why do we keep letting DUI drivers back on the roads?

Question

from today's Chicago Sun Times newspaper:
DEADLY CRASH NOTHING TO SMILE ABOUT
Crossing the street on their way to church, Frank and Helen Lilly were run down by an alleged drunken driver. Helen died, and Frank is in intensive care. The driver, Thomas Postulka, had been charged in another DUI just two days before.Frank G. Lilly, Helen's husband of 50 years, remains in intensive care nearly three weeks later.
What makes this tragedy even harder on the Brookfield couple's family and friends is that an alleged drunken driver struck the Lillys -- only two days after he'd been charged with another DUI.
"It just seems like someone who had a DUI, his second one in that many days, just shouldn't be driving around," said the couple's daughter, Lisa Lilly, 41.
But under Illinois law, Thomas J. Postulka had full driving privileges Jan. 22 when the fatal crash happened in front of St. Barbara Catholic Church in Brookfield.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/25032...

i would love to see a MANDATORY 90 days in the county jail for these b a s t a r d s but while awaiting trial can't we keep them off the road what happened to imponding cars used in crimes DUI is a CRIME! right?

in the usa there us supposed to be a law that allows cops and the courts to confiscate vehicles used in crimes why can't the cops impund the dui drivers car and dispose of it then after the creep is found guilty revoke the regidstration and the plates and the DL I vote for ZERO TOLERANCE on DUI drivers

a sobriety test is done ON THE SPOT so there is enough evidence from the git to impound

ok to the guy about the diesease I studied Substance Abuse Counseling in College even did some interning PLUS I am a recovery myself I COMPLETELY understand the disease model HOWEVER I ALSO understand that you cannot keep going out drinking and driving to me its attempted murder and I do NOT care about your disease I CARE about making it home SAFE TONIGHT, the disease modelis also used as an EXCUSE. I have no sympathy for the alcoholic who endangers others and like I said I am a counselor and have gone thru recovery recovery

apologies for the typos

Answer 1

Simply speaking... we as the United States have a massive overcrowding issue in our jail/prison system. Also unfortunately the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the ENTIRE world. We had to be number 1 at something right? lol

Answer 2

Personally I believe that while awaiting trail for a DUI charge a person's license should be suspended. You would not believe the number of deaths caused by drunk drivers who were awaiting trail/sentencing for a recent previous offense.

I can understand how some people say that getting a DUI can straigten a person out. But until you have lost someone close to you, or had them severly injured because of a drunk driver you can't really understand why the sentence needs to be so much harsher.

No one needs to drive drunk. If one is convicted I think it should be at least a mandatory 1 year supsension of their DL. Jail time doesn't always straigten them out. A lot of judges send them to AA meetings or rehab without ever imposing strict sentences on the offenders. Especially if it is the first offense. That needs to stop. Revoking their driving privilages and imposing heavier fines and mandatory sentences would probably get them to wake up a little more and realize the people they are putting in danger.

Answer 3

I totally agree, there are too many deaths related to driving under the influence. Laws need to be imposed for much harsher punishments. The license of Thomas Postulka should have been pulled at the scene of the first accident. It should be a mandatory loss of license. The state of IL needs drastic changes regarding its driving laws. I hope that Thomas Postulka is charged with vehicular manslaughter, and given the maximum punishment that the law allows. It is a very sad story. My prayers are with the family and friends of the Lilly's.

Answer 4

I agree with you and I have a story to share with everybody, last January 1st of 2007 in the early hours of the New Year, my friend daughter and her husband were coming back from been working in a party, he has a DJ and she was 22 and he was 26 years old. They were coming home to celebrate the holiday with their families who were expecting them. In the Westpark freeway in Houston, Texas, a drunk driver in a Mercedes Benz was coming in the wrong direction and he crashed against their vehicle in a head on collision. They died instantly including the drunk driver. People who were in the other side of the freeway called many times to 911 to report the drunk guy driving in the wrong side of the freeway, that was for more that 30 minutes and nobody show up until the fatal accident. I think that people like that should be banned forever from the streets.

Answer 5

The system dose their best they take their license,they fine them,in some cases they go to jail....drunk drivers would take their wifes car or some one elses so the cycle continues you can only do so much....This guy in the article should at least get 25 to life in prison for sure....

Answer 6

Unfortunately it is the justice system. The US is not the only place where this happens.
It occurs here in New Zealand as well

Answer 7

Some people who get punished for DUI's actually learn a lesson.

Answer 8

to be absolutely honest. the law comes down really hard on drunk drivers. actually very hard. the thing is alcoholism is a disease and no matter how hard the law comes down on drunk drivers it will never go away because it is a disease.

Answer 9

everyone is innocent until proven guilty and he had not went to trial yet

Answer 10

Driving drunk is alot of fun. they should teach people how to drive drunk.