DUI-20+ years, DWI-20+years, agree or disagree?

Question

I think if you do such things you should be held accountable. They risk the lives of others when they are irresponsible. Is it so hard to not drive or not drink if you know you have to drive home? I think we need to be stiffer on the penalties for these types of people.

A few years ago in my town, a mother and daughter were killed by a drunk driver. This drunk driver happened to be an illegal, but that's besides the point. He is in jail for a long time now, but does it really have to end badly for people to get penalized for their actions. How about our government make an example out of these people before they kill. The one's who do it are almost always repeat offenders.

And please, if you are a drunk driver don't even answer. I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses for why it's okay to put lives in danger. It's usually always the drunk driver that walks away after taking a few lives.

Johnny 2 Times, that's very different. We should actually go to the German way of things, the autobahn. You can get killed at just about any speed. You make a very bad point.

What about the person who rear ended me? What about the person that flipped me off? What about the person who cut me off? What about the person who side-swiped me? Don't deviate from the question with off-the-wall stupidity!

And I don't think drug offenders should be in prison because they do or sell drugs. I think it should be legal because it's not hurting anyone but themselves until they get on the road. Just like pot or any other drug. Letting users get out would make enough room for these people. Being distracted and being impaired are two different things. Yes, people need to watch what they are doing and stop yapping on the phone and what not. But please, STOP with the weak attempts and trying to refute my thoughts. Very weak some of these reponses are.

And I am a little angry because one of my best friends was almost killed by a drunk driver. The guy is also an illegal so guess who gets the bill? She was in a wheel chair for months and had to learn to walk again. She cannot have children either because of it. Yeah I am a little angry that people, even if they don't kill anyone, still do it. It will never make sense to me and there is no excuse.

Answer 1

No, I don't agree. 20 years in prison wouldn't actually happen. Because of the overcrowding problems in prison, non violent offenders are quickly paroled. DUI is a non violent offense, so the person would be back out VERY quickly.

I think the nation should follow what the state of Alaska now does with DUI. Not only do you get a DUI charge, but you get an Attempted Murder charge as well. If you do kill someone while DUI, you get tried for 2nd degree Murder. The theory behind it is that, "You know what alcohol does, and you got behind the wheel anyway. You consciously chose to kill."

Answer 2

It's no secret that drinking and driving kills. Unfortunately, people are selfish and feel that the risk they are taking is worth not being inconvenienced. I have lost 2 people that I've loved in separate incidents due to drunk driving (none of them were the drunk drivers) and have a permanent back injury due to a drunk driver who ran but was later caught, but only convicted of the accident, not being drunk because they couldn't prove he was drunk at the time of the accident even if he was drunk when he was picked up.

In many Scandanavian countries there is a very low incidence of drunk driving because the penalties are so stiff. I think we should have a zero tolerance policy regardless of the age of the driver, and ALL drivers caught should serve some jail time at least the first time, and stiffer penalties than the usually under 10k fines. The second offense should be 20+ years.

Answer 3

I agree that drunk drivers should be dealt with severely, but 20 years is a bit long for the ones that didn't hurt anyone, and were just caught driving drunk. Like a previous answerer stated, the prisons are over-crowded as is. I have a dear friend in prison now, so I'm a bit sympathetic on that...

5 years is a bit more reasonable, unless someone got hurt or killed. And a long long time without getting their license back, like 10 years or so... That'd be great!

As for drunk driving resulting in harm or death, they should be charged with murder- plain and simple. They knew better. They knew they could hurt or kill someone if they did it, so they are guilty guilty guilty of murder!

Answer 4

Why not for any negligent driving that results in death? Why not charge someone yapping on a cell phone with the same sort of crime if they cause an accident resulting in death? Or people who run red lights, since that is a major cause of serious accidents often resulting in death?

And you could take this further. Why not throw armed robbers in jail for life, since they will probably progress in their criminal career and kill someone down the road? Or throw drug users in the pen for 20 or so, since their lifestyle promotes the use of harmful drugs and supports criminal endeavors?

Answer 5

There should be laws but the punishment should be by the level of the crime. If you crash or kill someone it should be stiffer than someone who blows a 0.3 who turned on a yellow light. The laws are already stiff there should be no greater increase. Not only the time you spend in jail but the fees (court and lawyer) plus the embarasment of putting it on your record is enough. You sit and are so angry but wait until you are sitting on the other side of the fence. Death happens.

Answer 6

What about drivers who are ticketed for excessive speeding?

Edit: Off-the-wall stupidity...are you an idiot? I would venture a guess that far more people are killed as a result of excessive speeding and other driving violations.

Your question was concerning the deserved penalties of drivers who act irresponsibly and put other driver's lives in danger. I would say that fast and careless drivers fall into this category as well.