborn child were killed. (she was a week away from her due date) If it's something that happens once, it was an honest mistake, and you regret the actual act, then bear with whatever the law gives you. Life will get back to normal sooner or later. It's nice that you make enough to cover the fines. For the people that do not, that's a factor they should have considered before putting everyone else on the road at risk. Good luck to you.

Answer 8

I think you should have not gotten into your car after having however many drinks you had. I think that as a grown man you SHOULD have known better. Here is a thought for you, is the time and money your are spending better than sitting in jail with the guilt that you hurt someone??

A couple of my boyfriend's friends have gotten DUI's and have also gone through jail time, probation, and counseling. Of course they still are losers just like you.

What makes you a loser is that you have the nerve to b i t c h about what you have to deal with...boo hoo,,,I can't go into bars anymore... so what... you SHOULD have been smater and took a taxi home or call a friend.

You must have been drunk as hell to have all these punishments.

Answer 9

Punishments are not severe enough. I have a child that travels with me every three months or so through several states, and it sickens me to think there are so many drunk drivers out there. We travel at night to avoid traffic, but there's always that risk that someone(s) out there drinking, who has to get home, who can't call a taxi for whatever reason or get a ride from a friend, they HAVE to drive home themselves and end up killing innocent lives with no repurcusion to the drunk!!! I want to praise you for doing better, continue this behavior and please discourage your buddies from dui, it's not safe in anyway whatsoever. You should reconsider having your meetings somewhere else...how professional could it be if you're having them at the bar? Sounds like that would affect your business in itself... what kind of clients do you have? Drunk driving kills, don't do it!

Answer 10

I got a DUI last january, i had to go through the same thing, the outpatient rehab, $1,400 court fees, $3,000 for my lawyer, 7 month suspension of my liscense, and $1,000 a year for three years ( another $3,000) to the DMV (MVC)...I hate to say this, but I agree with all that...Drunk drivers pose a huge threat. We could kill ourselves or others, just because we wanted to have a good time and drink. What if you had your best friends in the car, you got in an accident and you were the sole survivor??would you be able to live with yourself??? They impose those crazy fines and terms so that we wouldnt want to ever ever ever do something like that again.