Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a time to remember fallen military members from all conflicts. But, associated with this holiday and all others, will be the increase in fatal accidents involving drunk drivers. It is a problem that seems to never go away and continues to cause great loss to many families, but frequently, not the drunk. I know what the problem is, and I know how to change it.
In most states the punishment fails to fit the crime. If and when they are convicted of driving drunk, they receive a fine and loss of driving privileges for some period of time. Of course, they can drive after revocation of their license, as long as they don' get caught. So, the consequences really don't fit the crime of causing damages and sometimes death. In many cases where there is vehicle death there is no jail time. That is what has to change!
I propose the following guidelines: The first offense demands thirty consecutive days in jail. No convenient weekend time. The second offense will get them one year. After that, they are habitual offenders and the jail time has to be increased.
And, to those who are saying the cost would be prohibitive, I would ask the following question: How much does it cost for the affected families, the increased insurance premiums, and the increase in police presence to stop this problem?
State legislatures have failed to address the problem and I suspect that part of the lack of action is with the pressure of the alcohol lobby. It is another case where the people we elect depend on strong lobbies to get elected. I for one and tired of "head in the sand" politics.
In most states the punishment fails to fit the crime. If and when they are convicted of driving drunk, they receive a fine and loss of driving privileges for some period of time. Of course, they can drive after revocation of their license, as long as they don' get caught. So, the consequences really don't fit the crime of causing damages and sometimes death. In many cases where there is vehicle death there is no jail time. That is what has to change!
I propose the following guidelines: The first offense demands thirty consecutive days in jail. No convenient weekend time. The second offense will get them one year. After that, they are habitual offenders and the jail time has to be increased.
And, to those who are saying the cost would be prohibitive, I would ask the following question: How much does it cost for the affected families, the increased insurance premiums, and the increase in police presence to stop this problem?
State legislatures have failed to address the problem and I suspect that part of the lack of action is with the pressure of the alcohol lobby. It is another case where the people we elect depend on strong lobbies to get elected. I for one and tired of "head in the sand" politics.
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