Drunk Driving Articles: DUI News and Information

Drunk Driving Articles and News. The DUI News Articles are made up of DUI, DWI and drunk driving articles as well as DUI news stories and drunk driving laws, news, statistics, prevention, counseling, BAC, field sobriety tests and related information about drunk driving. The drunk driving articles are provided to you in a social media environment which allows comments on each of our articles.

Cobb County Officer Arrested for Georgia DUI

Officer involved in hit and run accident while driving drunk.

Lt. Robert McGee, with the Cobb County Police Department, was charged with driving under the influence in Georgia after he was in a hit and run accident. The accident occurred on October 26 at Chastain Road and George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw.

McGee turned himself in and was booked at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on charges of GA DUI, hit and run and following too closely.

Have you been arrested for DUI in Cobb County, GA?

Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009
Filed in DUI Related | Georgia DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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350 Colorado DUI Arrests Over Halloween

Statewide effort against CO drunk driving covered four days.

The Colorado State Patrol has released the number of arrests for CO DUI over the Halloween weekend. Twenty-two law enforcement agencies from across the state cooperated in the targeting of drunk driving. Their efforts netted 350 arrests for driving under the influence in Colorado.

The State patrol reported the highest number of DUI arrests at 111. Denver police followed with 62 arrests and Colorado Springs with 41. The arrests were made between October 30 and November 2.

Another statewide DUI crackdown is scheduled for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Do you need a CO DUI lawyer?

Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009
Filed in Colorado DUI | DUI Related | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Motorized Chair from Minnesota DWI Case Sells on eBay

Police make over $10,000 on sale.

A motorized chair built by Dennis LeRoy Anderson gained notoriety after he was busted for driving while intoxicated in Minnesota last year. The recliner is powered by a lawnmower engine and features a stereo, cup holders, headlights a nitrous oxide power boost system and a parachute.

Anderson had a blood alcohol content more than three and a half times the legal limit for intoxication when he struck a parked car in August 2008 on his way home from a bar. The 62-year old man from near Duluth eventually pleaded guilty to MN DWI, and the Proctor Police Department impounded his special chair. As allowed under Minnesota DWI law, the police placed the chair on eBay, with all proceeds going to the police department. They had received bids over $43,000 before it was revealed that the chair was not a 'La-Z-Boy' brand as initially advertised, so the bidding started again.

The new winning bid was for $10,099.99.

Were you recently charged with MN DWI?

Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009
Filed in DUI Related | Minnesota DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Postal Carrier Facing Florida DUI Charges

Man found passed out over steering wheel while delivering mail.

A postal worker in Boynton Beach is facing charges of driving under the influence in Florida after being found slumped over the steering wheel of his mail truck. Kevin Crocilla registered a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit for intoxication in Florida. Witnesses had contacted a fire-rescue team thinking Crocilla may be suffering from a medical condition.

Crocilla said that he had been up all night drinking wine and then drank half a bottle of mouthwash to mask the smell of alcohol. He had arrived at work at 11:00 am.

Crocilla, 29, reportedly stumbled while exiting the mail truck and was unable to complete a field sobriety test because he couldn’t keep his eyes open or his head straight. He blew .264% and .258% BAC during two breath tests. The legal limit is .08%. Crocilla said he was delivering one piece of mail to each person, and he then passed out.

A spokesperson with the United States Postal Service has not commented on the FL DUI incident.

Do you need to hire a FL drunk driving attorney?

Posted Monday, November 09, 2009
Filed in DUI Related | Florida DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Wisconsin Drunk Driver Calls 911 to Report Herself

WIS DUI charged after dispatcher instructs motorist to pull over.

A 911 dispatcher in Neilsville, Wisconsin received a phone call from a woman reporting a drunk driver. When asked if she was following the suspected impaired driver, the woman replied "I am them".

Mary Strey, 49, admitted being drunk after "drinking all night long" and was concerned about hurting someone. The dispatcher instructed her to pull over and turn on her emergency flashers. Clark County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Backus said Strey was found about three miles northeast of Neilsville, in central Wisconson. Her phone call, and the fact that she had a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit, lead to charges of driving under the influence in Wisconsin.

Chief Deputy Backus said DUI self-reporting is rare.

Are you looking for a WI DUI attorney?

Posted Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Filed in DUI Related | Wisconsin DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Stephanie Pratt Busted for DUI in Los Angeles

'The Hills' actress stopped for drunk driving in Hollywood early Sunday morning.

Stephanie Pratt DUI Stephanie Pratt was arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles early Sunday morning on October 18. The actress reportedly had tweeted earlier in the evening that she was attending fellow 'Hills' star Heidi Montag's birthday party at 'Empire', a Hollywood hotspot. The two left the party around 2:00am and headed to 'Beso' for another hour.

Pratt was stopped in Hollywood around 3:45 am and booked for suspicion of California DUI. She posted $5000 bond and was released around 10:00 am Sunday.

The day before her CA DUI arrest, Pratt had told a tabloid website that she was focused on safe driving because a friend had passed away following a car accident. She said that 'everyone needs to drive safe.'

Having you been charged with DUI in LA?

Posted Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Filed in California DUI | Celebrity DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules on Unique DUI Defense

Man arrested for drunk driving twice in one night not considered a repeat offender.

The state high court issued a ruling stating that a man stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania twice on one night cannot be sentenced as a repeat offender.

The defendant was stopped for suspicion of impaired driving at around 11:45pm and booked for DUI in PA after registering a blood alcohol content of .16%. About 90 minutes after being released to the custody of his wife, the defendant was arrested for DUI a second time. His BAC at the time of the second traffic stop was .146%.

Prosecutors filed charges relevant to second offense DUI in Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court, however, found that the defendant must be convicted of the first violation before having elevated charges filed against him for a second offense.

Do you need a PA DUI lawyer?

Posted Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Filed in DUI Laws | Pennsylvania DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Off-Duty Deputy Arrested for California DUI

Kern County sheriff's deputy had stopped to help with a traffic accident.

A Kern County sheriff's deputy was charged with drunk driving in California early Friday morning, after he attempted to help with a traffic collision. Jessie Alvarez was off-duty when he stopped along Interstate 5 to assist at the accident scene around 2:15 in the morning on October 23. A California Highway Patrol officer suspected Alvarez was driving under the influence of alcohol and had him taken to a local substation to have his blood alcohol content checked.

Alvarez, 30, was booked for misdemeanor CA DUI and for having a BAC above the legal limit of .08%. He is subject to an administrative investigation, and is expected to be placed on leave.

Were you arrested for drunk driving in Kern County, CA?

Posted Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Filed in California DUI | DUI Related | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Mel Gibson’s California DUI Expunged

Actor's arrest for drunk driving in LA cleared from records.

A judge has expunged Mel Gibson's record, wiping out his arrest for drunk driving in California. The 53-year old actor was stopped in July 2006 and charged with driving under the influence in Malibu. During his arrest, he uttered profanities and anti-Semitic comments towards the officers.

Under California law, a person can request that their arrest record be cleared once they complete all conditions of sentencing. Gibson has been under probation for three years, and not had another alcohol related offense. He also joined an Alcohol Anonymous program and performed public service work.

Do you need a LA DUI lawyer to expunge your record?

Posted Monday, October 19, 2009
Filed in California DUI | Celebrity DUI | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Toddlers Roam Street After DUI Mom Passes Out

Mother of two charged with DUI in Florida after being found passed out in minivan.

A 3-year old boy and a 4-year old girl were found wandering the streets of Cooper City, Florida around 5:00 pm on Wednesday, nearly two miles from their house. The two had got out of the family mini-van and walked off after their mother passed out in her driveway with the engine running.

Brenda Dulcos was reportedly on her way to pick up an older child from school when she passed out. When her mother failed to arrive, the daughter walked to an uncle's house. The uncle then contacted the Sheriff's department. In the mean time, the two toddlers were found, barefoot, by a good Samaritan while they were about to cross a busy road and also called authorities. They said they were trying to find their older sister.

When found by police around 6:00 pm, Dulcos refused to submit to a breath test to check blood alcohol content. While not actually driving the gold Ford Windstar, police arrested her for Florida DUI because she was in physical control of the vehicle. She was also charged with child neglect.

Brenda Dulcos wept while being charged with driving under the influence in FL. It is her first alcohol related offense. She was told she would not be allowed to drink when released, or drive with children in the vehicle. Broward County Florida judge John Hurley said the drunk driving incident was a danger to the children, and liken it to having a loaded gun with the kids around. He vowed to personally call the Florida Department of Children and Families to make them aware of Dulcos' actions.

Dulcos, 44, was being held in the North Broward jail on $4,500 bail. The children are in the custody of their father.

Have been accused of drunk driving in Broward County, FL?

Posted Monday, October 19, 2009
Filed in DUI Related | Florida DUI | Permalink | Comments (0)

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fines

Posted by raymond at 2008-04-10 01:36

are the dui fines lower now?

No - DUI/DWI Fines go up

Posted by Ronald at 2008-06-29 18:19

I have found that DUI/DWI fines are not going down at all. DUI/DWI fines are a source of income for the counties and states with mandated alcohol counseling, probation fees, drivers license surcharges and other fees.

DUI

Posted by page turner at 2008-11-13 09:28

Fines for DUI should continue to increase. The costs to our communities to arrest and prosecute these selfish individuals continue to rise. Punishments such as license suspensions and harsh fines need to be severe enough to cause us to think twice before getting behind the wheel drunk. Speak to the people whose lives have been destroyed by drunks. My son was a passenger in a car that was hit by a drunk who ran a red light. As your child leaves the house today and you caution them to "Be careful" remember it does not matter how careful your child is if there is a drunk behind the wheel on the same road. Drunk drivers are a threat to us all.

DUI

Posted by yoseph schennawy at 2008-11-14 00:27

my friend page turner,I totally understand where you're coming
from,but,unless you're willing to "turn the page" on our freedom,civil rights and way of life as Americans and unless you're willing to sell out this great country to mindless irrational pressure groups and eventually probably find yourself saluting the chinese or the north korean flag,I think
you should reconsider your way of thinking.just ask yourself,
since when was using "fear tactics" ,imposing "harsher laws" and "severe punishment" the best way to solving problems in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? the solutions have to be in line with our core values and the spirit of our constitution.
we can not afford paying our freedom and civil rights as a price for the so called "safety".

DUI laws

Posted by page turner at 2008-11-18 10:40

Dear Yoseph,
Our core values in America include respect for our neighbors. Our right to live. The Constitution establishes our rights and in return, we are asked only to be law abiding citizens. Asking and expecting people to make responsible choices is not a fear tactic. The only people that fear harsher laws are the selfish individuals that feel they are above the law. The ones that put their own desire to drive drunk over the rights of the innocent person they kill. What are mindless irrational pressure groups are you so frightened of? Driving drunk is not a civil right.

dui laws

Posted by yoseph schennawy at 2008-11-21 19:33

you're basically saying that laws can be as harsh,blind and ineffective as they get since "law abiding citizens" may never have to deal with them anyways!what a logic!so let's see,in Saudi Arabia,they amputate your hand for stealing! harsh enough for you? and here's the fun part,it doesn't matter if you stole your "good neighbour's" dinner,shirt or $100,000 jewlery!now using your "logic" we can probably adopt
this law in the States with nothing to fear because the only people who will be affected by it are those"selfish"assholes!
harsh laws don't creat civilized citizens.harsh laws don't creat civilized society.and harsh laws certainly don't solve problems.they rather pull countries backwards and into the garbage can of human history.there will always be folks who violate the law for whatever reasons.there will always be folks who aren't civilized enough to respect other people's rights.however,they should never be the excuse for uncivilized
laws as the law's role in a democracy is to "set the level" for civilization and "effectively" bring the people UP to that level rather than bringing the legal system DOWN to the level of the violators.everybody wants to live no argument there,but,what kind of life do we want for ourselves and our future generations?you're asking me what pressure groups I'm "afraid" of? I'm talking about self righteous zealots like MADD,DADD,"SADD" and the rest of the ADDs who pretend their purpose is to save us from crimes and deliver us from sins by promoting false ideas,skewed statistics and generic science while pushing for authoritarian laws and hidden agendas!such groups will stop at nothing,luring mostly naive people into supporting their "cause" with the use of distorted
facts and cheap rhetorics.ironically enough,the laws in Saudi Arabia are pushed NOT by the average citizens nor exactly by the government but by none other than a "pressure group" named
"wahabis" with the unfortunate blessing of great numbers of the mislead public!do you see some similarity?are you afraid yet?well maybe when you get pulled over someday and your BAC reads 0.00001 on the machine "harsher law" and you get your wiener amputated "harsher punishment" then you'll get the point!!

Yup

Posted by melee401 at 2008-11-22 21:23

We have too many people in jail period.
We encarcerate more of our population then any other civilized nation on earth.
It was merely pot, now it is alcohol. While they utilize the DUI statutes it does not matter, many are jailed merely for being found to have been drinking wether they drove or not.
The ravenous appetite of our out of control penal system will never be satisfied but only grow as more and more are fed to it.As thathappens more and more unreasonable laws and law enforcement. Given the stories coming out now about the crimes being perpetrated by law enforcement officials in thier quest to feed this lion it should not be long.
We have become a nation of unreasonable incarceration. the war on drugs could not keep the system fed nor will these unreasonable DUI laws. They will only wreck innocent lives in the name of saving life while the death rate on our highways continues climbing unabated. If they really wanted to decrease highway fatailities they would fix the roads. And stop cramming so many onto so small a driving area. When the number of cars goes up and the roadway area does not then the danger/death rate goes up. Putting people in jail does nothing to change this equation.
The devestation of the war on drugs and DUI statutes will not go on as they are today for long. As more and more families are kicked to the curb by the real consequences of these barbarian methods more will rise up until there are so many that jails will finally and mercifully be closed down and the lions that fed on the carnage sent packing.
the real victims are not only those in prison, but their families as well who suffered the economic consequences and emotional trauma inflicted upon them by a system that allowed the real animals to incarcerate good people for the real crime of having normal human faults.
This will certainly happen and when it does we should be prepared to deal with the economic re-patriation of the real victims of these laws.

bogus dui arrest

Posted by Rusty at 2008-12-21 18:05

I have fallen victim to the system of abuse concerning the dui laws in my state. I used to be a police officer and do not drive while intoxicated period! Prior to the event I am about to describe I had had a late lunch and had consumed 1 glass of wine with my meal. I was a victim of a road raged idiot that tried to run me down because he had to slow down to avoid running into me while I was driving home. The police were called by this idiot and were told that he was chasing a "drunk driver". I really thought this guy was going to hurt me as he continued to chase me in his vehicle. I finally made it within 1/2 block of my home where I had stopped in a public parking lot to confront this guy. He had stopped and I could hear him yellin "here he is, he is right here, he is drunk"!. I made it to my driveway only to find four police cars pulling up to my residence. I was approched forcefully bt the 4 officers and made an attempt to explain to them what had happened. One of the officers placed his hand on his taser gun and told me to shut the !!!! up!. One asked me if I had been drinking presuming I was drunk and I said no. Another began laughing and said he could smell alcolhol on me. I again tried to explain the situation and even adentified myself as a former police officer and was again told to shut up. The next thing I had been handcuffed and taken to jail. This was a set up from the beginning and I knew it. Based on this I flat refused the breath test and now am having to suffer through a flawed dui legal system. Lucky for me I have an lawyer in the family.

unconstiutional dui laws

Posted by karen rhodes at 2008-12-31 11:07

This relates to Rusty's post. As you see from other comments on this site, some people believe that all people arrested for dui are drunk and dangerous and guilty. It is incredible to me that people can be so ignorant of the criminal justice system. You were a police officer, I am a lawyer, the same sort of thing that happened to you, also happened to me, a bogus arrest. I was trying to get the officer to videotape me because I had a legal prescription for tranquilizers in my glove box and the officer claimed I refused the breathalyzer (because I was arguing). He stole those pills and $500 in cash in the glove box so its pretty obvious he would want me to be convicted. The dui law is the only criminal law in the US where you are presumed guilty and you have the burden to prove you are innocent, the prosecutor doesn't have the burden of proof, you have it. And there is no way to prove the breathalyzer was faulty because no one can examine it except the manufacturer, even the states can't tell if it works correctly, it is not warranted for accuracy and the scientific community will not attest to its reliability because it is unreliable. So, if a police officer does not like you for some reason, maybe because you are a lawyer or a "former" police officer, he can say "I smelled alcohol" and set you up for a refusal of the breath test, which means you are presumed guilty because you did not take it and have to prove you are innocent. Its truly incredible to read comments where people are so happy to give up their constiutional rights to convict someone with a .08 bal. When the breathalyzer was invented, the NHTSA did all kinds of studies with the AMA which showed it became unsafe to drive at .15, there is all kinds of evidence that shows fatalities occur at .20 and above. All this hysteria over supposedly drunk drivers and terrorists keeps you focused right where the government wants you to focus while they continue to erode our constiution, right now its a small group of offenders, social drinkers who bear this burden, drunk driver's who are actually dangerous have no more regard for human rights than the hysterical cry for conviction of social drinkers do. But this small group of social drinkers who are bearing the burden will get larger, the desire for government control will spread and eventually it will be you who the government controls. Our constitution is a limit on government power, not a grant of power, that's all it is, it limits what the government can impose on citizens. The hysterical dui fanatics are arguing our constitution should not exist, arguing for a dictatorship type government. And when they get it, they will wish they had not been in such a hurry to get rid of our consitution.

unconstitutional dui law

Posted by Rusty at 2008-12-31 13:24

Karen,
I could not agree with you more. What was the outcome of your ordeal? Think I am going to lobby for NDDAMM. Non Drunk Drivers Against Madd Mothers.

unconstitutional laws...

Posted by Yoseph S. at 2009-01-02 01:13

count me in! are there any ACTIVE groups out there that advocate against MADD and DUI laws?and by ACTIVE I mean they actually fight the fight!all the ones I came across so far don't seem like they can put up a decent fight against that oversized group of BULLIES named MADD!

what's the ACLU's stance on this issue? I think they should
get involved because this is not just about "drunk driving" ,this goes way beyond that to hit our very civil liberties!

for those millions who have been miraculously turned into
"criminals" for committing NO ACTUAL crime, I think it's time for them to stop feeling guilty or even sorry and stand up for this wave of injustice.

and for those who FOOLISHLY support MADD and their likes in the name of "safety", take a deeper look, do you really want to live in a country where random "check points" manned by the MARINE CORPS in some cases, are spread all over our cities and counties? do you want to live in a country where the average citizen is presumed GUILTY untill proven otherwise?

if you think drunk drivers are a threat, MADD is far more
dangerous of a threat to you and your children, you just don't know it yet.

MADD

Posted by Rammstool at 2009-01-05 13:55

how is MADD more worse than drunk drivers? MADD is supposed to be a good thing.. not a bad one....

trading our freedoms for security

Posted by Nick Smith at 2009-01-07 22:05

And in the end we will have neither. People just don't understand just how out of hand this has become. You can walk outside a bar to get a pack of cigarettes out of your car and the police can arrest you for DUI. How crazy is that shit. It doesn't matter how many sober drivers you had inside the bar. The Police are allowed to park behind your vehicle and run your tag and then wait on you to come outside to arrest you. When there was NOT a reason to even question you. You have done nothing to break the law. How many judges have parties where one of his guests walks out to their car for a smoke and comes back. Here is another thing. When the judge sentences you to 1 year reporting probation how can the probation officer lenghthen this time period on his own and without offense or reason. I think that alot of people have lost their loved ones in some very dramatic fatal accidents because maybe alcohol was involved. I understand this and pray for their loss. I do not see how they can blame the entire population for this. Good people go to jail all the time and sometimes it ruins their lives. The way the laws work with DUI's are badly mishandled. These Prosecutors nowadays don't care about or have respect for anyone that crosses their path with the system. They are just looking for a guilty verdict for statistical purposes. It make them look better as well as bring in more revenue. I understand the business prospect of it, But what about our lives and rights to live without prejudice. What happened to Innocent until Proven Guilty. When you get arrested for DUI and you are not even driving or planning on driving they take your liscense and put you in jail. They do this without even a video or a breath test. Which in turn means no evidence. Doesn't makes sense. Looks to me like Guilty until Proven Innocent. If I get pulled over and I am not drinking I will not submit to a breath test. Then I get to go to jail for DUI. Guess what? Then I get to wreak havok on the system. Because they will try me for DUI and there damn sure is no evidence because I Don't drink. Doesn't mean some dumbass cop won't try. These cops that are badge with attidue types are ruining it for the good justice system. They all want a big hero name so they ruin peoples lives for it.

unconstitutional?

Posted by Randy Quiring at 2009-01-06 10:00

Did Karen actually PASS the bar exam???

unconstitutional?

Posted by Randy Quiring at 2009-01-06 10:04

Did Karen actually PASS the bar exam???

Karen you are so right

Posted by Bob at 2009-03-12 05:26

The .08 bac law is crazy. Most people arrested and abused for DUI are not dangerous to anyone. It is a travesty. Moreover, our limited resource police, are wasted arrested people with low bacs who are not dangers and are not in a position to arrest actually impaired drivers.

More government foolishness.

also 'victim' before proof is proven

Posted by j.a. at 2009-03-27 11:48

I have been the target of profiling and I'm non african american. I know how blacks must feel each and every day they deal with police...I was recently convicted of DUI (inPennsylvania) due to the "opinionated amount' of prescription pain medication which I've been taking for MVA and for over 10 years. I was denied first responder EMT treatment at the accident scene...yes I was in a roll over accident where as my vehicle was totaled and I 'woke up' upside down retained by the seat belts (the car was inverted). I had swerved for an animal and oversteered(?)my vehicle. Tghe officer 'demanded' I take field sobriety tests and threatened me with incarceration if I refused. I continually repeated that I felt 'strange' and dizzy. My left side hurt esp. my face and head. Yet I was mandatorily made to attempt these "alcohol" sobriety feat of idiocy. I attempted and after a few steps stated that I just could not proceed. (I also have an 6" plate and screws in my right heel from previous under-ride auto accident). I was cuffed and escorted to the local hospital for a blood draw...again I was told that upon refusal, I would be placed in jail.
To my end I recv'd 90 days incarceration, 1500.00 fine + other costs. My license is not available until 2022!!! This due to numerous illegal stops by local police while under suspension, which all started due to having no insurance and has escallated to 12 pull-overs in the previous 5 years..this is why I have NO PRIVLEDGES TO DRIVE UNTILL 2022...There is definitly many traffic laws which make money for the government and at the same time tear a hole in the fabric of a persons life. I'm fed-up and have tried to write and call local legislative reps regarding my issues and get no response ...Yeah , I love america..NOT
PS kodos to the lawyer who wrote in re: the illegal state of legalities THANKS

unfair arrests..

Posted by jacob y. at 2009-03-31 10:21

This relates to the other unfair arrest posts. In my situation i had a designated driver operating my vehicle. i was lying down in the passenger seat, when he ran a curb. Instead of helping me push the car back on the road, for whatever reason he ran off. I had called another designated driver to come pick me up and was trying to get the car off the curbage when the officer arrived. i wish i had legal experience like u guys because i just cooperated with the police. They ended up arresting me for dui even though i wasnt operating the vehicle and was just trying to push the car back off the curb... i dont think thats right considering i wasnt even operating the car and the citation is OPERATING A VEHICLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE. I am currently fighting the case in hopes that the legal system is not too skewed to see that i wasnt even driving...

Vicious Cycle

Posted by Barbara Schoenberg at 2009-04-25 13:35

My son is on a road to hell due to this system. Four years ago he had been fishing all day (and drinking with his friend and his Dad). When they were done he told his friend they were going to sleep it off in the Marina because he didn't want to call us to come and get him. After four hours they woke up and took off for home. He pulled out of the Marina onto the road and immediately said he still didn't want to drive and started to pull over and call his Father. (we taught him to do this no matter what time of day and he had never driven drunk because of it). Right as he was pulling off (doing the right thing) a cop pulled up. It was about 3 in the morning, two young guy driving after the bars close makes them a perfect subject. The cop smelled the booze, my son told him what had taken place and was honest. It didn't matter and it has sent him down a road that has pretty much destroyed his life. Four years later he was at a friends birthday party planned on spending the night and unfortunately (actually fortunately) experienced a black out which had never happened to him) The last thing he remembers is being in the back seat of his car and a friend and another person were heading back toward home. The next thing he remembers is being out of his car just past a toll bridge, his car pulled off the road. He was out of gas and the car had obviously been put in a ditch and had lots of damage to the front end. He was in a panic because he didn't remember anything over the previous three to four hours. It was almost five in the morning. He immediately called us totally freaked and asking us to come and get him. His phone went dead before we knew exactly where he was. He decided to walk over to the toll booth and all they told him was he could use the phones on the side of the bridge. This went directly to the police. When the cop got there my son was too embarassed to tell the cop he didn't remember what happened so he came us with some lame reason his car was bashed in. He didn't tell him he had a black out because he didn't understand what that was then. He had no answers even though he knew he hadn't gotten into his car to drive and let his 'friend' take him home.
I know my son isn't perfect but I also know that he takes drinking and driving very seriously. I think his so called friend was not sober enough to drive, put the car in a ditch which caused a whole in the tire and when the car ran out of gas just left him there at the bridge. In the meantime the tire went flat. The toll booth wasn't in a place where the people inside could have seen anything so he has no proof of anything. He is in so deep that as usual only those who can afford a high priced lawyer can get out of. He has to work to make the money for all the devices, fines, etc. He was forced to go to an outpatient facility that was fifty dollars three times a week which he could not afford but were the only ones that could take him right away. He is in debt now up to his forehead and is severely depressed because he sees no end to it. He is looking for a cheaper outpatient place because the first one told him he had to leave because he can't afford the cost. This puts him in danger. The place he was going talked him into claiming he had a severe problem so he could get state help. She never gave him a ua but told him to say he was using to make them see how bad he was. I sat right there and heard her say"trust me, I know the system and this is what he needs to do. It's all about money and if he doesn't follow my advise he will go to jail, no doubt' She made a huge mess of everything because we were afraid enough to trust her. She talked us into in patient treatment so he could get outpatient treatment for free and all of this would keep him out of jail. I'm sorry to ramble but the nightmare is getting worse and worse. The reality of all this is that the person who is charge is place in such a way that it is almost impossible for them to work to make the money for all this stuff and when the parents see them working so hard to try and take care of everything end up with the financial strain. We do not have the money for a good lawyer and he doesn't either so we are all going broke trying to cover everything else. He has just gotten a third job to take care of the financial part but then when is he going to have time to go to outpatient classes three times a week and a meeting three times a week at least the court told him he had to? My son is ready to 'run' so he can try to have a real life. He won't but his depression is getting worse and I'm concerned that he has mentioned suiced. This was a smart, young, decent, loving young man when this all started that trusted the truth would set him free. What a joke. What a hard lesson to learn but I don't want him to let go of his beliefs about the world either, which he is doing everyday. He keeps going, he works hard and he's losing hope. His cousin got a dui and his parents put out $15,000 because they have money and got him off completely. Where is the justice for us that don't have that kind of money to fight with. We end up spending way more in fines and equiptment but don't have it all up front to stop this legal system which is totally set up to destroy lives. Not just the convicted but the families that love them

Now you know what the rest of us feel like

Posted by JSO at 2009-03-22 13:39

Rusty,

Imagine how the rest of us are treated that were never cops... lol

bogus DUI arrest

Posted by BETH at 2009-08-25 09:07

I'm glad someone has a story of innocence! I am facing a Dui and was not drunk either! But refused the breath test because I had a couple drinks with dinner! Now I will probably have to do time and anything else they feel like slamming me with! So to all you high and mighty, it could happen to you! Dui's should be treated according to each case! I wish I had a lawyer in the family

Bogus DWI Arrest

Posted by Bob at 2009-08-27 18:37

I had the same thing happen to me and I did not blow. There was not even a reason to be pulled I was downtown Greensboro on a Friday eveing and was in traffic backed up for 6 to 8 blocks. I was rolling. That's it
They said I was moving to left and right. They were right. Becacuse I was caught in a traffic jab. I could not have been moving very fast. I was just rolling so I did not have to stop completly every time the lights changed. This was in Greensboro NC and I was pulled by UNCG police,who I guess have jurisdiction any where in town. They charged me with Felony DWI. I had not had a drink for over 21/2 years and decided to have a about two glasses of wine with dinner. They had no Probable Cause to begin with 1

DUI Laws

Posted by Billy Bob at 2009-03-12 08:01

I'm talking about self righteous zealots like MADD,DADD,"SADD" and the rest of the ADDs who pretend their purpose is to save us from crimes and deliver us from sins by promoting false ideas,skewed statistics and generic science while pushing for authoritarian laws and hidden agendas!

How about this new one: damadd.com ??

Posted by tom at 2009-04-09 20:31

sounds like an alcoholic to me

DUI laws

Posted by Maureen at 2009-08-31 14:33

"I'm talking about self righteous zealots like MADD,DADD,"SADD" and the rest of the ADDs who pretend their purpose is to save us from crimes and deliver us from sins by promoting false ideas,skewed statistics and generic science while pushing for authoritarian laws and hidden agendas!such groups will stop at nothing,luring mostly naive people into supporting their "cause" with the use of distorted
facts and cheap rhetorics."

Perhaps, when it is your daughter or son or mother or father or other loved one that is murdered because some asshole decided he was going to drink and then get behiond the wheel of a car, you will understand the "rhetoric" that these groups are using. You do not get it and that is clear...

D.W.I.

Posted by Bill Dikant at 2009-09-11 08:51

Schennawy, I do admire your concern for "Rights", but can you explain to me the Rights of those who are Killed and Injured in this Land every year.Oh, thats right they had no "Right's". The Irrational pressure groups are fueled by we VICTIMS who have lost loved ones. Some of us are at odds with our so called leaders who treat this Slaughter as a low level crime,with not much punishment for these "HIGHWAY TERRORISTS".
When people are Killed with Hand Guns, all hell breaks loose and all the Dime Store Ministers are on it like gravy on potatoes, but no amount of anger on these Killers. D.WI. or any other name you give it costs 50 + Billion a year, where is the comments on that may I ask.
Not a one of us Victims propose Prohibition, all we ask is real punishment for a real CRIME.The Only Crime that is socially acceptable in America today.
Bill Dikant, Victim Advocate,
Castleton,N.Y. 12033

DUI policies..

Posted by A Y Shennawy at 2009-09-11 21:55

ok I abandoned this blog long time ago but I think your reply deserves a reply so here it is:

no one disagrees that DUI victims have every right to be angry and by all means are entitled to swift justice and retribution.I do not have sympathy for those chronic drunks who actually got behind the wheel and injured or killed an innocent bystander.

however,when the issue becomes merely a political and financial exploit by the state,group organizations,scam attorneys and other businesses at the expense of MILLIONS of american citizens who had their lives ruined for nothing more than blowing "0.08",this is when we have to take a second look.

when the problem continues to persist because our laws and policies are motivated by anger,vengeance and financial gain rather than an honest concern for american lives and a true desire to actually SOLVE the problem,this is when we have to take a second look.

when a SIGNIFICANT number of the police force stake out restaurants and bars looking for "drunks" while my neighbour gets robbed with a gun put to his head on a friday night and it takes the cops 45 minutes to an hour to show up,this is when we have to take a second look.

when cops think it is ok to randomly pull over,harrasse and often abuse american citizens under the claim they are drunk,this is when we have to take a second look.

when questionable statistics and biased analyses accompanied by cheap rhetorics and deceptive slogans including calling impaired drivers
"highway terrorists"like you have"kindly"named them,are systematically used to produce mass hysteria with the sole aim of demonizing a sector of the society,this is when we have to take a second look.

when nasty backdoors to martial laws are opened under the claim of fighting DUI including random traffic check points occasionally manned by military personnel,forceful blood draw by cops,denial of jury trials to DUI suspects while "advocates" and sleezy politicians keep pushing for"tougher" measures,this is when we have to take a second look.

when public transportation have been almost criminally neglected by the government and the alcohol industry and bar owners are never urged to take some initiative in arranging affordable means of transportations to their patrons while we are overly eager to CRUSH the "drunks" with an iron fest at their first violation,this is when we have to take a second look.

when they propose that DUI convicts including first time offenders will be forced to use hot pink and hot orange license plates on their vehicles
in a blatant barbaric discrimination against them and violation of their civil rights,while setting a precedent for MORE discrimination against other groups of the society,this is when we have to take a second look.

are you bored yet?I can go on and on to point out the nastiness and injustice in the bigger picture as pertaining to DUI policies but I shall stop here and just jump to a conclusion which is:

no argument that the ACTUAL victims of DUI have the right to justice and deserve our sympathy and social support and that the ACTUAL criminals of DUI should get appropriate punishment and that the state must stop WHORING around on both sides and capitalizing on our miseries.

at the same time those who will happily sacrifice their freedom for a FALSE promise of safety and those who think that the spirit of the law should be about blind vengeance and exploitation rather than curing social ills should WAKE UP and realize that they have become a bigger threat to this country than the problems they pretend to fight.

if you wake up every morning shaking with fear of being hit by a car,or shaking with anger and a desire to punish the whole world for a tragedy you had to suffer while forgetting to just inhale and cherish your God given freedom,you might as well stop living.

Real crime

Posted by Anon at 2009-10-10 01:48

Bill, I appreciate what you say here about victims, but please understand not everyone who is arrested for these DWI's is guilty or criminal (some are without question of course...but true investigations should be done and they are not). Prosecutors in my experience do not take fatal accidents lightly. In fact the sentences are high and this crime is NOT socially acceptable and I know of no one who would say so. Maybe you have a different experience than I, but from what I've seen any BAC below the legal limit can result in a conviction for an innocent person, based on a policeman's opinion and often, pure speculation or false testimony. I advise everyone I know to never drive a vehicle if they've even consumed a sip of alcohol with dinner because of the consequences if they have the bad luck to encounter a check point or random police stop.

If there is a fatality involved, unless the defendant is rich, he/she will certainly go to prison. I've seen the police to go great lengths to punish those they KNOW to be innocent of this crime - simply because promotions are involved when it comes to multiple DWI arrests. Many of these convictions or guilty pleas are a matter of money plain and simple. I could go on and on about the technology used to convict people who are not DWI, the subjective signs used by police to charge, as well as the fact that many people with medical conditions like myself have abnormal physiology and will register a BAC even when no alcohol is consumed. I'm sorry for any loss you may have experienced at the hands of a drunk driver. I just ask that you consider not every drunk driving arrest is valid or as black and white as you might assume.

DUI Driving

Posted by Doug Coit at 2009-03-20 18:02

If your worried about someone driving Dui don't leave the house I can guarenttee that over half the judges and police and all have drove under the infulunence so kiss my white ass I have driven drunk many of times and only have two duis and I have never been in a crash or had a insurance claim so move to mexico I am sure it is much safer hahahhahhahahahhahha

DUI laws

Posted by Maureen at 2009-08-31 14:35

....another asshole who will end up killing someone, himself included

I agree

Posted by Erin at 2009-03-22 16:53

I don’t know why everyone is upset that DUI fines have increased. Maybe if people would stop selfishly harming others by driving drunk the fines wouldn’t continue to increase! I’m curious to know if anyone on here has had a loved one harmed or killed by a drunk driver. I guarantee your thoughts would be completely different if you had! So I agree that DUI fines should be high and continue to increase. It is meant to make you think twice about being selfish and irresponsible by driving drunk! I am sorry to those that have been wrongly charged but I am more concerned and sorry for those who have lost a loved one to a drunk driver!

Erin?

Posted by Sarah at 2009-07-16 02:03

What I'm hearing from you, and those that share your opinion is a very naive and overly simplistic view of a very complicated situation.

You clearly have not had to go to jail, or spend ridiculous amounts of money to 'buy back' your life and good name because you were the target of a DWI witch hunt. Casualties and injuries caused by drunk drivers are a travesty, fatal or otherwise. Does that mean that your average social drinker should go to jail, lose their license, have to spend THOUSANDS of dollars in court and legal fees? Not to mention loss of good reputation, job, etc... for blowing .08?

I feel just awful for people who are victims of overly fatigued drivers, cell phone/distracted drivers, etc... poor and irresponsible decisions behind the wheel cause deaths too, in fact there are numerous studies reflecting a similar likelihood of auto accidents with fatigued or distracted drivers as drinking drivers at a .08.

Grow up people. Wake up and smell the smoldering Constitution... just because this issue hasn't affected you yet, does NOT mean it won't.

DUI

Posted by Rozi at 2009-05-12 17:28

I'm so sorry about your son. My son is being effected right now because of previous drunks on the road. However not in the way you might think. My son has Cerebral Palsy, he's 20 years old and he drives. This puts him at risk for arrest. Did you know that all a police officer has to have to arrest you is probable cause? This means you can blow a O.0 on the breathalizer and have a clean urine test but if the officer deems you drunk you can be arrested. This is happening to my son right now for the second time! He is not a drinker he is and enginnering student working his way through collage. Because his eye floats when he gets nervous and he has trouble walking a straight line he is at risk for police harassment. Right now my son is sitting in the detention center with finals tomorrow, waiting for the judge to release him. I'm going to repeat myself, he blew a 0.0 and had a clean urine test. Why does my son have to pay for every other drunk out there on the road. It's because of over zealous people who petition the State for more and more laws that stomp on our freedoms. You no longer are guilty until proven innocent with a DUI. You are made to pay for impoundment of your vehicle, equipment that is required for you car, your reputation is smeared and then $4500 dollars later, after you pay a lawyer they finally declare you innocent. How's that for justice?

Immaculate Dui, Pretext PC & Disabled Drivers

Posted by HTColorado at 2009-07-09 12:11

Organizations that help disabled people need to get involved in protecting them and their rights from the quota-happy officers out there!

I was pulled over on a holiday weekend driving home from Fedex/Kinkos. The officer claimed I was "weaving" which is impossible in a snowstorm when the lane markers are obscured. He started his shtick, "How much have you had to drink, I need you to step out of the vehicle..."

I have PTSD and ADD, and had a sprained ankle the size of a small volleyball. He ordered me to do the three roadside tests, and got really angry when I asked him innocently, "Why are you jerking the pen?" during the eye test. He went on to shine his cop flashlight into ONE of my eyes (this knocks out your binocular vision and can thus affect your balance) and ridiculed me while I successfully completed the two balance tests *on a hill, in the dark, in a snowstorm, with a sprained ankle!*

He made me blow in a tube, and kept clearing the results (probably because the results were zero.) He kept yelling, "Blow harder! Harder! Now you're just playing GAMES!"

He was so abusive I had a panic attack. The paramedics came, after they left he hauled me off to jail! There, he told me I had to choose a test, blood or breath, and submit to a urine test "because you take prescription medication." I asked "May I please see a copy of the statute?" and was told no. I asked "May I please have a drink of water?" and was told no--odd if I had to submit a urine sample. He kept badgering me, "Do you understand?" and I told him "No, I don't understand, none of this makes any sense, I'll take whatever tests you want" and he kept up "You have to CHOOSE a test and you HAVE TO UNDERSTAND!"

When I asked to speak with a commanding officer, a guy in a hat came in and yelled, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse! It's been explained to you!" and stormed off. When I explained that under severe stress, my prefrontal cortex shuts down and I can't think clearly, he ridiculed me and yelled, "I'm putting you down as refusing! You're losing your license for a year!" and stormed off. I'm clearly visible on the video BEGGING, PLEADING as I repeated five to ten times, "I wish to state for the record I am NOT refusing! Give me tests! Take my blood!" but no one cared.

Later, I blew in the tube and it was .000. I hadn't taken my Adderall for ADD in 18 hours, and hadn't taken diazepam in about 26 hours. I even got a hair follicle test to prove I don't use drugs.

None of this mattered. At the Motor Vehicle hearing, I brought my attorney, my boyfriend who I was following home that night, and
*the clerk from Fedex/Kinkos!* I brought the ROAD REPORT from the Department of Transportation! I broought the receipt for my crutches, the xray and hospital report, my PTSD test results, my medical records, the report showing I blew .000, and the Hearing Officer disregarded it all. He knew the officer was lying and said "he was the only credible witness."
He indicated I wasn't disabled because "I seemed intelligent and well-spoken." Like disabled people are supposed to be STUPID?
The Hearing Officer said, "You had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and you failed the voluntary roadside tests" and took my license for a year!

Someone PLEASE stop these people! They LIE!!!

If I had "slurred speech" how did the officer understand "prefrontal cortex?" How come the booking photo shows my eyes are white and clear? The officer put my eyes down as green even though my license says blue and they're obviously blue. He never even LOOKED at my eyes!

How can a lying officer who gets paid and promoted for writing tickets and making arrests be more believeable than the clerk from Fedex/Kinkos, who is a disinterested third party? How can the officer lie and say he could see lane markers when the Dept of Transportation report said "Snow" and they had sanding trucks out? I was going 35mph in a 75mph zone BECAUSE IT WAS SO SNOWY!

The courts, the DMV, and the comanding officers are all in on this.

It's unconstitutional. Imagine if there were quotas for murderers and I was wrongly accused of a capital offense because they tried to use the same trumped-up, subjective, cliche pretexts and lies to make their quotas:

"Well, she had shifty eyes, and when I asked her if she had done murder she said yes." Seems ridiculous, doesn't it?

It's like a game of "chicken." They make you spend tons of money on a lawyer, get ready for trial, and pressure you to plead to a DUAI even though you're innocent. No jury in the world would find someone guilty when there isn't one shred of objective evidence, so they try to suppress the objective exculpatory evidence. Even after you win at trial, you STILL don't get your license back from Motor Vehicle!!!

After the Hearing Officer finds you "guilty of refusing" you have to spend a ton of money on an appeal where the Dept. Of Revenue is represented by the ATTORNEY GENERAL! I found one case (Nancy Gallion) where she won her appeal, and the Dept of Revenue APPEALED!

Why were they so hell-bent on making sure she didn't get her license back? Could it be to maintain the status quo and make sure no precedents are set?

Something's fishy. And innocent people are being railroaded and made to go through hell.

dui for former Baldwin Co,AL Dist. Attorney

Posted by Chris at 2008-12-29 18:21

I think all the people that have been found guilty of DUIs should have to pay a fine that helps finance billboards for Against Drunk Driving & DUI education videos for schools.

You have driven under the influnce I am sure of that

Posted by Doug Coit at 2009-03-20 18:07

I can promise you that driving drinking is bad but I bet you have done it before I beat you anything you have I think you have done it lots of times

You have driven under the influnce I am sure of that

Posted by Maureen at 2009-08-31 14:42

Believe it or not, I have NEVER driven after having a drink NEVER.....My cousin was killed by a drunk driver and also a dear friend and her family were all killed because of a drunk driver. Some people never drink and drive.

No Thankyou

Posted by Jack Mason at 2009-05-09 14:39

I think the citizens need to quit enableing the people in government that wish to wage war their constituents. The citizens of this country have suffered long enough because of your self serving politics,

dui

Posted by brian at 2009-01-14 09:45

My dad had to get an interlock device on his car. He went to this company called interlock device of new jersey. he was extremely satisfied with the service they gave him. they were the cheapest in the state. every other company had all these hidden fees they cost a fortune! not with interlock device of new jersey. everything was straight up, he didn’t pay anything more than the rent on the device. interlock device of new jersey did all the rest. they’re website address is www.interlockdevice.com

DUI consequences

Posted by me at 2009-01-23 12:44

Hey everyone. I was involved in my first DUI on APril 30th of 2008. My BAC was at .12 but I was involved in a solo roll over accident (thank god for seat belts).

They gave me 30 day suspension, 6 months restictive lisence and an IID. I have completed all classes, 6 months restriction and 6 month IID (pain in the butt....not to mention embarrassing).

Does anyone know if I have to do anything else? I have completed everything ordered, fine is current........

Dui

Posted by tom at 2009-04-09 16:50

Driving drunk is a crime and should treated like any other crime that is out there. for the person driving drunk, you risking other people's lives by your irresponsible behavior. So to say dui laws are unjust, is like saying it's ok to kill and maim someone. to destroy other people's lives. Let's start talking about the victims of drunk drivers instead of taking pity on the drunk drivers.

DUI - Boating Laws

Posted by Willi_H2O at 2009-04-10 16:57

When will the country get tougher on DUI for boating ?
It's downright scary in a number of marinas watching the amount of alcohol consumed on boats.

DUI Laws

Posted by VK MI at 2009-04-12 21:06

How does this sound? "I was arrested for driving under the influence of a 'legal' substance". Go figure. Next thing they're going to develop is some kind of laser beam that the police can use to point at every car going by to determine the B.A.C. of the driver. Got to love the technology.

Get Real

Posted by Jack Mason at 2009-05-09 14:32

Nobody wants hardcore problem drinkers on the street killing people. The issue is with the hysterical uber enforcment and punishment fueled by organizations like MADD. Thousands of people are are arrested every day and put through hell that are perfectly capable of driving but guilty of having a low alchohal level. Jack booted thugs passing as law enforcment are jabbing needles in our arms without our consent. Driving can be dangerous and some people should not be allowed to drive but the current standard for that determination has become more about prohibition than safety. Enough is enough.

drinkers driving

Posted by mona olson at 2009-05-18 15:48

as we age we most often look at things in more realistic ways, right? well I have come to the point where I am feeling sick over all of you drinking and repeatedly driving...oh I know you are fine...then why do you behave so dumb when you end up in the back seat of the cop car??? I know you are a trying to remember who that guy in AA is ...BILL,yeah thats it,I can join that club of loosers that hide behind a program of well intentioned folks...then when the smoke clears you are back to the same crap...Guess what,many people including myself will use our cell phones and report coworkers so called friends family and all others

Loaded Gun

Posted by Paul at 2009-07-10 06:26

I have two DUI's, one in which I colided with a vehicle that had a pregnant woman as a passenger. All of us involved suffered, and still do a great deal, on many levels. That DUI was my second,and my last. It has taken me years to get my life back to normal, and I don't even know about the family I hit. I don't think the laws are all that harsh. If you heard that people were drinking and shooting off guns in your neighborhood you would want someone to do something about it. Would you want to hang out with a drunk guy who has a pistol? In the hands of someone who has been drinking a car is a weapon. If you think the laws are too harsh what do suppose should be done?

Unconstitutional DUI laws!

Posted by Bob Ransom at 2009-10-04 05:19

This is in reply to Loaded Gun:

Apparently harsh DUI laws are not too harsh for people who drink, become intoxicated, and then drive drunk like you did. Did you not learn your lesson after you got the first DUI? apparently you didn't! In your case those laws served their purpose. But don't assume that because you were dumb enough to drink, become drunk not once but twice, and then got behind the wheel of a vehicle that all people are likely to do the same. There are people (Most People) who are smart enough to go out, have fun, and in the process drink 2 or maybe even 3 drinks, remain under the the leagal limit of .08 and travel whereever they may wish to go, safely.

Did those harsh DUI laws stop you from causing an accident involving a vehicle that had a pregnant woman as a passenger? No they didn't you dumb ass! And to show how dumb you really are, it's obvious that when you caused the accident it was your second DUI, which is bound to happen with repeat asshole offenders such as yourself. I rest my case!!!!

BAUDDL – Brother Against Unconstitutional Drunk Driving Laws

Unconstitutional DUI Laws

Posted by Bob Ransom at 2009-10-04 06:23

How about as long as people drive cars there will be fender benders, and fatal accidents. Does that make sense?

Fatal accidents caused by drunk drivers are not as bad as people are lead to believe. If any occupant in either vehicle of a fatal accident has a .01 percent blood alcohol level the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration counts the accident as fatal caused by drunk driving.

US Citizens must realize that the whole DUI issue has spun so far out of control that all of our constitutional rights have been literally stripped away, slowly but surely. DUI started at .15, then .10, then .08, and now impaired to the slightest degree. Forced blood draws, driver's license suspended for 3 months immediately at the time the officer administers sobriety tests (1 year if you refuse to cooperate) whether you're later found not guilty or not. In Arizona you get hit with 2 dui's at the same time now: Impaired to the slightest degree, and a blood alcohol concentration level of .08, which is nothing but double jeopardy under the 5th amendment of the US Constitution, as these 2 offenses carry the exact same punishment. Forced blood draws clearly violates the search and seizure clause of the fourth amendment, and the 14th amendment of the constitution clearly states that No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. How can they justify classifying DUI as .15, lowering it to .10, further lowering it to .08, and now impaired to the slightest degree? The fact that officers are no longer required to video record field sobriety tests or time spent in DUI vans or what happens at police stations after a DUI arrest is made clearly violates the due process clause of the 5th and 14th amendments.

Many people don't know how MADD was started. MADD was started in 1980 by a woman named Candy Lightner after a drunk driver drove up on the sidewalk and killed her daughter. She started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving. Miss Lightner resigned from MADD in 1985 after she saw how MADD changed after some money and power hungry individuals joined the organization. Here we are in 2009 and look how MADD, State legislatures, City Governments and Law Enforcement Agencies have all teamed up to destroy the rights and lives of innocent US Citizens of this great country.

Our Founding Fathers would truly be ashamed of America if they knew that DUI victims have fewer rights than bank robbers, murders, rapists, and child molesters. This is the kind of injustice the Founding Fathers attempted to prevent when the US Constitution was brought to life!

More enforcement!?

Posted by Tom, apparently you don't grasp the bigger picture at hand. Though its tragic to see someone die as a result of a drunk driver's recklessness, as mentioned by earlier comments, there are many of people whom have fell victim to the abuse of law enforcement. To contrast this DUI/DWI argument, I'll briefly give you a story example of... the Patriot Act. So one day 9/11 occurred,... many died and many more left alive shattered and broken in spirit due to cowardly acts of violence done in by terrorists. The Americans whelped, cried aloud, and pleaded for some aide from their "trustworthy" government to do something about it! So to answer the pleas, our modern self-labeled democratic government decided to ensure the "safety" of Americans by establishing a new set of laws to protect and punish those whom have been "suspected" of terrorists activities. Thus the Patriot Act was created, enabled without any regard for the public opinions who had rally against it's establishment, and for years it served it's purpose profoundly. It's first targets of course were the many non and American men of Arabic and Muslim descent. Many of which as you know by now, have been detained due to "probable" cause to create terror, stripped of every human right(s), and sent to be water-boarded at the grand beach resort of Guantanamo Bay! But wait... that was only it's pilot testing for this newly established law. So from that successful stint, our government decided it would benefit the U.S. even more if the act was to deviate it's influence to other "probable" targets. So they held a meeting and ideas just started flying all about the room! "How about war veterans? Surely we should get them first!" the politician asked. "Yes, they have military training and political influence that can make them potential terror candidates. We shou..." A general replied only to be interrupted. "No we tried that in Nam already." A judge exclaims. "Oh wait! I know! I know!" a corporate man yells. "We can just generate a blacklist of Americans whom we agreed as "probable" tour de force resistant against our greedy tyrannical practices! We practically have background records of every American!" And soon the whole room goes into an uproar yelling hoorah and YEAH! The politician finally calms them group down and gives a closing argument, "Okay, let's do that. Surely this will keep Americans safer and stop terrorists from trying to act up against the law!" So hence from that time, any person suspected of "probable" terror involvement regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, or substantial proof were detained and lived the rest of their life miserably. End... In conclusion, most laws are enacted in regards towards benefiting our society, but it is our duty as citizens living under a democracy to check our government from time to time to ensure our own safety from any abuse of the law derived from them as well. Then again, your probably like many Americans out there who rather slave away under an upcoming Fascist state. Oh well... hope you enjoyed the story. at 2009-05-14 04:17

Tom, apparently you don't grasp the bigger picture at hand. Though its tragic to see someone die as a result of a drunk driver's recklessness, as mentioned by earlier comments, there are many of people whom have fell victim to the abuse of law enforcement.

To contrast this DUI/DWI argument, I'll briefly give you a story example of... the Patriot Act.

So one day 9/11 occurred,... many died and many more left alive shattered and broken in spirit due to cowardly acts of violence done in by terrorists. The Americans whelped, cried aloud, and pleaded for some aide from their "trustworthy" government to do something about it! So to answer the pleas, our modern self-labeled democratic government decided to ensure the "safety" of Americans by establishing a new set of laws to protect and punish those whom have been "suspected" of terrorists activities. Thus the Patriot Act was created, enabled without any regard for the public opinions who had rally against it's establishment, and for years it served it's purpose profoundly. It's first targets of course were the many non and American men of Arabic and Muslim descent. Many of which as you know by now, have been detained due to "probable" cause to create terror, stripped of every human right(s), and sent to be water-boarded at the grand beach resort of Guantanamo Bay!

But wait... that was only it's pilot testing for this newly established law. So from that successful stint, our government decided it would benefit the U.S. even more if the act was to deviate it's influence to other "probable" targets. So they held a meeting and ideas just started flying all about the room! "How about war veterans? Surely we should get them first!" the politician asked. "Yes, they have military training and political influence that can make them potential terror candidates. We shou..." A general replied only to be interrupted. "No we tried that in Nam already." A judge exclaims. "Oh wait! I know! I know!" a corporate man yells. "We can just generate a blacklist of Americans whom we agreed as "probable" tour de force resistant against our greedy tyrannical practices! We practically have background records of every American!" And soon the whole room goes into an uproar yelling hoorah and YEAH! The politician finally calms them group down and gives a closing argument, "Okay, let's do that. Surely this will keep Americans safer and stop terrorists from trying to act up against the law!" So hence from that time, any person suspected of "probable" terror involvement regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, or substantial proof were detained and lived the rest of their life miserably. End...

In conclusion, most laws are enacted in regards towards benefiting our society, but it is our duty as citizens living under a democracy to check our government from time to time to ensure our own safety from any abuse of the law derived from them as well. Then again, your probably like many Americans out there who rather slave away under an upcoming Fascist state. Oh well... hope you enjoyed the story.

More enforcement! WTH!

Posted by V at 2009-05-14 04:19

dui

Posted by BETH at 2009-08-25 09:34

You are self ritches

You are not even reading these blogs! You think your so perfect, I bet you have gone out to dinner and had a drink or two also..... Just because you haven't got caught you think your perfect! yes DRUNK driving is wrong and dangerous but we are saying YOU can get charged with DUI without being DRUNK.....I don't know anyone that is drunk off of one or two drinks, unless they are kids!

dui

Posted by Bob at 2009-09-19 14:03

So is speeding and aggressive driving, both of which kills and maims more than dui's, but penalties are far less, almost nothing by comparison. This indicates to me that dui law is more about alcohol than actual road safety. Penalties for ANY unsafe driving should be the same.

DUI/DWI

Posted by Casey Horn at 2009-05-03 12:00

DUI/DWI fines will most likely never go down.

Not likely

Posted by dan at 2009-07-14 00:28

Hey it's a source of income, it will never go down. Government never saw a source of income it didn't like. And the people that figured out a way to make money like the IID companies, aren't about to let it interfere with something as trivial as the 4th amendment.

profitabilaty of DUI

Posted by rob lee at 2009-09-08 21:33

If you believe the state of California is making a profit from DUI you are profoundly wrong, according to one study. CaDUI reports drinking and driving cost Californian businesses $2.5 billion in 1995. I'm certain fines collected from DUI motorists didn't come anywhere near that. Does anyone have more current stats on the subject?

DWI from the other side of the desk

Posted by Sylvia at 2009-07-29 15:01

I'm a DWI compliance monitor (nice way of saying probation officer) and I have heard most of the stories and comments on this post. In fact, after almost 1200 DWI clients, I can give you stories from both sides that would absolutely floor you. However, everyone here keeps forgetting that their story is just that "a story". I've read mothers on here relaying how horrible it was the night their poor, poor son or daughter got pulled over and how unfair the police were. How they were trying to do the right thing and they still got punished. I'm gonna tell you right now, "THEY LIE". I've seen countless videos of these "innocent children" getting stopped for DWI. I've seen them spit, hit, kick, yell, scream and flat out degrade these officers. Then, the parents come in and try and tell me that their child was unfairly prosecuted. Adults fair no better. I've heard everything from "my friends forced alcohol down my throat and left me in the desert with nothing but my car" to "I only had one beer." I know its unfair sometimes. A few "innocent" people pay for a huge amount of not-so-innocent ones.

I did read on here one person talking about casual drinkers having to pay for alcoholics. Hate to burst your bubble, but a drunk person is still a drunk person whether they are an alcoholic or not. I think maybe we all forget one thing. Laws are designed to keep order. If we let everyone out there drive home drunk, even some of the people making comments against these laws might see themselves affected.

Simple solution: If you know the laws in your area, follow them. Your not special just because you think the law is unfair. You only start to think laws are unfair when they affect you in a negative manner. God forbid you lose a loved one to drunk driving because then all you have to relay on are these same dumb laws.

dui

Posted by cable dawg at 2009-08-28 07:10

What about all the texting and driving, the senior citizens on the road that shouldn't be. The people that work long hours at there job and drive when they are to tired. dui is dangerous so are high speed chases that are glamourized by tv stations for ratings and money just like a dui arrest and conviction.$$$$$$$$$$$ I'm sure most all fatality from drunk driving are from someone that was a .15 or higher. .08 is robbery.

Lets do something about this

Posted by Joshua at 2009-08-29 21:25

There is site I stumbled upon called www.reportadui.com that web users can anonymously report suspected drunk drivers.

If we all keep our eyes out and report these people, the roads will be a safer place. Now we just need a site for those texting and senior offenders!

Unconstitutional DUI Laws

Posted by Bob Ransom at 2009-10-04 03:32

I was out with my fiancé’ celebrating Cinco De mayo on May 5th of this year in Phoenix, AZ and was the designated driver all night. On the way home we decided to stop at a strip club around 12:30 AM, and within a 45 minute time span I had 2 drinks of Hennessy, straight up. We left the club around 1:15 AM, and were pulled over by a motor cycle cop at 1:20 AM. As he approached the window of the vehicle I could sense beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was going to attempt to get me for a DUI. The first thing he told me was that he pulled me over for speeding, which I couldn’t dispute because I didn’t check the speed ometer before I pulled over. The officer asked for my license and registration and asked me if I had anything to drink. I admitted that I had 2 drinks, and he asked me to step out of the vehicle. He administered 3 field sobriety tests, and during the course of these tests he was doing many things to distract me, and his tone of voice was very loud and demanding. After he didn’t give me any feed back to let me know if I passed or failed the tests, he whipped out a breathalyzer and asked me to blow into it. Up until that point I fully cooperated with him, but due to his demeanor and the way he was being so forceful and rude I refused to blow in the breathalyzer, so he immediately arrested me and I was transported to a DUI van.

Now before I get into the discussion of what happened in the DUI van I’d like to express my opinion on the rights of US citizens under the United States Constitution. The search and seizure clause under the fourth amendment has been destroyed. The due process clause of the 14th and 5th amendments have been destroyed, as the police no longer have to video record field sobriety tests or time spent in the DUI van. If the police officer says you failed the sobriety tests you have no proof to dispute this, whether it is true or not true. DUI laws have become so strict that the burden of the proof of innocence has been shifted from the state to the defendant. The definition of legally intoxicated started at .15, was lowered to .10, and now is currently at .08. How many people know that there is a DUI offense that states if you are impaired to the slightest degree you receive the same punishment as a DUI with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 or higher? I didn’t know about this new law until I was charged with 2 dui offences in one shot (Can you say double jeopardy?). Impaired to the slightest degree means that you could have one sip of alcohol, get pulled over by a cop, take the field sobriety tests, and if the cop says you failed you could be charged with a DUI and be perfectly sober. Everyone would like to see individuals who choose to drink too much, become legally intoxicated, and for whatever reason think they can drive a vehicle safely, not be allowed to drive. But for the sake of everyone’s rights under the United States Constitution, US citizens should be free to travel anywhere they please, and do whatever they please as long as they don’t infringe on the life, liberty or property of another citizen. That being said, it is not against the law to drink, and then drive, but it’s against the law to drink, become legally intoxicated, and then drive. Perfectly innocent US citizens are being charged with DUI’s, not to protect the public from drunk drivers, but to generate as much revenue as possible for city governments and for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and state legislatures to exercise power. Oh yeah, and MADD generates approximately 50 million dollars in donations, and pays out about 12 million dollars in salaries every year.

Ok, back to what happened when I was transported to the DUI van. I really didn’t want to let these people draw my blood, because I knew I wasn’t drunk or impaired to the slightest degree. I was in the DUI van with the officer who arrested me, and the officer who drew my blood. I was told that if I didn’t willingly allow my blood to be drawn, a search warrant would be faxed to a judge, who was on standby; the search warrant would be signed on the fly, and faxed back to the DUI van. This process takes less than 5 minutes. At that point the officers can call for backup, hold you down, taser you and do whatever they need to do to forcefully draw your blood to have it tested. This really seemed crazy and unconstitutional to me, but I have heard of people being killed by police when they don’t cooperate, and I really didn’t feel like dying that day, so I let them take my blood after they made it perfectly clear that I was not leaving that DUI van until my blood was drawn! I was also informed that if a search warrant had to be issued my driver’s license would be suspended for one year. I was later informed by the MVD that even if you refuse to submit to the field sobriety tests your driver’s license would be suspended for one year. The police officer informed me that I had the right to refuse before he started each of the field sobriety tests, but never mentioned that my driver’s license would be suspended for a whole year if I refused. I found out later that the breath test is inadmissible in court, and they were going to forcibly draw my blood anyway whether I submitted to the breath test or not.

I was treated so unfairly during the entire process that I decided to fight the 2 DUI offenses I was charged with, no matter what the consequences. At this point I didn’t care if I was given the death penalty. What I found to be really sad, is when I attended my first court appearance almost all the other individuals charged with DUI offenses pleaded guilty, because they thought they had no chance of receiving a fair trial, due to the DUI laws being so strict. Well, here are the 2 DUI offenses I was charged with:
Driving While Impaired to the Slightest Degree, A.R.S. §28-1381(A)(1)
It is unlawful to drive, or to be in actual physical control, of a vehicle while under the influence of any intoxication liquor, any drug, or any combination of liquor or drugs. It is not necessary to be “drunk.” The State is only required to prove that a person’s ability to operate their vehicle was impaired “to the slightest degree.”
Driving With an Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08% or Above, A.R.S. §28-1381(A)(2)
It is unlawful to drive, or to be in actual physical control, of a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% [.04% if commercial vehicle, A.R.S. §28-1381(A) (4)] or higher within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. The blood alcohol concentration must be a result of alcohol consumed either prior to driving or while driving, or being in actual physical control. Both of these offenses carry the exact same punishment.
The bad part regarding your driver’s license is that as soon as the officer decides to administer the field sobriety tests you are issued an Admin Per se, and your license is suspended for 3 months, no matter if you’re found not guilty, if you are brave enough to have a trial by jury.
I was found not guilty of both DUI offences after the evidence was heard by a jury of my peers. Although the officer lied multiple times while under oath, no video recordings of the field sobriety tests or time spent in the DUI van were available the jury still found me not guilty. One thing the judge continuously stressed to the jury is that it is not against the law to drink and then drive.

The DUI laws have been made so strict, and being impaired to the slightest degree does really mean that it is virtually against the law to drink and then drive! The public just hasn’t been informed of this yet.

Unconstitutional DUI Laws

Posted by Bob Ransom at 2009-10-05 00:53

Listen "Miss High And Mighty". My father was killed in a fatal car accident when I was 4 years old. I'm 49 years old now and have had to live without my father all my life. It was unfortunate for him and for me what happened, but I don't think all people who drive cars are bad because my father was killed in a car accident. It was what it was, an accident.

No one thinks they're special if they think laws are unfair. It's a fact that DUI laws are not only unfair, but are also unconstitutional! Just because you choose not to drink alcohol when you go out to a restaurant, a bar, night club or where ever doesn't mean other people who choose to drink shouldn't have the right to do so if they choose to do that. As long as people who do choose to drink do not become intoxicated and don't infringe on the life liberty or property of any other US Citizen they shouldn't have to worry about power hungry cops arresting them, and people who think they're better than them such as yourself judging them. Police are employed to serve and protect, and to help preserve the constitutional rights of all US Citizens, not treat everyone as if we are guilty for just breathing the air that God created, and suspecting everyone of being a terrorist!

I hate to burst your bubble, but almost all sensible adult US Citizens are casual drinkers, and we know how to go out, socialize, have fun, have a few drinks, do whatever we please, and at the end of the night drive home with no problems what so ever! But due to organizations like MADD, dishonest politicians in state legislatures, dishonest and power hungry city governments and law enforcement agencies dui's have become very, very profitable. The average price to get a good lawyer to defend someone against dui convictions is approximately 15,000 dollars. After someone pays all the fines and attends all the alcohol counseling they could spend as much as 10,000 dollars plus the 15,000 they spend on a lwayer, could lose their current job, will lose their driver's license for a while, insurance goes through the roof, and could destroy future employment opportunities. Do you think all these fines and punishments are educating the public, and preventing DUI? You be the judge of that. I can tell you that enormous fines generate lots of revenue. Tell you something else, stricter DUI laws spreads a very wide net to cast into the sea of drivers, and many, many innocent US Citizens are becoming victims of DUI and at the time they're arrested are not even impaired to the slightest degree. For example, the definition of drunk driving started at a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.15, but enough people were not being convicted so they lowered it to 0.10. More people were being convicted, and the money and power got good, so it was lowered to 0.08. Since MADD is so angry, and has been able to exercise so much power over the people, and are so greedy they are foaming at the mouth. Throw in politicians who are very dishonest, and would do anything to be elected into office, power hungry law enforcement agencies, and you have a perfect storm of corruption. So now we are at the point to where there is a new law in Arizona, which states that if you are impaired to the slightest degree you are guilty of DUI. What is the definition of impaired to the slightest degree? I'll tell you what it means: It doesn't matter what your blood alcohol concentration level is, you could be charged with a DUI. What I'm trying to say is, MADD, State Legislatures, City Governments, and Law Enforcement Agencies are not interested in protecting the public from drunk drivers. They started out with honest hearts and minds, but somewhere along the line greed, power, and the desire to enslave the public became their objective. If you think I'm crazy wait until you or one of your loved ones is arrested by some power hungry cop, taken to a police station or DUI van and forced to have your blood drawn when you know you are innocent, and not in the least bit impaired to the slightest degree! All these unconstitutional laws are not protecting the public from drunk drivers and they never will. The truth is we will always have people who drink too much, become drunk and get behind the wheel of a vehicle and attempt to drive whether the DUI laws are harsh and unfair or fair and reasonable. Some people are just dumb and stubborn, and some are just downright malicious and evil. That's why we have jails to incarcerate people who are not fit to live in society. I say if someone has been convicted of DUI more than twice and goes out and causes a fatal accident while intoxicated they should be given a life sentence, because at this point they have become as bad as someone who commits premeditated murder. That's just my opinion.

I have no problem with someone who is truly driving intoxicated or under the influence of drugs being arrested for DWI/DUI. But if someone has had a few drinks and is not intoxicated No State shall make or enforce any law which finds them guilty of driving while impaired to the slightest degree! You see the laws have been adjusted to make innocent people guilty who are not drunk. How long will the public allow these power, and money hungry evil bastards to manipulate the law to rob us of our freedom, and infringe on our lives, liberty and property without due process before we stand up and say enough is enough!

DUI

Posted by Dean H at 2009-09-02 16:35

I have a <a href="http://www.duilawyerlosangeles.com">Los Angeles DUI Lawyer</a> who really knows his stuff. You should check him out.

Forgot to include his DUI site

Posted by DEAN at 2009-09-02 16:36

http://www.duilawyerlosangeles.com

Unconstitutional Drunk Driving Laws

Posted by Bob Ransom at 2009-10-04 04:44

I just wanted to discuss how innocent US Citizens are being falsely arrested for DUI. There’s a new DUI law in Arizona called “Impaired to the slighest degree” and you don’t have to be the least bit intoxicated to be arrested for a DUI. I hope to reveal how using unconstitutional DUI laws Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, State Legislatures, City Governments, and law Enforcement Agencies are all involved in a nation wide scam to generate massive amounts of revenue by arresting innocent people for DUI and destroying their lives, and disregarding the US Constitution in the process?

I was not aware of how bad this situation has gotten until I was arrested and charged with 2 DUI’s at the same time. Although the DUI laws have been made so strict that the burden of the proof of innocence has been shifted from the State to the Defendant, I decided to fight these allegations and was found not guilty of both DUI offenses. I hope many people learn from my experience and avoid this unconstitutional DUI scam!

Thank you,

BAUDDL – Brother Against Unconstitutional Drunk Driving Laws

DUI VS GUN RIGHT

Posted by Michael at 2009-10-06 20:59

RE: DUI CONVICTIONS vs. 2ND AMENDMENT GUN RIGHT:

Is second amendment Right really an inalienable Right when the government eternally Debarred the “Right to keep and bear arms” based on one’s drinking and driving record of 3 DUI convictions? (Felony) A Victimless Crime & Void of any injured party.

What prevents the government from debarring the “second amendment right” based on acquiring 10 or more points on a driving record within a 10 year period as they have for acquiring 3 dui convictions in a 10 year period?
(Both being victimless crimes & void of an injured party)

How can law makers choose to remove the Second Amendment protected “Right” against drunk drivers rather than another Right such as free speech, religion, or to be secure in their homes, or better yet the actual “Privilege” (Not even a Right) of actually driving, which is utterly void of the demands and protection provisions of an inalienable Right? How can this be?

Driving under the influence of alcohol has absolutely no relationship with the second amendment protected “Right” of the people to keep and bear arms or to be secure in their homes regardless the number of DUI convictions.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson

The government contends that a person’s driving record of 3 DUI convictions poses a risk factor to society and should thereby have their protected “Right” to keep and bear arms eternally Debarred void of restoration.

Shouldn’t the government First Debar (Remove) the drunk drivers “Privilege” (A Non Protected Right) of ever operating a motor vehicle void of all possibility for reinstatement before they even think of forever Debarring (Removing) the DUI drivers second amendment “Right” of owning or possessing a firearm void of possible reinstatement?

The government currently reinstates the drivers “Privilege” to operate a motor vehicle, yet eternally debars the drivers “Right” to ever own a firearm for the exact same drinking & driving offense. (HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE AND WHERE IS THE REASONING?)

Drunk drivers kill thousands of motorists each year: Debarring the drunk drivers protected “Right” to keep and bear arms has not saved even one motorist or life. Yet the government allows for reinstatement of the driving “Privilege” (which is not even a “Right”) and does not have the protections of a “Right” (Again, How can this possibly be?)

In Fact, Debarring the “Privilege” to ever operate a motor vehicle will save countless lives and will not infringe upon the Constitutionally Protected God given inalienable “Rights” of any free man! Debarring the right to possess a firearm has not saved a single life and utterly tramples upon our inalienable God given & Constitutional rights of all free men!

THE ROOT AND PROBLEM vs. PRIVILEGE AND RIGHT: (RIGHT vs. PRIVILEGE DISTINCTION)

The driving “Privilege” is a “Privilege,” “and is NOT A RIGHT”: (It is utterly void of constitutional protection)
For convictions of 3rd DUI the driving “Privilege” is revoked for up to 5 years with time frame provision for full reinstatement of the driving Privilege unlike the current law which eternally bars the driver’s second amendment right to own a firearm.

The “Right” to Keep and Bear Arms, “IS A Right” and “is not a Privilege”: (HAS FULL CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION)
For convictions of 3rd DUI, this “RIGHT” to keep and bear arms is currently eternally Debarred void of time frame provision for reinstatement. The Right is forever and eternally lost; unlike the “Privilege” of driving which again, has a time frame provision for reinstatement. (SHOULDN’T THIS BE THE EXACT OPPOSITE?)

Regardless of one’s personal stand on drinking and driving, there should be a positive reinstatement provision for a guaranteed inalienable protected “Right” of the people to keep and bear arms as there is positive provision for reinstatement of a meager “Privilege of operating a motor vehicle for the exact same drinking & driving offense.

This usurpation of Right should unequivocally be overturned with this clear & sound reasoning since the initial core threat of drinking and driving has absolutely no relevance to keeping and bearing arms for hunting and home protection purposes just the same as it has no bearing on any of the other individually guaranteed & inalienable God given & Constitutional Rights …

Shouldn’t Constitutionally Protected Rights take front seat rather than back seat to a mere privilege?

Daughter's DWI

Posted by Bill at 2009-11-08 15:00

One night my daughter came home from a night of watching TV with friends. It was 11:30 pm. I greeted her and talked with her. I saw no signs of her being drunk. I went to bed. She microwaved a pizza and went to her room to watch TV. At 3 am I got a call from her and she was arrested for DWI. She had gotten in her car and drove less than a mile to pick up a pack of cigarettes and turned without using her blinker. I saw the arrest video and the breathalyzer video and she still didn't look drunk. She messed up on the backwards alphabet test, which I have a hard time with sober. She blew a .15 on the breathalyzer. There was no alcohol in my house and none in her car. I live in a dry neighborhood. We decided to fight it but ultimately plead guilty because of the expense. I couldn't afford to pay the lawyer and lose and have to pay the fines too. She now can't leave the state for 2 years. She can't go to the college she wanted to and she is stagnating at age 21. The won't let her meet with probation officers in another state. Just recently she was complaining she was always nautious and had a stomach ache. It turns out she has acid reflux disease. This is the number one cause of false positives on breathalyzers. I wish we had known that at the time. Just the other day she was stopped after dinner where she had one to two beers. I saw the receipt. It showed a .13 and she is now a parole violator. Her next stop is a felony with hard time in a federal pen. I don't want her to drink and drive but this has destroyed her life. If knowing you could be charged with manslaughter for driving drunk isn't enough to discourage drunk driving I don't understand why high fines will change anything.

Injured party no longer required

Posted by Michael at 2009-11-08 17:13

There is absolutely no rhyme or reason why our government is implementing felonies against the people regardless the amount of DUI convictions when there is no injured party to confront. (We cant confront the state because its an entity, not a person) Our system today mandates felonies on what could have happened rather than what did happen. We are living in an upside down world void of common law or the constitution. It is apparent our governments primary purpose is to disarm this country and eventually turn every american into a felon. As long as we continue to lay down like sheep, our rights will continue to erode. DUI's have absolutely no relevance to a felony which removes a persons right to own a firearm. Where is freedom when our rights are being removed void of an injured party?