Sunday, November 7, 2010

Drunk Driving

I recently read an article that about drunk driving the article stated that Michigan will join a growing list of states that have enacted "super drunk" driving laws -- a new designation with stiffer penalties and fines, even for first offenses.

           Currently if a driver's blood-alcohol level is .08, they are legally drunk. Starting Oct. 31, if that blood-alcohol level is .17, the driver is twice the legal limit and becomes legally "super drunk."
The fines will be doubled, even for first-time offenders. Instead of 93 possible days in jail, the penalty jumps to 180 days in jail.

                   Fines go up from $200 to $500 all the way up to $8,000, and instead of a six-month license suspension, the "super drunk" driver could face a year suspension. The caveat is that after 45 days, it's possible for a "super drunk" driver to get a severely restricted license that includes paying for and installing an ignition interlock system. The device measures blood-alcohol levels and won't allow the car to start if the driver is legally drunk. However, the system can give a false positive with certain mouthwashes and gums and if someone has just had a single glass of wine. But those alcohol levels are considered surface alcohol and will dissipate within a minute.
     
             Having drunk drivers that have had several run INS with the law about drunk driving should have to pay fines with suspended license. Even for first time offenders because, if a person drives drunk once they will think that they can drive dunk again, again, again and again. They take the risk in harming innocent people and their families so they can pay the price for driving drunk. Last year in Roseville when a woman had been drinking and was very intoxicated she still got behind the wheel of her car and drove.
                   
The results of her driving drunk was she hit a car that had four high school teen in it, they were killed instantly and Never knowing that their life would be taken away from them on the way back from getting a pizza. It was said that earlier in the day police were call out to a resident were she had been in an altercation because of her being very intoxicated. If the police would have arrested her or even made sure she was not driving this could have been prevented. Now she has to spend the rest of her life in jail.
             Also, even first time drunk drivers should be given the ignition interlock system for their car. It should stay on their car for a year. Maybe they would think twice about driving drunk after paying all those fines, having their license suspended for a year and serving jail time.

3 comments:

  1. I think that the new " super drunk" law is a great thing!. People especially who are repeat offenders ( such as my brother) need more restrictions when it comes to driving drunk. Once someone drives drunk once, they are most likely to do it again. The ignition interlock system I think could really change things, it will stop a lot of people from drunk driving, although if an intoxicated person really wants to go somewhere they could find a different vehicle, but I think the idea in its self is great.

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  2. Hi there! I have to agree with the ignition interlock system on cars if the person is an offender. Working in a hospital, i see both sides of people and their families affected by drunk driving. Some have passed and others seriously injured. Having to work on somebody that has caused the accident and doesn't believe they were driving, saying someone else was driving, we has hospital staff have to bite our tongue and just provide the necessary care. But it's hard, sometimes I just want to ask, why not call a cab? Innocent people are dead! It's become more of an issue nowadays and so sad that people cannot have enough sense to call a cab or take a bus home.It's the sense of I'm just buzzed, not drunk. Well, saying this to someone who has been drinking will not be the best judge of character. This new possible system, could be that judge of character and also remove alot of repeat offenders off the road. I sure hope it goes into effect! Drunk driving, even first offense can cost thousands of dollars and jail time. This device can help in many ways.

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  3. I also agree that people who have had a drunk driving conviction should have to install the ignition interlock system. I had a roommate that had to blow into one before he could start his car. Not long after he got it taken off he went driving downtown at 4 in the morning drunk. Some people have a serious drinking problem that is very difficult for them to control. I also agree with having high fines and strict consiquences for drunk driver. I watched a close friend of mine die drunk driving, and by the grace of God she didn't kill the family she plowed head on into. Drunk driving is a serious matter.

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