Is driving under the influence as big of a deal as it is made out to be?

Question

It seems like people have taken more seriously in comparison with the 70s and early 80s. I remember being pulled over many times and being told just to be careful by the police officer in those times.

Answer 1

no, i believe it is blown WAY out of proportion. this is another step toward radical feminist prohibition. 90 year olds still have drivers licenses, tired people are still able to drive. everyone is getting rich, the lawyers, the judges, the police (10+ hours of overtime per case). if it was such a big deal there would be alternate sources of transportation, I cannot tell you how many cities I have been to that the subways close down at midnight. I don't hear radical feminists bitching about, "lets keep the subways open, so everyone has a ride home". smoking is next, allready is in most states. they want to bring down the BAC to .06, is someone with 3 beers in them drunk? absolutely not. these people make me sick.

Answer 2

I think if you get one DUI that the government should make automakers make cars where a person with DUI has to buy a car that only he/she may drive and put a DNA sample in it (somehow the car knows its you) and everytime to crank the car you must blow into a built in BAC tester to drive it. Just a thought. :) Automakers I think have been open to this idea, but it hasn't brought much popularity. BUT IT IS A BIG DEAL, I had a cousin killed by a drunk driver. Don't think it's cute and funny, and the police that let people go like that should be ashamed and fired. It's THEIR JOB to crack down and prevent that, whether or not you "KNOW" this person. One live saved is worth it. I think the reason, as you said people make a big deal of it, is because that people are getting tired of having loved ones and friends that are innocent as anything to be killed by a drunk driver. It's a stupid thing and should be prevented, and I think IF CONVICTED of a DUI or even have a wreck under the influence, whether the person in the other car is killed or not, you should have either your license taken away FOR LIFE or if automakers began making those automobiles, should be required to drive one if you wanted to drive anywhere.

Answer 3

It is a BIG deal with proper punishments. In OHIO I have a close friend that has never had a traffic ticket of any kind, is now 70 years old and was driving home after a party on St.Pat ricks Day night. During a routine 'check point' he was stopped and given the test for alcohol consumption. He was listed as 'legally intoxicated', taken to a police station, locked up and they took his drivers license and told to find someone to help. A call was made and a close friend picked him (POSTED BAIL MONEY)up and drove him home.
He went to court, lost his license for 6 MONTHS, paid a fine of $300. and must attend a lockup for 72 hours (another $475.). On top of that he had to pay his lawyer over $500., and get some personal counseling from a licensed psychologist.
Please understand this was his FIRST OFFENSE FOR ANYTHING!

Answer 4

I think it is dangerous, and there are many people who get killed every year due to it. But at the same time, i used to live in the Virgin Islands, and you could drive under the influence, and even have an open container in your cup holder and they don't care. They will just write you a ticket for a seatbelt. The funny thing is that there were very little acidents?
Go figure?

Answer 5

Yes it is. Back in the 70's and 80's it wasn't illegal to drink and drive. On accident paperwork from that time period, all there was was a checkmark for "Was the driver drunk?". During those times, thousands of people a year were being killed and lawmakers decided they should do something about it.

Answer 6

Yeah it is. A drunk, ran a red light at 60 mph almost 17 years ago, and my back was never the same. Drunks, not only kill but mame. The drunk got a $75 dollar fine. And, I heard later he is still a full-blown alcoholic.

No-fault came out in 1979. People were just becoming aware of how serious of a crime it is to drink and drive.

Answer 7

of course it is a big deal. imagine someone driving under the influence and then killing your mom in a car wreck, or your kids or whomever is close to you. it would be a big deal then. dui is very serious because you are putting other lives at risk, i could give a flying **** if you die because you are stupid enough not to have a designated driver but **** think of others

Answer 8

Yes,in the 70's, you might be told to "drive safely : and let go .
Now, if is one of the worst driving offenses you can do.
Ranks right up there with hit and run and school bus violations,
To get outif it, LOL!You won't.

Answer 9

driving under the influence is a very big deal. epsecially when you sober up and realize that you've just killed a whole family, left a husband without his wife, children without their parents, or parents without their children, etc.
if you get behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence this is just exactly what you risk doing. is it worth it?

Answer 10

It's not a big deal...as long as the idea of putting your life and the lives of others in danger doesn't bother you.

One of my friends lost his brother because of a drunk driver. Drunk drivers better be thankful that cops are willing to pull them over and arrest them, because my friend would pull them over and beat the she-it out of them.