DWI death strikes close to home

[Faulkner]

I'm one of those who think DWI is 100% preventable. As such, the consequences for a DWI 1 conviction should be loss of driver's license for life. The consequence for a second DWI conviction in one's lifetime should be a public hanging on the courthouse lawn. To quote a famous fictional law enforcement character, a few public hangings would help "nip it in the bud".

I don't understand why society coddles drunk drivers.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Puller, I'm very sorry for your friend's loss...how terribly sad!

Your post reminded me of something from my own past. On Christmas Day, 1980, my next-door neighbors were hit head-on, and killed, by a drunk driver (who was also killed). They had three little girls, two of whom were in the car and were seriously injured in the crash.

It was horrifying, and shocked the small community we lived in at the time.

I will keep your friend in my prayers. Thanks for reminding us all of the risks of drinking and driving.

 

[bobcat]

and our state just made cocktails to go a permanent thing, we, MT., sadly have a pretty dismal record in enforcing or punishing drunk drivers. Our fatalities every year are heavily weighted by under the influence deaths. One this year was a mom driving under the influence of drugs killed her own 10 year old son, watching the interview with the father was gut wrenching.

 

[turnerriver]

My 16 year old daughter was killed by a drunk and stoned 17 year old driver 21 years ago. My daughter was roller blading on a bike path when the driver lost control, skidded off the road and hit her.
My wife just served a 2 year term as National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She was on a call yesterday discussing new technology that includes passive equipment in cars that detects if a driver is impaired, legislation is in the works. My admiration for Law Enforcement is unbounded, you LE officers are the tip of the spear working to keep our roads safe.
I’m very sorry that the OP has learned first hand what the pain brought on by such a senseless act feels like. My condolences to all of you who have suffered as a result of impaired driving. April 18th would have been my daughter’s 37th birthday. Drunk and drugged driving is a scourge.
Respectfully,

 

[Puller]

My 16 year old daughter was killed by a drunk and stoned 17 year old driver 21 years ago. My daughter was roller blading on a bike path when the driver lost control, skidded off the road and hit her.
My wife just served a 2 year term as National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She was on a call yesterday discussing new technology that includes passive equipment in cars that detects if a driver is impaired, legislation is in the works. My admiration for Law Enforcement is unbounded, you LE officers are the tip of the spear working to keep our roads safe.
I’m very sorry that the OP has learned first hand what the pain brought on by such a senseless act feels like. My condolences to all of you who have suffered as a result of impaired driving. April 18th would have been my daughter’s 37th birthday. Drunk and drugged driving is a scourge.
Respectfully,

I can only imagine the pain of loosing a child and I appreciate the good fight your wife has engaged in.

 

[terry_tr6]

having quit drinking, I have heard stories from a couple of guys who were long haul truckers and hard core alkies. one did a cross country trip, dropped a load and came back to pick up a load, not knowing he had just done a trip. They both agreed that the end point job was to do oversize loads because that way they only drove during the day and could drink all night while stopped

 

[Straightshooter2]

Why are legislatures indifferent to DUI laws? Just search "(State name) lawmaker arrested for DUI" and you'll find out. The Majority Leader of the Kansas Senate was arrested last month for fleeing police, driving the wrong way on I-70, and DUI.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I haven't had a drop of alcoholic beverage of any kind in 11+ years. After
the doctor said I was type II diabetic. Before that I had drunk enough to
float a small boat. I know that many times I would have blown over .08
or .10 and drove for miles. Never a ticket or accident, maybe I was lucky
but I never drove like some fool weaving or driving 20mph.
As mentioned above many, many congress persons and let's include
judges get pole hugging knee walking drunk and rarely even get a
ticket.
Now here is another side, 3 years ago my wife and I had been to the last week of the horse races in Hot Springs, Ar. After the Arkansas
Derby three of us went out to eat, our daughter lives in Hot Springs,
my wife and daughter had a glass of wine with the meal, myself, water.
It was early Sun. morning when we were taking the bypass around
Fort Smith. I had seen a Ar. H.P. pull on the highway behind me and
continue to follow me for about 4 miles, I had my cruise set at 60, 5
miles under the limit, when the blue lights flashed. I pulled over and
turned on the dome light and rolled down the window and placed both
hands on the wheel. After a few minutes the trooper got out and ask
for my license and made the lame excuse for pulling me over that I had
crossed the white line on the shoulder, an untrue statement.
You know, I would have had more respect for the guy if he had just said
I was fishing for someone drinking.

 

[foxy320]

I hate drunk drivers. Had a cousin just back from his year in Viet Nam killed by one. Did 7 years of my career in OWI enforcement & made "a lot" of OWI arrests. Legal limit then was 0.10% & made arrests from .1 to a high of .488. The only reason that guy got stopped was because he ran a red light. Worked a number of fatals including one guy killing his grandmother riding in his car & 2 drunks drag racing killing a 16 year old kid on a moped. Most only had "a couple" including those who blew a .2 or .3 or above. When asked why I was arresting them as they "hadn't hurt anyone I asked if I had to wait until they did." I hate drunk drivers.

 

[Chukar60]

Sad story Puller and one that is repeated way too frequently.
I quit drinking 40 years ago. A few years after that I realized I cannot stand being around a drunk person. To this day my aversion to a heavy drinker continues. I have just seen too many sad endings to the condition.
I lost two very good friends to DWI early in life. Both were driving intoxicated and thankfully they were the only ones who were killed in the accidents.

 

[GB]

Some day, maybe, people in the US will take DWIs as serious crimes. Europe generally takes driving drunk a lot more serious. People get heavy fines, lifetime loss of drivers license and prison time. Some day, maybe.

 

[Doug M.]

For a LONG time, and I think this is still correct, impaired driving was the most common form of criminal homicide.