In the past I have lost 2 friends, 1 of them very close, to drunk drivers. Now this, literally a couple of miles down the road. I had met this young man a few times, as I live on the border of his patrol area, and all I can say is that he seemed to be a real people person, and would have made a really fine carreer LEO. Rest in peace, Officer Sean Powers.

http://www.wmur.com/news/17203317/detail.html#-

This butthead should have free dancing lessons at the end of a rope, but they will say he his sick and turn him lose to do it again, or he will get 3 to 5 for it. Sorry about the lose, for you and his family.

Yeah. I've seen too many drunks hurt people, including family. One of my partners just got an award from MADD for the number of drunk drivers he caught last year.........

My husband's mother was killed by a drunk driver when he was 4 months old. He and his then 18-month old sister were raised by his mother's parents (who had already raised 8 kids) because his own father was simply not fit to be a parent. The drunk killed his mother, her cousin, and their friend in a head-on collision. He survived.

The drunk woman who killed my brother-in-law was sentenced to 20 years, 7 in and 13 probation. She walked after 18 months. Now, there's justice. But I'm sure it wasn't because she was a court clerk.

I just don't understand why poeple can't just either have someone act as a designated driver,take a cab,or stay home and drink.I hope the person who did this rots in Hell.They have the God given right to get liver cirrhosis,wreck their life,and kill themselves but that is where it ends.I hope the day comes where when someone is convicted more than once for DUI or DWI the right to drive is pulled for life.Hell if we are arrested once bye bye pistols for life so why sould this be any different.....Peace Out and God Bless....Mike

These stories, especially yalls personal losses, always affect me deeply. I am saddened by this officers death, it sounds like he was a well respected officer that took the time to try and reach others. That community is a lessor place because of his death.

As to drunk drivers and why.... God I wish I knew. I found myself with a DUI problem back in my early 20's. The first conviction should have been # 5 or 6. A few nice officers let me go or followed me home with a stern warning. After conviction #3 it became painfully obvious my problem had more to do with the drink than the driving.

Never once did I start drinking with the intention of driving anywhere, I just always did. All rational though would go right out the window once the drinking started. Is this an excuse for the drunk driver?? NO!!! More of an explanation of an alcoholics actions.

I have no tolerance for drunk drivers, and spend a great deal of my free time working with convicted DD's. I dont know that I have made any see the light, but it sure reminds me of how lucky I am that I never hurt anyone. I wake up each and every day grateful to be alive and sober, and that I wasnt the DD in a fatality story. I'll pray for both families today.

This is one of the few areas of legislation where most European countries have it right and we don't.

The penalties for drink driving in the US, in general, and obscenely light and do not escalate to where they need to be until at least the third offence.

In Sweden, .02 is the legal limit and .10 will land in in prison for two years.

quote:

Originally posted by Cruiser RN: ...I just don't understand why people can't just either have someone act as a designated driver,take a cab,or stay home and drink....Mike

The short answer is why should they???

The Laws are made by a bunch of Lawyers in a legislative body. I remember many times seeing a bunch of Lawyers and even Judges sitting around in one of their favorite "Watering Holes" playing the old game of "Lets Make a Deal" and after a two or three "Martini Lunch" they'd head back to the Court House where they'd decide the fate of some guy facing a DWI/DUI.

A bit longer one is pretty simple too, drinking and other Drugs impairs the Judgment of the users. So, even if they were smart enough to plan that far ahead they wouldn't likely go out and get totally "Shitfaced" in the first place.

In my Book Murder is Murder but they call it "Vehicular Homicide" and it burns my Butt. The law here doesn't even cost the AH very much money in most cases, at least, no where near what it should. Lots of drunks don't have a "Pot or a Window" since they drink up whatever money they do make.

Here's another Case where I think the Officer's Family should sue the socks off the AH for "Wrongful Death" and "Loss of Income" and whatever else they can come up with!!!

Yes, when you put on the Badge you do accept the idea that you might get killed by doing it but, No part of the Oath as a Police Officers says you have to give up your Rights to Sue a person for their actions. And, in my Book that goes double for the Officers Family.

That sucks!

Hey--I live in a state that only outlawed open containers in cars a couple of years ago. And that only after a long effort to do so. That, and an amazing number of people complaining about how much their rights would be infringed by that.

But we still have drive-up liquor store windows, so all is not lost...

Folks, it gets worse in the case of this young man's death, who was killed on his motorcycle by being run over from behind.

Here's a link to the original story of the accident.

http://www.wmur.com/news/17187627/detail.html


The asszhole who ran over and killed this budding LEO turned it into a hit and run accident. The drunk fled ON FOOT, leaving his BMW behind.

I guess the killer felt it was more important to "buy some time" before they could test his blood alcohol content . . . rather than try to help . . .

quote:

Originally posted by Bat Guano:
Hey--I live in a state that only outlawed open containers in cars a couple of years ago. And that only after a long effort to do so . . .

We've got a stiff open container law here in Georgia now too.

It has contributed GREATLY to the amount of beer cans and bottles tossed onto the roadsides, including onto my property inside our town's city limits. Today they've got to chug their brew fast and toss the "evidence" as fast as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by tom turner: ...We've got a stiff open container law here in Georgia now too. It has contributed GREATLY to the amount of beer cans and bottles tossed onto the roadsides, including onto my property inside our town's city limits...

We've have the Open Container Law for Years and Years and all it has done is added to our litter problem, too.

One time while testifying in Court on a DWI Case the Judge had Sentenced the AH(this was on something like his fourth or fifth offense) to something like 90 days and 80 hours of Community Service; with the Community Service having to be completed before his Jail time was finished. This in itself is a bit unusual at least around here because the "normal" is that the Defendant is usually given a year or to to complete the CS.

I asked permission to speak to the Court and suggested that since part of my Testimony had been that I had observed the 'Subject' tossing "Evidence" out of his vehicle at the scene that I would like to suggest that his "80 hours of Community Service" be spent collecting garbage off the roadway. Kind of like "Poetic Justice" in my mind. Well, the Defense Attorney thought about it for about 10 seconds, while the Prosecutor was giving me a Thumbs Up Sign and nodding his head. Then the Defense Attorney spoke to the Judge apposing my idea. His reasoning(logic) was that since his "Client" would be serving his time on "Work Release" that he would be "too tired" to be required to pick up after himself!!!

It AIN"T called the "Criminal Justice System" for nothing.

My brother was killed by a drunk driver before I was born.

Two officers I worked with were struck from behind while on traffic stops by drunk drivers and were severely injured (but returned to work a few months later).

One of our officers left a party in his personal car and hit another car while drunk. That driver is in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He lost his job and served jail time.

I arrest every DUI I come across with a smile on my face. Most of the jerky drunks say, "Why don't you go arrest a real criminal?" In my book, they're the most common of the worst kind.

Mind you, I've arrested drunks who have thanked me for treating them very professionally and with respect as well...of course that's usually when they're in court and when they're sober.

...and I've never lost a case.