MADD Reports DUI Deaths Up

Let me express my sincere outrage at the system which has destroyed my bright life and future. Because organizations like MADD that believe a harder slap on the wrist equals better driving habits my family and I have suffered greatly. These laws have hurt so many and saved quite few. Between 1982 and 2005 the number of drunken driving fatalities went from 173 in 82 to 166 in 2005 not at all good results. The opportunity costs of tougher driving laws in NH are enormous. People’s lives are destroyed and hang in jeopardy because of punishments that were not in place when my father was my age. Are these tougher laws actually accomplishing anything or is this just another part of our diminishing constitution? The laws in NH and the people that support them are completely out of touch with the actual damage they do to the lives of good people. Haven't you people learned anything from the way your parents punished you? Do you remember what most people will do when you tell them not to do it? Start taking responsibility for your parenting skills and stop destroying the lives of good people!

I still think the laws are to light....

Get caught the first time drinking and driving.... license gone for life... Or maybe in prison for life since you acutally murdered someone.

You may think it is a BS Law..... Let me tell you something
My brother was KILLED by one of you idoits in 1996...
Physically destoryed his wife....
Mentally destoryed his son
And created mental and physical problems wiht hiis daughter.
Destoryed his parents.... EVER LOST A CHILD YET

I HOPE YOU NEVER GO THROUGH this... so let's toughen up the laws more

One does not stop drunk driving by making drinking harder to do. You stop drunk driving by punishing drunk driving harsher. In europe some countries mandate on the first offense of drunk driving that person loses their license for life. I think that law would be a good deterent. How can you create a "forbbiden fruit" out of something that is legal for some people? I am in college and as of right now I am on probation for having alcohol in my room. I am in huge trouble. Lowering the drinking age one would get rid of life changing problems for students like myself, and it would also create an invironment of responsibility when younger students can go out with more mature settings when drinking. Punish the problem of drunk driving not drinking cause I am 3 years too young, as if I can't handle the responsibility. If anything this intrest group should lobby for the increase in the age to drive not to drink. prioritize mothers....

Studies show that deterrance does not work. You can't make harsher punishments because people (especially Americans) do not care about the consequences. If they did, there wouldn't be close to as many crimes committed as there actually are. Granted, crime is at it's lowest point since the mid-60's. People are less likely to be assaulted, burlarized and murdered now more than ever. But harsher punishments are not the cause of this. Enforcement maybe, but the punishments do not deter someone from committing a crime. Increasing the driving age just puts more underage drunk drivers out there. Increasing the age to drive is not going to stop the youth today from driving, especially with an altered state of mind. Last, the brain isn't fully developed in the average male until 22 (and that's for a "fast-tracker") Therefore lowering the drinking age is about the worst idea. A better idea.. don't be an idiot and have alcohol in your dorm. How about people do the mature thing? Drink when you're allowed to. Drive when you're sober. And call a damn taxi if you're drunk.

Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time. Why am saying this because one to take someones license is a huge deterrent. A person will no longer to buy a car so there goes drinking and driving,cannot have automobile insurance without a license and if he chooses to drink far from home he will not have much of a choice than to phone a friend or taxi. I was in the military for four years straight out of high school I will let everyone guess what the majority of military members do for fun. Hint hint its a lot like college. I never wanted to get in trouble for something as ridiculous as drinking under the age of 21 so I didn't. At the same time most people you meet tend to tease you for not drinking or believe you might just tell that they are drinking. After all if your not with us your against us.
This makes for a very difficult way to live, I have never got behind the wheel of a car drunk but I have been drunk. Personally I believe the irresponsible will remain irresponsible as long as they do not have much to worry about and they do not. A DUI wow then another and another finally your license is revoked permanently but hey you can always borrow a car. So what about those individuals who let repeated offenders drive away knowing they should not be behind the wheel of a car without a license.
Alcoholics that drink and drive for the most part I believe care for the people they have hurt, but revert back to drinking cause its what they do and eventually drive drunk again and again they are only stopped when they kill someone. Then their is the other type of alcoholic that genuinely does not care about the tragedy they have caused regardless of how many people affected. Last kind is the kind that feel so bad about what they do they stop drinking forever and even advocate no drinking and driving.
Out of all these alcoholics none of them are wrong, it is how they choose to live their life and it is how they see fit to do it. We are free to do what we want as long as we do not harm others. I am paraphrasing our constitution that drunk driver will not be stopped until he kills someone. That is how it works, there is no other rhyme or reason. The age it does not matter because being responsible depends on education and experience. So if someone is 18 or 81 he/she will drink and drive if they choose to as what they feel is the most responsible choice.
And guess what if its not alcohol there are plenty of other party drugs found in the party where the alcohol is. Alcohol can cease to exist and DUI will not. Bottom line the legal drinking age should be 18 if your old enough to die for your country then your old enough to buy a beer legally and know not to drink and drive.

One does not stop drunk driving by making drinking harder to do. You stop drunk driving by punishing drunk driving. In europe some countries mandate on the first offense of drunk driving that person loses their license for life. I think that law would be a good deterent. How can you create a "forbbiden fruit" out of something that is legal for some people? I am in college and as of right now I am on probation for having alcohol in my room. I am in huge trouble. Lowering the drinking age one would get rid of life changing problems for students like myself, and it would also create an environment of responsibility when younger students can go out with more mature settings when drinking. Punish the problem of drunk driving not drinking cause I am 3 years too young, as if I can't handle the responsibility. If anything this intrest group should lobby for the increase in the age to drive not to drink. prioritize mothers....

Look I am for controlling drunk driving I am also for law enforcement.
In my situation I was taking medicacine for a nasal infection which impaired me I admit, now I called the doctor I was told take it as prescribed I was moving at the time since our home was lost during Hurricane Jeanne. I was told by the lady policewoman I crossed the white line and was apparently five miles over the speed limit. When Im exited the car I informed her I was on medication for my nose she did an impromt
sobriety check which I became agree at. Now I never refused a breathalyze

Oh get serious,

I have lost a child in a non-alcohol related car wreck. She was 19. Maybe she would be here if we banned all cars. Would work for the drunks too. How about that?

We need to be very careful about all these bullshit DUI laws. You know George Orwell had it right in Animal Farm, "all animals are created equal, just some animals are more equal than others". Once we allow substandard science rail road people through the legal system because we don’t like what there charged with. What's to stop special laws to jail people for the religion they have or their economic status, or there color. This is very serious; we have thrown out the constitution for a few more convictions. Hell, why don’t we just randomly send out citations to every registered driver. You know that EVERYONE has committed a DUI at one time or another, so what the hell. We don't need pesky evidence, procedure, rule of law. We should all be ashamed.

Thank god that there is this place that I found. I have been going almost crazy about these dui laws that are so in violation of our constituional rights and take away the statement we all have learned to live by."Presumed innocent until proven guilty". Bull you know what! I will give you the facts that are relavent to the law. bac .172, in PA qualifies for the highest tier level. No bodily injury, no property damage, in fact, if my new friend was not so jealous and overzealous didn't call the police, my husband and I could have dealt with our problems that night together. Anyway, he gets pulled over, my son is in the car, and thank god that I had the wherewithall to go to the "pullover site", I am able to retrieve my son, and my other 2 children are in my van crying cause they see dad getting arrested and my son with him is crying, "Why are they taking my dad"? Now, let me make myself clear on the issue of ignorance. I absolutely know that I did not want my son to be in the car with my husband who drank. Saying that, also, he was wrong, dead wrong, but, my son was not injured nor was anyone else. Yes a punishment is in order, but these laws in PA have made it almost impossible for my husband to go to work with losing his license for 1 year. Our income is in the lower range and trains and buses are either too far or not at the right time. He works 11pm to 7 am. I would have to drive him in at 10:25 pm with 3 kids. 9,7,and 4 years of age, 30 min drive, and 30 min back home, put them to bed, then wake them up at 6:30 am get home at 7:30 am and start getting ready for school.At best they would get 7 hours of sleep!! How is that fair to anyone to endure for a whole year? And, ok I looked into the limited license only after 60 days too! There are so many stipulations and conditions to get that thing that only a perfect driving record can maybe get that, it is still up to Harrisburg to approve or deny it.
Law, no ARD if your child is in the car and he/she is under 15 yrs. So you have no prior convictions, but the "child" law cuts you off for ARD and you have no license for a year. No one was hurt, but us, by these over zealous laws. We would have a better outcome if he robbed a bank for the first time. He would probably get probation and definetely be able to drive to work! How can we have harsher punishments for something that could happen, than did happen? Criminals willing to hurt others voluntarily have less punishment. It should be dealt with on an individual basis as it was back before the "BAC" laws. By the way, the ones that drive daily und the influence with continue to do so and the ones who "have" done it are the only ones getting your punishment. You have just complicated the law, many innocent lives and driven many into depression. Isn't the name in the paper enough? I guess Welfare or Umemployment will pay for our family to survive for 12 months. Thanks MADD, guess what, you didnt make me aware with your new laws. You only made me MAD. Now you better persue a DUIM law=Driving Under the Influence of Madness

My son just got his second DUI in 4 years - I'm MAD at him and at MADD. I don't agree with driving under the influence, (I very seldom drink) but take a look at our society, it is how SO MANY people socialize. Our church had a baseball outing and a couple of families brought wine. If MADD really wanted to protect our children and families, they would force bars to test their patrons before they walked out the door. Instead its a crap shoot - who gets caught. I didn't know the laws until I got the first phone call. He went through the program, and he even learned about it in High School, a lot of good all that did. Why does he drink and drive, well, they meet for happy hour, they have a fund raiser for a local family, it is what some people do..... We take it for granted that we won't be effected. Most of us don't know the laws for DUI until someone is charged. I don't think my son fully understands how this will effect his life now, let alone his family. I'm not making excuses, I'm just saying MADD missed the mark, I know their families have been messed up by a drunk driver, but they have not tried to eliminate the situation, they are just punishing the ones that get caught. It's a SCAM, the courts get fine money and people get to put on programs and we think it will all be better. We want to tell people the "evils" of drinking, but we don't want to ruin everyones fun. If we really want to make a dent in the drunk driving, make bars collect keys when you walk through the door. I don't know about your towns, but in mine the way most people get to the local "watering hole" is to drive there - hmmmm let me think about that, how are you supposed to get home and are you really only going to have one. My son gratuaded college a short time ago and was in search of a job. That education may never get applied because his profession is tough to get into anyway. Now along with the college loans, he will have fines and related costs for his sentencing. He went to college to better himself (Hmm) and instead will be paying for this mistake, his day of networking, for the rest of his life. I know a MADD person would say that is great, but is it? Does it get them what they want? He hurt no one, but his life is forever changed......

its ashame for your brother,but maybe instead of making all theses harsh laws.pepole need to take responsibility for there actions.the killer should be charged as a killer i agree but how many dui's never hurt anyone.i thought america was a free country,but im sure if you commit laws that offend someone and can hurt some one some way.i was given a allowing a dui.being a passenger,in the cops word i was excessivelly more drunk them a .28.and with those laws i should drove since i was prosecuted as if i drove.look at the cop who ran a stop sign and killed 2 teen girls,he was let off without anything.

Well, you people of MADD who the organization formed with killed loved ones due to a person who drank alcohol and drove.

First off, who is to say that the same incident would not have happened with a person who was sober?

Now hear me out. Car accidents occur every second on the hour, each accident is and of itself an individual event.

Accidents by their very nature are things that happen, for whatever reason.

Think of what you came up with when you said shoulda, coulda, woulda.

A driver under the influence is like a driver who is an egomaniac with general disregard for people.

Hell yeah guys, we cannot operate a motor vehicle while drinking. But those damned people who had to come and make these starch like laws, ultimately deeming any judge meaningless. Lets just have a system where the most pissed off people who suffered losses make up every law.

When the hell did the victims actually become the judges and the jurors?

Well, that would actually not be a bad idea, but we sure as hell fell short when MADD got these laws passed and victims of other crimes can't get shit for justice. MADD you are selfish in your persuits, where are you when a child-killer-rapist gets nothing? Oh shit, lets see if the have a BAC, then you might be there.
I admire a person that fights for whaat they believe in, but you only fight for yourselves, you are cowards not to fight for all victims.
I am done thinking you mean something, you are why we don't have kings and queens to rule our society.

I'm sorry for your loss, but being a victim doesn't make you right, and certainly destroying another family doesn't fix your problems. The problem, in my opinion, originates from the taboo society puts on alcohol to begin with. It's the reason kids sneak out of bed at night, eat cookies while parents aren't watching, throw parties when their parents are out of the house. Taboo creates desire in a negative light.
Yes drinking and driving should be punished. Yes it is stupid and the losses are terrible, but ruining more lives is not the answer.

Dont' you think you are being alittle bit overboard with your judgement, and do you relize that anyone could fall off their porch and die its a fact of life and accidents happen and people are by no means PERFECT SO LITEN UPP

Yeah I agree with that while I made a bad choice in 2003 the cost for the 1 time offence has ruined my chances since it shows on all background checks and stops me from getting a good job despite any degrees I may have. Even George Bush has a DUI charge but I don't think that the law would impact him. While I agree that people should be accoutable, I don't that they should be Punish for 10 years. I'm sure that those individuals who have done this will find out later when it happens to them how cuel and hurtfull it is for everyone.

Let me see what time of life sentence did my brother get? Death???? And he was sober and the victum.... I know God forgives, but let us look aat the sentence the dead people have.

Now tell me 10 years is too long

What if you were wrongfully convicted of a 1st offense and the same for a 2nd! So let me see? Two families are now gone and broke too!Job prospects are not, house is in forclosure,and all this happened while just drinking in My Own Home!!! Go figure. Got to Love The MADD....NOT!!!

Its called AA you might want to try it

The laws as written are not Constitutional, and we have police state tactics in these claimed "investigations," where people are being beaten and tasered in order to get the "evidence." I am the mother of three and past donor to MADD but these people have become a prohibitionist group, and have succeeded in criminalizing 2/3rds the population. The statistics are false they rely on, and more people are actually killed by people falling asleep at the wheel, and now even more with cell phone use. I'm sorry you lost loved ones, but these laws are now over the top and this is about revenge on many of those MADD donors part, not allowing the punishment to fit the crimes. They weren't satisfied even that these charges with all the levels of punishments now as criminal offenses (not civil) as without any property loss or injury left to jurors. They supported and paid for an appeal of a case in order to get the Supreme Court to even deny jury trials on these cases.

This is vigilantism on the low levels offenses, and is causing joblessness, homelessness and branding social drinkers as menaces to society - and funding the entire state budgets now on New Year's Eve "stakeouts" in front of the bars and restaurants.

Deal with your loss, focus on harsher penalties maybe for those instances where it is high level, repeat offenders, and please get on with your life and stop nailing others to the cross with your unresolved grief.

You know I drank and drove since I was 16, never was too impaired or anything. every once in a while I knew I shouldn't have drove. It did get bad and those couple of times for over a 7 year period I should have gotten a DUI. I went to a bar, soon after 21. I was way too drunk I drove a block and pulled over into a parking lot and went to sleep. I was awaken 2 hours later and since my car was running (it was 20 degrees outside) I was arrestsed for DUI. I blew .17... Now believe me I was devastated and took it all into account. I f'd up. But the fact that I was given a 1700 fine, 200 for a state alcahol program which I put on the paper I may have a problem since I was arrested and was not allowed to get the inital 200 evaluation. I was sent to an outside source to get an evaluation which costed another 300. I quickly realized with the questions I was going to get crucified I lied my ass off and luckily was only given 20 hours of outpatient care which costed me 1100. I just was waiting for my 90 day license suspension to come back so I could drive. I paid 200 to the dmv to get that back. Another 200 for the 3 day house arrest ankle monitoriting I was given.

Oh and with all this I lost my job at the airport, again granted got a DUI, but I have had hard times finding jobs that paid the same ever since. So I accepted that I fucked up, but going back to school adn getting back on with my life doesn't work the same because of these dumb MADD bitches (no offense), but seriously I'd like to see one of them drnk and drive. You know it's sad that people died, I have had friends die for drunk drivers too, but it should be a different crime. I mean sometimes because of all the shit I have gone thru I wish I took out a couple children. Then the 15,000 I racked up on credit cards paying this off, paying my bills and rent because I couldnt find another job that paid the same. Paying off student loans that I couldnt pay off. I'm sorry for everyones loss but the fact is DUI is a revenue maker for states. And all it does is hurt the middle class. try being rish and get a DUI doesn't mean a thing.

Sorry about my rambling and nothing truly holds a good argument, but the fact of the matter is this has followed me for 2 years now I am in the same financial situation and its a misdemeanor. I know felons that have an easier time with life. I mean I am 23 trying to move on with life, but I can't. All because I didn't kill anyone so don't give that BS about your brother being killed my a drunk driver. The drive in that situation probably went to jail and his life was ruined for killing somebody.

I'm sorry betsy I guess I am getting everything out at the rest of the posts. Your point is valid that MADD was started as a way to make people more aware that their actions can cost more and affect more than just thri lives. The MADD generation is like STDS and safe sex today in a sense. One night or error changes others aswell. The fact is people die everyday from disstracted, tired drivers and there has to be something better than this MADD group. And honestly I think MADD has a bad rep. The individuals that are apart of the organization just dont want other peoples lives changed in the same way as theres, and I think the fact that politics and money has came into play here its a whole new game. Instead of MADD spending money rying to make harsher penalities and prohibit drinking why dont they spend money and promote/fund free taxi services. Teaching kids at a young age to take a cab instead of not doing it.

Alright, I totally lost site of where I was initially going and I appologize for affending anyone with my selfish ramblings. It's just hard when you don't have a lot of money, and the fee's along with the criminal history comes with it. I have never had a criminal history and being arrested was trauma enough, along with the family embarassment I caused. I just wish that there were distinctions from different levels and severities that came along with DUI arrests and convictions. I totally understand that an organization was started to jump start the awareness that people have on driving while impaired. Most drinking occurs when somebody is going out and having a "good time" so it's different from driver fatalities associated to say falling a sleep at the wheel. Because people that shouldn't be driving because they are tired may have not had a choice (ie working late, etc...). Now this is not a good example, but I can see I suppose a slight difference. and especially with this country and all the ass-backward court cases. Somebody that should have pulled over to take a nap would be seen as an "accident"

I just want to know since its proven cell phone related accidents are higher than DUI. Is there going to be law changes for that? In what, 5 states already, it's illegal to talk on your cell phone. You are acquired to have a handsfree device. Even though its been proven that cell phones cause no more distraction than having mulitple people in a vehicle along with a driver.

I mean the idea of MADD was great and those mothers caused awareness of not drinking and driving, but come on instead of lobbying congress spending millions they should have just spent it on free or discounted cab rides. I mean if I grew up know that I can have a free ride home if I go to bars I would always choose that route. It's just a hard scenerio because loved ones do die, people that drink and drive dont learn their lessons, and then there are the ones that do and they got crucified. And the revenue is exponential for state and local governments. Not to mention that BS SR-22 that is paid out to insurance agencies which is required by the state for 3-5 years.

I Do NOT believe there should be different levels of punishment. If a person was stupid enough to get behind the wheel while under the Influence they deserve every bit of punishment that is coming to them. I have had a few friends die because of somebody being drunk while driving and I witnessed an accident that I will never forget. The images and screams are burned into my memory forever...I will never forgive anyone who has gotten into a car while drunk. I say the punishment should be harsher because of those people that the drunk is endangering needlessly for whatever reasons they have.

u know i have to agree with alot of these of these people i got a dui, underage, i got pulled over for reckless driving. i was traveling 100 mph while racing another vehicle. i couldve very easily killed somebody including my 3 passengers. the law in miss. for underage is .02 to operate a vehicle, i blew a .03, unfair or not i was in the wrong and something couldve easily gone wrong, laws are here for a reason and we all need to follow them. im now paying for mine in court fees, loss of liscense and lost money through the military because im an idoit, wat if u kill someones child, how would u feel, the laws should be more strict if anything. I mean i get my liscense back in the months, imagine if it were to happen agian and go wrong, thats wat we all need to think about

Corey you have a great argument, and a great poin. I am 24 yrs old and got a dui IN MY DRIVEWAY!!! I didnt hurt a soul, and its basically ruined my life... I feel completely helpless, and on top of that my license, and vehicle was seized.. FML thanks MADD.

I agree with so many of these comments. My son was arrested for a DUI/DWI last year, and it has been hell for both of us. Prior to his arrest, I was one of those people who supported MADD, however, after experiencing this incredibly harsh punishment which only serves the coffers of the labs that do the drug testing, alcohol classes, fines, costs for meeting with the probation officer, I can say that it is a huge racket. My son had his license taken away; he is not a danger to himself or others, and he has been punished enough. He did not call in ONE day to find out if he needed to get tested, and wham, he now has to pay an additional $600.00 for 6 months of drug classes. He cannot move out, and start his life because of these expenses, and he is chronically depressed. I see no real value in this process, other than to create enormous hardships, and generate profits. What my son did was wrong, and potentially dangerous, nevertheless, 18 months of probation for a first time offense that fortunately did not result in an injury or fatality is overboard.

If you are a resident of New Mexico you understand when I say Many Indians have been killed while SLEEPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY!! THIS IS WHERE THEY GET THE COUNT. I have been w/o dl for the past 18 years and am still paying for my third dwi,Interlock,167.00 a YEAR for license, the penalty has been reduced to 2 year suspension yet I still have to file through the court to get my priveledges reinstated, my interlock provider services three counties and stated that they have approx. 25,000 devices to service each month now find out how much the state gets and tell me who is the crook!!

That was the best!

is it true even though you dont own a car you still have to have insurance as if you did is this true

you sir need to live w/o a license for 10 years and see exactly how limiting it is and how when you haven't killed as not all drunks do, it is unfair and restrictin in more ways than you know. also don't you think your brother is at peace where he is and that you need counseling in the worst way.

What if you were wrongfully convicted of a 1st offense and the same for a 2nd! So let me see? Two families are now gone and broke too!Job prospects are not, house is in forclosure,and all this happened while just drinking in My Own Home!!! Go figure. Got to Love The MADD....NOT!!! Oh PS it's like this enter the word...lol Like i'm sittin here f'd up and can still spell...Did MADD make us do this too?

You are fishing

How are you convicted wrongly of a DUI? Breath test???

Your best bet, leave the beer etc alone and follow Gods plan

what was the level of alcohol
gods plan has nothing to do with driving a car sober or otherwise
i have a b card and cant take communion at church or i loose my license for 6 years ? gods plan?

I hate to tell you this God (jesus) served wine at his table. Also if the legal limit is .08 then convict for that not .07 or when I got mine I was .09 twice and I got one more that I deserved. How ever when I got the last one for .10 the original reading was .09 so they tested me 3 times after messing with their little machine that is inaccurate up to 46%. The guy that hit me was stoned out of his mind but they did nothing to him because the police were to busy getting their dwi arrest. Now I don't think drinking and driving is a good idea and I was young back then but if we are going to have a not tolerance attitude make the legal limit .00. It wouldn't be that hard I don't even have 1 and drive any longer.

Yeah, and Jesus didn't get drunk on the wine and then get on his donkey and cause a fatality.

Nitwits. You're all probably drunk while you comment on here!

We should have laws against drinking-and-posting...

I was not not drunk when I posted this. But it's people like you that have no clue what your your talking about that shouldn't be posting on here. The only thing you can do is throw around names like nitwits and have no actual facts to back anything up that you say. Heres a little education for you. There are 530% more drivers than smokers yet 3,143%more deaths from smoking. Your 28.77 times more likely to be killed by a sober driver than a drunk driver, 13.52 times from a fall, 8.52 from poisen, 4.57 times more likely at work, 3.66 from drowning, 2.92 shoking, and 2.34 under a doctors care. Now I do not believe that drunk driving is ok. I would even vote for a no tolerance law that says any alchol in ones system is illegal and would result in a DWI. But as it stands right now the legal limit is .08 and I do not think that if your under that there should be a DWI or DUI given to the person. However lets change the law to 0% BAC but that won't happen because our government would lose to much money. One last thing for BP I was speaking in reference to another post on here as to how Jesus wouldn't like drinking and I was just explaining that he had wine at his dinner table. So please try not to take things out of context and turn them upside down. Just maybe the only Nitwits on here are people like you that have done zereo research on any of this and still think their opinion is the only one that matters. Go back to your liberal dream land and spare us your comments. Because I think we are all dumber for having just read your post.

So what's your point? You say "Now I do not believe that drunk driving is ok. I would even vote for a no tolerance law that says any alchol in ones system is illegal and would result in a DWI." What is your issue then?

The main flaw in your logic is that you compare accidental deaths like falling, drowning, sober drivers, with an accident involving someone who chose to drink and drive. Apples and oranges - like a nitwit.

Now you might argue that smoking is not in the 'accident' category, and I would agree. People choose to smoke (advertising influences aside) and second-hand smoke victims do not choose to be affected. But haven't we also enacted laws regarding second-hand smoke? You might point out that the consequences do not compare to those for drunk driving -- but neither do the results.

Here are some facts for you:
Fact: Jesus did not cause accidents that could have been prevented by not drinking or not drinking in excess.
Fact: With your first drink, your judgment starts to become impaired.
Facts: If you choose to drink, then choose to drive under even the least bit of 'influenced' judgment, you are choosing to drive at a risk to yourself, your passengers, and others on the road.
Fact: Your 'more likely than' death logic is that of a nitwit. (See fact below)
Fact: I'm more likely to die in a random accident than I am likely to be murdered. By your argument, that makes the murder more acceptable!
Fact: Instead of doing more 'research', you should work on your spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Fact: I'm am not a liberal.
Fact: I have said nothing to agree or disagree with the laws, consequences, or special circumstances surrounding the larger issue.
Fact: Everyone is entitled to their opinion, with or without "research" (which should be more than comparing random percentages of things that aren't even in the same category).

My point being you should not receive a DWI or DUI for being under .08% BAC. and people do. Have you ever driven tired, with a headache, or a sore body part? While taking medication, just not feeling well? Then by your stardards we have all driven impaired. As far as my grammer I had no clue that was a issue in these postings and if I don't spell words correctly I don't think I'm being graded so it really doesn't matter to me. But your perfect and we should bow at your knees. Your probably a college educated idiot. Is that clear enough for you!! I will not take your advice and make sure I'm not so anal retentive. You must be a joy to live with.

you are the nitwit all he was pointing out is that people die, and dwi is a choice also along w/ a few other things that cause accidents and death. it is a fact of life if one thing doesn't kill you somethiing else will and why are you even bringing Jesus into it he is not judgemental and you don't need to evaluate his life since he is not here.

"There are 530% more drivers than smokers yet 3,143% more deaths from smoking."

What is this supposed to mean? What does it prove? Educated me, please! Let me educate you about how silly this 'research' of yours is:

You say there are more drivers than smokers, yet more people die from smoking. Of course there are! You don't have to look up stats on that one.

Look behind the numbers for once: Generally, smoking has a much stronger causality when it comes to death than does driving. Across the board, it's much easier to drive a car (for a lifetime) and not die from it than it is to smoke (for a lifetime) and not die from it.

So of course more people die from smoking! But what does that prove in relation to drunk driving fatalities??

I will remind you that you're comparing smoking (which 99% of the time only affects the smoker) to drunk driving fatalities which (more than 1% of the time) affect those OTHER than the influenced driver.

So get off your 'I will educate you with a few random numbers' high horse and come back with some real reasoning in your argument -- maybe then you will avoid the 'nitwit' moniker.

PPS - Bet you couldn't guess, but I actually AGREE that the ripple effects of the consequences for this are too far-reaching (non-fatality infractions) and have too much of an impact on the life of a driver in a non-victim incident.
I came here curious after photographing a wedding just knowing that the vast majority of TOTALLY HAMMERED guests would drive away in their car last night.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/06/29/dnt.nm.teens.killed.crash.koat

i've got a better idea lets install an interlock device in every vehicle produced in america and see how all you sober self righteous MADD suckers feel about that!!!

steve o is right. follow gods plan.

follow gods word ???? come on !

The only thing wrongfully consistent in your story is you. I cant tell you the countless number of stories I've heard from individuals who cannot abstain from alcohol citing all the excuses in the world EXCEPT taking responsibility for their own actions. I was wrongfully convicted . . . twice . . . my wife is to blame for me drinking . . . . the bank foreclosed on my house because the system if messed up . . . . Take some responsibility for your own behavior. The law is in place to hold you accountable for the unjust actions you cant take responsibility for. So take a moment, before you open your mouth again, and look in the mirror and take responsibility for something in your life. I expect this is something unfamiliar to you.

Sorry I forgot to tell you all that I was in my home and had not been driving!!! sorry my bad! But they did Charge me anyway,go fig!

I am an alcohol/drug counselor, and if you only know how many times I have heard that one. What your more than likely leaving out is your made it back to your house after having been out drinking and driving. The police can't just knock on your door and arrest you for drinking and driving.

Agreed; i am also a drug and alcohol counselor and a recovering alcoholic and the only reason that idiots dont agree with these laws are because there in such deep denial.. Its always somebody elses fault. It is always somebody elses fault because it is to painful to take responsibility for the damage done to their lives and the lives of their families. Anything that would allow them to continue to drink and feel ok about it.

If you drive drunk then you should be punished. Don't blame the rest of the world for your mistake, own up to it be responsible and take the bus instead of making excuses for losing everything because you were "wrongfully accused". and oh, MADD is important and you should also have anough class not to use foul langusge when you post a comment.

Do you not realize that Drunk Driving accidents kill more poeple that do not drink when driving than the actual drinker??!! I can't believe you would say that. So what you suffered greatly. What would you do if Someone you loved died in a car accident because of and drunk idiot!!!! You people who think these laws are bullshit are really out of touch with the reality of what happens to those who lose a child or a husband in an accident caused by drunk driving. look up some of the survivers of these accidents and see what happened to them:(

Thank You for yor support.

Wished more people would see the same.

I go to High Schools, organization and give my presentation what can and does happen.

You can not believe the positive response I see and hear about after I leave.

There should be harsh penalties when there is a death or injury involved, no one disputes that I think on this site. It is the social drinking laws which are out of control, and the levels they are not, and now that they are criminal matters, removing even jury trials. Sobriety "checkpoints" which are unconstitutional searches and seizures. It is being used mostly against the restaurant and bar crowd, meanwhile the real drunks are still out on the roads - Candy Lightner, the founder has left this group now due to it's loss of focus.

Four young teenagers at my daughter's school were killed in an accident her sophomore year shortly after getting their driver's licenses when they were driving up to one of the girl's father's cabin up north. They were driving against the afternoon sun, talking most likely and traveled into the path of an oncoming semi-tractor trailer. All died instantly. Three years later, the father of one of the girls took his own life because he blamed himself for the accident. What you don't realize is that many of these individuals are remorseful, and punishing them for year after year, and with the fines involved now - this is for people that DIDN'T create an actual criminal act at all - since a criminal act involves a victim, and there must be a loss of property or injury for it to be considered criminal under the common law. Yes, those that kill someone deserve to go to jail so they can be removed from society and also as a punishment for their crime. But once someone has paid for that crime, then that is the point of our entire criminal justice system. This is "life long" condemnation for social drinking and has criminalized over 2/3rds the population. It has gone too far at this point for the low level offenses.

And I do think you need to deal with your grief, since you are quite missing the point in what most of these posts are about. It is about the lower level offenses where there is no death or injury involved. Stepping out your front door is also a risk. Many die from those that fall asleep at the wheel - so are you saying their grief is any less?

Get a grip.

Did you reize that there are 583% more drivers than somkers and 3,148% more deaths caused by smoking. Check out some actual facts about drunk driving accidents. Such as out of 15,000 alcohol death related accidents 7,000 were single car where only the driver was killed or injured, 5,000 where the passanger of the car and driver were killed and the other 3,000 there was alcohol involved. Now cell phones cause more accidents than alcohol (I'll bet you use your cell phone while driving) so they probably cause more deaths too. I am not advocating drinking and driving I am just saying util we have a real no tolerance level of law that means a .00 use of alcohol while driving there is always going to be this debate. One more thing if you support MADD ask them why they don't care about cell phone use while driving.

So I son't get ridiculed the actual number of deaths was 15 thousand and some (I want to say 15,127 but don't quote me I know it was in the 15 thousands and that it was broke down into those numbers) I don't have the figures in front of me how ever I just did a paper on thie and found the statistics on the internet.

"These laws have hurt so many and saved quite few. Between 1982 and 2005 the number of drunken driving fatalities went from 173 in 82 to 166 in 2005 not at all good results."

Some simple math. If the number of deaths DECREASED (even a little) while at the same time the population INCREASED (meaning more drivers on the roads) that means THE SYSTEM IS WORKING. Hell, if the number of deaths stay the same while the population increases, that means the system is working.

DUH!

I love MADD; I do, they are the only form of living I have left to give success for time. These complaining people on this online market, are promoting drunk driving, because they cant see the other side of the puzzle. There sick and I know that, but there hurting themselves, I'll ask Why, to show my concern. Maybe sitting in a hospital and growing into four padded walls, then will they begin opening up to say thanks for keeping me sober. Alcohol will always be a drug, yet its perscribed to us with a pretty, topless, friend we name shallow. Find help, by allowing yourself to smile at that mirrored reflection of loving yourself. Peace

Apparently, you didn't pay attention in class on how to interpret statistics. For example, 173 deaths in 1982 and 166 deaths in 2005 cannot be compared directly because obviously a larger population should have more DUIs than a smaller population all other things being equal. Since the population rose from 947k to 1.31m between 1982 and 2005, adjusting 1982's deaths into 2005 deaths gives us a count of 239. So the "BS Laws" have reduced the incidence of drunk driving by 31% in your state.

That's pretty good.

You can't adjust the number of deaths forward. That's not that way it works. You have to compare the number in one year to the population in that year and get a percentage. So, using the number provided, .018% of the population was killed in 1982, and .013% was killed in 2005, for a grand total decrease of .005%. Hardly compelling evidence.

It's laughable some of the arguments that have been posted here. Some of you want to be able to drink (over the limit) and drive all day long with no consequence because you are drinkers. Some of you want nobody to be able to drink and drive regardless of the limit because you are non-drinkers, many of you bible-thumpers who think your beliefs should be imposed on every one else. And some of you have suffered a loss and no one doubts the profound impact it had on your life. But it is zealots who take their personal and very specific circumstances and then try to apply overbroad solutions that are ruining this country, destroying our Constitution, and turning a once free country into more and more of a police state.

Fact: IN NC, some who are convicted of 1st offense DUI and others who are convicted of a 2nd offense within 7 years, are required to have an interlock system installed on all their registered vehicles for one year after they are eligible to have restore their license. But if they do not have a registered vehicle or chose not to register the vehicle they have, or even if they sell the vehicle they have and so do not even own a vehicle, and then chose not to drive for one year, after that year, they are still required to get an interlock system on any vehicle they buy or register. So, assuming the law was intended to protect the public for one year from the possibility of recidivism, then isn't not driving for one year achieving that goal? So how sensible is that law? One could not drive for 20 years and then if they decided to get their license back, they would be required to have an interlock device installed 20 years later. And do you know why this is? It's money, plain and simple. The politicians that enacted the law are in bed with the company that provides the interlock system. People choosing not to drive does not make that company any money.

So let's be clear, DUI laws are like any other, many times their is good old fashioned pro barrel politics at work. Sensible DUI laws make sense. But the kind of money MADD and other lobbyists have put into the hands of politicians makes me know that these laws are not truly about protecting the public, they are about money, pwer, and influence.

Jay, you are a horrible person. If is NO ONES fault but your own if you got in trouble with drinking and driving and I am sorry but even if it only when down 6 deaths in that amount of time it is worth it. that is 6 children or mothers or fathers that are now home with their families. But no you think it is more important for you to get a slap on the wrist when you may have killed someone. I tell you what, karam is a B*tch and you will find out. I for one am glad you have no bright future anymore, you are lucky you have one, one of those such meaninless deaths have NO future!

DUI charges ruin lives. I am a single mother, 1 child (who is my world),going through a tough divorce now am faced with DUI after attending a charity function that served wine with dinner. I admit my mistake.

However, I did not injure anyone. I have a college degree and a professional career....now am faced with losing everything.

I can not take much more before the harshness of the law, the embarrassment, self-confidence and dignity will push me to the limit to take my own life.

I can drive myself to therapy, I can not drive my child to school, I can drive him to take him his lunch when he forgets it, I can not take him to science fair or extra-curricular events. I have lost my job, my pride, my childs ability to be involved in things.

I have an 80 year old parent who lives 2 hrs. away and helps when is able, but I fear his life on the road.

I no longer feel police are there to protect. I believe this is all a money maker for the system. The state, the city, the attorneys, the insurance companies etc....

I regret my mistake, but do other lives really need to be ruined in the process. I now hate my life and have nothing to live for. My drive, motivation, desire to be successful is gone thanks to our legal system.

Good-Bye!!

Maam...what part of dont drink and drive is hard to understand. Given the possible consequences which are widely known you still chose to lift a glass to your lips and then put a key in the ignition. Always someone who wishes to be the exception to the rule. I truly apologize for your trouble but we are all accountable for the actions that we take. Yes even I. Look on youtube if you will, at some of the havoc created by those who thought they would not be the one that would get caught drinking and driving. Imagine if you will you own kid getting killed by a driver stating exactly what you just stated. I submit to you that if i killed you kid while drinking and driving and then told you that same story, it would fall on deaf ears because you would know damn well that i should not have been drinking and driving. just cause nothing tragic happened when you were doing the wrong thing doen't mean that you are right. You have a child to live for have you forgotten that.

i 100% agree with the oppinion, not saying drunk driving shouldn't be punishable, but i highly disagree with excessive punishments because everyone makes mistakes, and alot of people who get caught for d.u.i ARE good people, and had no other way home!

I'm sorry that you guys have lost loved ones. I did drink drive, a couple of times. I was not wrongfully convicted. Losing your loved ones is a terrible thing. As a little boy I lost my neighbor and best friend to a drunk driver, she was a six year old girl along with her entire family. Even so, I understand that there has to be a line drawn somewhere. In making my mistakes (DUI) I did not hurt anyone... no damage done. Yet, my life has been ruined. I was on my way to college to become a lawyer. Now, I fear for my future and often wish for death. I don't feel I deserve the level of punishment I have received. Jailtime, years of probation, tens of thousands of dollars, refusals for employment... all for a crime in which there was no real victim. Its to much and apparently the laws just get stricter. There has to be a line somewhere. Make the law, have the punishment but then thats it! It makes no sense to continue pushing for harsher and harsher punishments. It is unreasonable to put someone in prison for DUI if no one was hurt in that particular case. Prison will only make them worse, and it won't bring back your loved ones. Why would you wish damnation on someone else, when it was not them who killed the person you love? The drunk driver who killed your loved ones is not ALL drunk drivers. People make mistakes, and the laws aren't doing a damn thing to change it. Severe punishment should be reserved for those who actually kill someone, who actually damage property, people who have thus committed a greater crime. If I lust after a pretty girl, I am not punished for rape! I could have killed somebody, MAYBE, but I didn't... and now my life is destroyed. Does it make you feel better? Does it justify the death of your loved ones?

DEAR LAWRENCE I APPEARS THAT YOU MAY HAVE THE ANGER PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT YOU WHERE CAUGHT OVER THE LIMIT OR BELIVED TO BE INTOXICATED. WELL LETS LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. YOU HAD NOT MADE IT HOME IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUST AROUND THE NEXT CURVE. THEN WHAT?.... ASK YOURSELF THAT. THEN WHAT? WELL LETS SEE INSTEAD OF YOU BECOMING A LAWYER YOU WOULD BE STAMPING LIC. PLATES OR PICKING UP TRASH. WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS JUST BECAUSE IT HASN'T OR DIDNT HAPPEN PRIOR TO THE STOP IT COULD HAVE BEEN WAITING AROUND THE CORNER. LETS ASK THIS QUESTION "DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL TO DRINK AND DRIVE? WHERE YOU AWARE OF THE CONSQUENCES BEFORE YOU DONE IT? SO WITH THIS IN MIND I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH EFFORTS TO RESTRICT DRINKING AND DRIVING AND ONLY ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO PUSH FOR AND PROMOTE DUI ENFORCEMENT. THANKS AND MAY GOD BLESS

I am 16, and have neither driven drunk, nor lost a loved one because of a drunk driver. I can see where the both of you are right. There is nothing that can replace a lost loved one, but there are people who try and try and try to compensate for that loss. That is wrong. While they are affected by the death, thay are not right to wish and push for punishment on others. Yes, drinking and driving is against the law. But tell me, is it illegal to drink? Is it illegal to drive? NO. Whenyou are drunk, tell me how many of you will remember clearly that drinking is okay ,and driving is okay, but not together. Isn't the whole "under the influence" used to state that yuo do not have a clear sense of mind? So the driver may not be entirely consicous of the law. That is not an excuse; there is no excuse. It is simply a perspective. Think, now. If you know that you can't make clear and precise decisions when you drink, then why drink away from home without a designated driver. The fucking commercials for rum, hennessy, and vodka have a warning about drunk driving and careful actions. So why would you not think BEFORE you drank?
It is terrible that you made a mistake and lost all that you worked for. You are probably in your early twenties if you are in law school. Well that is 20 years of education and hard work lost due to a 15 minute poor judgement call. And that is not fair punishment. Yes, you could have hit someone before you reached home, and that is when you deserve a harsher punishment. But just the risk does not call for that hard of a sentence.

The both of you represent the Black and the White in this situation. You need to remember the Grey areas where they meet. Look at each others perspective before you make a final decision.

You never know the full story- the driver could have been driving to a hospital because he's a hemophiliac and got cut somehow while drinking at a party. It's a stretch, but you never know. Just open your minds to the possibilities, and such an open mind will help you find peace in yourself. You say God is forgiving am I right? Well we are His children, are we not? So follow in His footsteps- forgiveness is not just a holy action, its is for all of us.

This response is so typical of you MADD type people. The suggestion that I have a problem beyond making the mistakes, the suggestion that something horrible COULD have happened, and the refernce back to the law and consequences. But what was the actual result? No one was hurt, I will likely never live out my dream and nor am I in prison making license plates. Do you think I should be? I am not saying that I should not be punished. My point was that the MADD lobby has become a monster. After having achieved a reasonable goal of lowering limits and increasing punishments they continue to try to make them worse. They are like modern day witch hunters... its the inquisition all over again. There is no logic in taking otherwise good and productive citizens and turning them into criminals. My crime was not one that I gained from, nobody was hurt, and there was no malice on my part. It WAS a mistake. But now, having it so that I can not get a job and am forever branded a criminal is unfair.The anger problem actually lies with those who can not come to grips with the death of their loved ones and now seek to punish anyone and everyone perceived as POSSIBLY being responsible. With over a million new DUI cases a year, the only possible result could be the creation of an "underclass" of people viewed as criminals for a mistake that holds no true evil. Drunk drivers are not murderers unless they kill somebody. Rest you assured that if I do find a way to become a lawyer now, I will have a social injustice to fight against. The MADD lobby has outlived its usefulness and is now a burden upon society by making CRIMINALS out of good people who make mistakes.

I would like to express that I am also going through trying times because of a DUI. I am actually on my third one in my life. I am now a convicted Felon because of my drinking habit (Disease) I actually have lost my profession as a truck driver because of the loss of my license for ten years. I've lost a house, my vehicle (Which I worked very hard to get) and am getting ready to go to Jail for a year. In all of my DUI's I have never hurt anyone or anything. I have payed for my previous mistakes but because of the laws I am paying again for the same offense. I've been arrested twice for DUI not even being in a car and actually on a payphone calling a friend to pick me up. The charge was knocked down to a wreckless driving charge but I still had to go through the DUI process. Now what is sad to say is that a 16 year old sees both sides and shed the most light on the subject in this Blog. Yes it is bad people lose their lives because of a DUI "ACCIDENT", but it is also bad when people are killed because of an accident that occurs just as often if not more because of weather conditions, bad drivers, inexperienced drivers and so on. Are we just gonna take everybody's drivers license away for having an accident. Isn't that why they are called accidents because they were unintended. I don't know. That is my interpretation of the word. I'm sorry for the people who lost their life because of any accident drunk or not. That person is gone now and that cannot be changed but to destroy a person's life legally because he buys a substance that can be bought in any store legally around the world and decides to drive and doesn't hurt anyone should not be put in the same category as a person who breaks into someone's home and shoots and kills them. Or the person who rapes women, men, and children should they? I think that is too harsh. If you knew me I'm the type of person who goes out of his way to help people. I am a "law abiding citizen" who likes to drink and does not agree with the DUI laws. Just expressing my opinion as a citizen. The object is to get drunk drivers off the road. OK. so when he is pulled over by the police is he not stopped. People make mistakes everyday, does that mean that they should pay for the rest of their life for that mistake of breaking a law that is unjust to the "crime" commited. DUI without incident should be handled as a midemeanor not a felony. What about the people who constantly speed everyday get caught lose their license for 90 days and are right back doing it again. Doesn't speed kill also. What about the sober person who runs a red light or stop sign in front of the drunk driver, who is going down the road minding his own business on his way home form work, and is killed because of his mistake for not stopping. He obviously paid the ultimate price of dying but what about the drunk who walks away from the "ACCIDENT" caused by the sober person. What happens to him. He gets charged with a DUI manslaughter and spends years in prison because he was in the wrong place at the right time?? Where is the justice in that. I don't know. The real thing that should be addressed is how alcohol affects people and what they should do about their own consumption. If people were taught more about Alcoholism and shown ways to become a better "Alcoholic" and how to handle their disease there would be less drunk drivers on the road and less deaths because of it. I no longer drink alcohol because of this last DUI. I take it one day at a time but my life sucks now. I don't shoot Billiards anymore or run pool leagues or go fishing or just about everything I love to do. I now sit at home because I can't just go hop in a car and go meet friends or go to work, the store, or anywhere except somewhere close on my bicycle (Which you can also get a DUI on). I am planning on getting my pilot's license when I get out of Jail. I don't know how I'm gonna afford it, but I'll find a way. I figure since the Gov't doesn't want me to drive a car or tractor trailer which I've done for over 28 years with only 2 accidents in my life (which were not my fault) I would go Fly for someone who appreciates my expertise in "driving" a vehicle. It will be a long tough road but I'm determined to make this happen. Oh by the way, why should my wife also have to suffer financially because of my mistake. So 2 lives are DEFINITELY ruined because of a "what if" , or "could've happened" That is what I disagree with the most. Well God bless all I hope I have aroused some minds with my comments that we need to change the DUI laws to project what they should be not as a money making machine for the Gov't, but really saving lives and not destroying lives.

I lost you at disease...that is something that I will never accept! It is a weakness in character...something you pick...for you...and the rest of your family and friends suffer because you never own it! Bull crap a disease is just another excuse! OWN IT! or you will never beat it! Fare well!!!

I can guarantee that 3/4 of these socalled MADD protesters are sitting in their own homes getting drunk and writing their sorrows on the computer nightly.

sounds like some one has there head up their and doesnt know the first thing about addiction so they should shut up before the sound stupid. for your information this is what it is. I am a recovering alcoholic of 10 years,i accept it and i own every day of my life, and it is a disease it is nt weakness of character its spiritual sickness, and yes our family and friend suffer and if you knew a f'n thing about the twelve steps that it sounds like may help you, then you have a f'n clue. It is a disease progressive and kills if untreated. It actually sounds like you are white knuckling it and dont want to deal with some things that are making your attitude smell. It sounds like your alcoholic but dont want to admit. Isnt denial grand?

You are making a mistake common to people who are ignorant to how addiction works. Just because you are not addicted to a substance does not mean you are strong or have better character. It means you are fortunate. Most addicts who succeed do own their addiction. I have owned all my actions and know that whatever consequences have resulted from my behavior are deserved. Your words give away the fact that you really do not know anything about the topic.

You are making a mistake common to people who are ignorant to how addiction works. Just because you are not addicted to a substance does not mean you are strong or have better character. It means you are fortunate. Most addicts who succeed in treatment do own their addiction. I have owned all my actions and know that whatever consequences have resulted from my behavior are deserved. Your words give away the fact that you really do not know anything about the topic.

I suffer from both mental illnesses (Bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD) and Addiction/alcoholism. I say suffer because every day is a struggle for me to manage my DISEASES and ILLNESSES so that I can attempt at living a 'normal' life. It is not 'weak' to have these diseases. What WOULD be weak would be to run from responsibilities and take ownership of mistakes and have the courage and strength to build better character. "kjmecc" seems to have been harmed in the past and harbors serious resentments. Still, this individual is only perpetuating the stigma that D/A abuse and mental illnesses are 'weak' excuses' and this leads to more folks in desperate need of rehabilitation and help to feel afraid to seek treatment. Wake up, please. These are diseases and they kill the people who live with them every day. I have two family members who OD'd and are DEAD. My best friend committed suicide after relapsing from alcoholism recovery for ten years. HE IS DEAD. I, myself, have been hospitalized 15 times for suicide attempts and 4 times for alcohol and drug overdoses. Am I to feel worthless and weak and less of a human because these diseases are so insidious and powerful? Am I to state that I wanted to die? NO. Nope. When a person with a substance abuse problem kills another person in a DUI accident, it is terrible. No one wins. Driving Under the Influence is a symptom of a larger issue...a larger DISEASE. Believe me, those that break this law pay the price. I also hope that they learn that they can help themselves and manage their D/A diseases so that they never have to drink again and never have to cause harm to themselves or others. Thank you.

There is no such thing as a DUI "accident". You didn't accidentally drink too much, you didn't accidentally drive, and you didn't get into an accident. DUI drivers cause preventable collisions. Let me explain...a preventable collision is one where had the person driving not been DRUNK the collision would not have happened. It's ALWAYS your choice to drink and drive...if you don't like the punishment then don't do it! It truly is that simple.

Nicole,

Stone cold sober people run red lights, cross the center line, do the same things many times drunk drivers do. There was a recent accident in Arizona and two 16 year old kids were killed by a drunk driving Mexican. Everyone was in an uproar again due to the loss to these two kids lives. What is missed is that 16 year olds also are not the best drivers, and have little experience. This accident happened at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning when most parents know that teens aren't even coherent until at least 11:00 in order to make a school band practice.

That is why it is at least important to have jury trials in these matters reinstituted, especially with the punishments at the levels they now are for even first time low level offenders. But those low level punishments when there is not property loss or injury involved do need to be changed in order to let the punishment fit the crime - right now they are "cruel and unusual," and not Constitutional in the slightest.

And many use cell phones also and get in accidents involving deaths. Should we up the punishments now for those and make them attend "cell phone rehabilitative" classes?

So you know what the punishment is, then you do it anyway then bitch about the punishment??? Knowing that punishments are harsh for drunk drivers, one should probably make the decision not to drink and drive. Choosing to drink and drive despite the potential consequences invites people to believe that one is willing to accept those consequences. Not accepting the consequences after the fact is in fact juvenile and unrealistic. If one know a stove will burn him if he touches it and touches it anyways I think we could even be safe in saying that said individual is by all standards quite insane.

Sad to say, worry, but I do not weep for you and your disease, your losses, etc I weep for my 17 year old son who was killed by a drunk driver 3 1/2 months ago. I am sick and tired of excuses. Be glad you havent killed anyone yet. The laws against those who CHOOSE to drive drunk MUST get harsher. The pain of losing a loved one is almost too much to bear, then we get the added insult of having it be called an "accident". Puh-lease. If you have a "disease" that impairs you to the point that you are unable to make rational decisions, LIKE DRIVING, then perhaps you should NEVER have a license. How many people, especially the young males, have to die because you can't stop drinking? I am sick of it all.

after the fact. always in denial, not my fault and on and on.When my Wife, Son and Daughter were killed by a Drunk and my young son hospitalized for a month. I had problems, Funeral expences , medical,( to the extent of being sued by a Doctor) Bank accounts frozen, home almost taken for Inheritance taxes ($3,000.00) for Atty to fight it. I could go on all day but wont.You families suffer because of your Stupidity to choose to DRINK and DRIVE, I didnt want this at Christmas Time,all they wanted to do was to visit Grandma's for a while, I was Working as a POLICE OFFICER in the adjacent town and heard the whole thing go down on the RADIO. Sympathy for the Drunks problems , Bull Dinkies, aint never gonna happen.

Did you know the law? Yes? did you know the consequences before you chose to drink and drive? Yes? Then you make the choice not to drink knowing that you will be driving. you make the CHOICE not to endanger the lives of others thinking you are different. However there was no victim. This exonerates you from having to obey the law??? That is the same as me pointing a gun at somebody and firing and missing and saying no one should do anything about it. Very widely known now a days that you endanger others by drinking and driving yet you drank then you drove and you endangered the lives of others and you say you are innocent. I disagree. Not judging but if you break a law then you are accountable. Very simple stuff. Do not drink and drive. OH! and there are no such things as accidents when someone has chosen to drink then drive. And yes it is a choice.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ON YOUR DEFENSIVENESS AND DENIAL. ITS F'N AWESOME HOW YOU DIVERT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAME ABOUT YOUR F'N TROUBLES ON SOMEONE ELSE BESIDES THE PERSON WHO ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN WORDS, DRANK AND DROVE A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED, BOO F'N HOO. TYPICAL ALCOHOLIC RESPONSE. POOR ME, I GOT CAUGHT AND I CANT MANIPULATE MY WAY OUT OF IT. POOR ME MY LIFE IS RUINED, BLAH,BLAH. BESIDES WITH YOUR ATTITUDE AND PROJECTION WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ON THIS SITE. THE ONLY REASON WHY A SOMEONE DOESNT LIKE THE LAWS, MADD, OR AA IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND IT IS EASIER TO WHINE ABOUT IT AND PLAY THE VICTIM RATHER THAN REALIZE THE SIMPLE TRUTH. YOU WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT DEFENSE ATTORNEY, YOUR DEFFENDING YOU SICK A@# PRETTY WELL RIGHT NOW,

I have clearly presented a reasonable and logical argument against continuing to increase penalties for DUI. Both people who have responded to my original entry have done nothing but prove my point. None of my arguments were properly refuted, instead both respondents chose to write their responses in all caps (indicating yelling, anger probelm?) My original point, that their must be a line where it stops, remains strong and un-dealt with. The second response shows the individual mis-read my post (I was NOT wrongfully convicted, it does not say I was). Additionally, this individual is abusive in language and shows only emotion without reason. As for the first post, while written unproffessionally, it does seem to attempt to refute my logic. In response... where does it end? Would you have us executing people for drinking and driving? Do you think any reasonable person would agree with that? The laws have grown harsher and harsher but where does it end? You are comfortable pushing for harsher legislation, but when will you have won? You will never get all the drunk drivers off the street. I reiterate, MADD has accomplished its goals and reduced the number of drunk drivers and related deaths. They are now a machine that is criminalizing the population. Making criminals out of otherwise good people makes no sense. MADD needs to have a point at which they are done. In reference to legislation, what is the goal? Just to make the laws as hard as they can be? This kind of thinking leads to excessive government control, the creation of the aforementioned underclass and thus discrimination, and the production of zealots who act with out thinking. I have taken responsibility for what I have done. I refuse to be labeled a bad person or a criminal. When you guys are ready to reason with me as I have you, let me know. If your just going to mud-sling, cuss, and holler, then maybe you would be better off running a MADD meeting... or perhaps you need some anger management.

I am i mad. Yes! My uncle was killed by a drunk driver and the only response i got from the jerk is " im innocent" and all this other junk that diverted blame, kind of like what you are doing rather than saying hey im sorry. made a mistake.and those what ifs actually happen. and as far as acting without thinking is actually what people do when they drink and drive. So i feel entitled to be mad,angry, cuss and holler. Just to let you know i am a professional who deals with alcoholics on a daily basis. I do have and even they who have drank and drove but at least they don't play the victims. so buy far know and maybe it would help you to realize the damage drinking and driving cause by attending a MADD group. So try it rather than slam it. What i have noticed when it comes to people slamming madd or aa is because it hit to close to home and they would rather whine and point the finger else where instead of where it belongs which is right back at you. after all, if you point your finger at someone else you have three pointing right back at you.

We have to get to a point where there is NO tolerance for those that choose to drink and drive. a defeatist (disguised as realist) would say that it can never happen. I disagree. I would be the one voice that says let us not rest until this problem yeilds zero deaths. until then we will combat this scourge like any others that kills fellow human beings. With Small Pox did we say that we would never conquer that scourge? no. Then why would we allow ourselves to state that this will never come to zero the fatalities from drinking and driving. Zero Tolerance for that which would kill those of my fellow human beings. Let us fight it like that. Lets stop making excuses for doing something that is 100 percent preventable.

Dude, cry me a river!!!! I guess I can say I am living your dream because I am a lawyer. In law school we studied the laws and consequences for breaking those laws, guess what? DUI has tons of them, so to cry and whine because you got caught is just ridiculous!

I too agree that there should be a line of criminal punishment for those who drink and drive. If you drink and drive and get caught you should get punished. If you drink and drive get into an accident or hurt some one or kill someone the punishment should be equal to the crime. Unlike the scum bag lawyer, as most all lawyers are, I agree with most of the people who have had a DUI. They did not hurt anyone, any property generally a mile from home and was stopped by happenstance. So why distroy there lives. And for those who like to play the what if...that is just stupid...what if you and or if that could have happened...go down that road is just wrong...the punishment should fit the crime. No I do not have a DUI and Yes know of people who have and yes heard of bad things that have happen to people who were and who were not drinking....but please. To distroy someones livelyhood for a crime where there were no vic's is wrong. That simple. I say this becasue I have a good friend who had a fear of flying, drank on the plane, got into his car after landing and drove off the parking lot just to return to it because he did not want to drink and drive. Upon his return a cop saw him and thought he was having a problem. He told him no, and told him what happened. The good officer said that he did right to call for a ride and then arrested him for driving drunk. In Florida he got the F/U from the judge and then at 50 years old lost his security clearence and then after several years of trying lost his home and never could get another job. He killed himself. He was a good man. This is not the typical outcome but the typical DUI story.

That is crazy. What if this, what if that. By your logic we should just get all drivers off the road. That would reduce the number of traffic deaths (alcohol related or not) to zero! It shouldn't be a crime to be at a higher risk of committing one.

Im not sure what this last respondent is trying to say. I only use "what if" logic once and it is in a metaphor intended to show that the possibility (what if) of committing a bigger crime should not be used as justification for punishing somebody for the crime they didn't commit. Let me see if I can make this easier on you guys.
My argument:
1. There has to be a line where the punishment for non-accident DUI stops getting worse.
2. On an individual case basis, where there was no accident, the DUI case IS a victimless crime that did not cause property damage and where no malice was intended.
3. Destroying lives through the use of probation, criminal records, and excessive jailtime is more vengeful than it is just. This is not to say there shouldn't be a punishment. Remember, the legal limit has steadily gone down and punishments gotten worse due to MADD lobbying and my point is it has to stop somewhere. I am not saying drunk drivers should go free, I am saying that people are supporting this lobby out of strong emotion and the fact that the lobby uses appeal to emotion as their logic. It should be noted, "appeal to emotion" is a logical fallacy.
4. MADD has grown to be a monster. Where they have succeeded in accomplishing their goal they now have become a tyrannical force that is simply trying to carry out the revenge of the wronged to a point that the punishment is not befitting of the crime (a non-accident DUI).

To What If - very well stated. The punishment does not fit the crime.

your argument is that you should not be punished for knowingly endangering the lives of others. you also should not be punished though you were reckless and thoughtless of the other drivers on the road that may have been endangered by your choice to drink and drive. I think then that police should stop punishing people who are speeding as well. after all they did not kill anyone or hurt anyone. maybe resckless drivers should get off too even though they endanger the lives of others. and most especially those that drink and are impaired should get off to even though they endanger those around them. truly where do you draw the line. Wen the drinking and driving stops the punishment will stop. very easy to figure. When it becomes unacceptable to take a drink then get behind the wheel then the punishment will stop. that is where the line should be drawn. that is what will prevent a needless death or injury. wnat the punishemnt to stop then stop doing the crime.

Having been convicted myself of 2 DUI's, I have experienced MADD's weak attempt at justice, and I truly feel their flawed system is nothing more than a vehicle that allows miserable people to come together. It is merely a retreat for "victims" to spread their own hatred, and it must be stopped. If you have been convicted of a DUI(s), which did not result in physical harm to anyone else, then you should not be punished for life. What's funny, is all of you losers in MADD want everyone else to feel sympathy for you, when all you're doing is tying up the valuable time of our legislative body that should be focused more on rapists, murderers, and child molesters. I truly am sorry for your loss, but stop wasting everyone's time, and allow our limited resources to focus on more important issues. How many false DUI arrests are made each night, as our women and children are raped and kidnapped? (Our attention should be focused elsewhere.) Maybe you should be punished for all of the time you've wasted?? But wait, there's no real formula for calculating this lost time, just as there is no real formula that says "we would have hurt someone". (I stress WOULD in my last sentence.) In my opinion, you all are lost souls looking for a vehicle to bring others down, and quite frankly your constant rants and raves have made you nothing more than the boys and girls who cry wolf. Furthermore, I wouldn't be surprised to find that you all had a few skeletons in your own closets. Maybe MADD doubles as a distraction from your own faults? Let's face it, the punishment should fit the crime, and if we haven't hurt anyone, then we shouldn't be punished as such. It's as if you suggest that we all resort back to Hamurabi's code? You are a bunch of hypocrites that do nothing more than hurt productive people of your own society. OFFICER- it's clear that you are uneducated, and probably have never been to medical school, yet you try to diagnose Lawrence as having an anger problem. Your misguided diagnosis screams that you have an inferiority complex, and you should seek true medical advice.

Officer:

The point of our criminal justice system is to address crimes which are committed. In order to have a crime, you have to have a victim. "Society" itself is really not a victim if there has been no loss or damage or injury. Your logic astounds me. I'm all for getting "drunk" drivers off the road, but this is backdoor prohibition, unless and until there is all night public transportation available. It is also a revenue generator, and "easy duty" for police officers, who get bonuses according to how many people they can bust in order to get those federal grant monies. And there is now abuse and injuries done to many of these people during these "investigations."

.08 is the level of a hit of Vick's Formula 44D. Please get real, the statistics of the level in which it is a true danger have been overblown, and are not at all in the realm of reasonableness when culturally we are a social society and drinking is a part of it. Even Ms. Lightner has left this organization. So this is a "jobs and the economy" move for the lawyers, DUI schools, psychologists, insurers, and the rest of the parasites while destroying one who has actually committed no "criminal" act or crime other than leaving a bar or restaurant. There are policemen stalking now so they can make quota, while the violent crimes and property thefts are increasing.

It's now way over the top, and something needs to be done before the next victim of police brutality is a headline. Two such individuals dies recently in Arizona jails, after being tazered and beaten to death.

And that is what is truly criminal.

In my 39 years, it has been my experience that if this subject comes up in the presence of 10 or more people, at least 1 person will invariably spin a heartbreaking tale of loss at the hands of a drunk driver. The problem is that even when applying MADD's ridiculously bloated numbers, they don't add up. Even when twisting the definition of "alcohol related" into "drunk driver caused", as MADD is so fond of doing, there simply aren't enough people killed to justify so many tales of woe. On the other hand, painting pictures of our nations highways littered with the bodies of the innocent, seems to be an effective way to win the argument. And the only way to fill MADD's coffers. The intelligent reader will know that I am in no way claiming that innocent people don't die at the hands of drunk drivers. Of course they do. A study in 2007 showed that even more innocent people are killed by drivers who have chosen to pay more attention to their cell phones, than the road. Shall we apply the same, or even greater punishment, to them? What about the weary? They to kill more people than drunk drivers. What about speeding? My point is simple. Our DUI laws are based on emotion, not accountability. A driver pulled over for talking on their cell phone will be cited and fined. They will not lose their licence and they will not be fined thousands of dollars. Their careers and marriages will not be placed in jeopardy. Are the deaths they cause any less preventable and unnecessary? Or is it just that a group of angry mothers have not yet gathered to demonize them. Who knows, maybe ten years from now, society will be demanding a life sentence for YOUR untimely cell phone use. I'm sure at that time, you will humbly accept responsibility and serve your sentence without complaint. After all, you "could have", under the right circumstances, "maybe" you "might have" possibly killed someone. Statistically. You murdering bastard.

Well i just lost my father friday night janurary 25th due to a man who failed nine different field subriaty tests and is accused of ovi. and if you don't believe it just look up the info , use my last name for it is the same as my father's. so as for the laws i think if you kill someone and you have been drinking and the death was from a auto accident it is the same as shooting someone.i also think you are off base in saying that our drunk driving laws are to strict. and so your life is reuned from your choice of drinking and driving ,ha! My fathers life is over from someone choosing to do what you did. so before you start slamming madd, just remember in the time of need it was madd, whom i had no contact with before,that has helped us greatly and for that i'm thankful,and i hope you or anyone else never has to use there resources ever again, but we know thats not going to happen. because someone will be in or call to a madd office in the mourning wondering what they can do for them.and if you are so bent on the cell phone idea , which i agree is a dangerous subject , maybe you will start a orginization called People against cell phone drivers. its your idea for i think both drunk drivers and cell phone drivers are bad. oh and before i go ,i hope MADD destroys alot more peoples lives in the future, for the more lives they destroy the more lives they save. sorry if this offends anyone but maybe if you are offended you needed to be!

I am sorry for your loss. Now for my response, I wish people would realize that all automobiles can be dangerous. When you decide to get into a car you realize there are certain risks that you take. You can't judge people or sentence people based on another person actions. There is a possibility that anyone dies when they get on the road. Who cares if someone could have killed someone as long as you didn't. I mean I can plan on killing someone making it premeditated but if I don't do it, what are you charging me with?

IF it is a disease then perhaps you could get treatment? Take Action? Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it . I would go on a limb and Guess you would have little interest in fishing without the bottle anyway. May God Bless and help you. Very sorry to those who have suffered losses. My belief is mine but here it is. I feel if you get pulled over after / while drinking there may have been a good reason the officer pulled you over. Then if you cannot fool him ( pass tests ) then you deserve to be arrested. CDL ( truck ) drivers are held to a much lower bac limit which in NH is .02 no matter what you drive. If my job depended on my license I would have to be alcoholic to risk my familys security and drive after drinking. Just my .02 cents Good Luck.

You said, "all automobiles can be dangerous". DUH. Of course. Thats exactly why NO person should EVER drive a car if they have had ANY alcohol. Alcohol impairs concentration, impulse control, judgment, and on and on. Why should someone who is drinking EVER be given control of a 200o pound weapon? Its stupid, and deadly. My baby son was CRUSHED TO DEATH by a car in which the driver was drunk. My boy was only 17, and what he suffered is unimaginable. Anyone who gives any excuses for drunk driving is a big ZERO in my eyes.

I read a comment that stated drunk drivers are just as dangerous as a man with a loaded gun.. with all do respect to all of those who have lost a loved one do to drunk driving.I have to dissagree with that comment..7 years ago I killed my best friend in a D.U.I. accident,and when my friend and I got in my car that night we were two teenagers. I would do any thing to have been a more responsable teen then and not have killed my friend.. I made a horable horable decision then but in no way was it intentional!! I beleave teens would listen more, and feel an emotion that may prevent them from making that mistake if the herd more stories like mine. Every one always thinks it wont happen to me but it can, and who better to tell the storie and share all emotional stories that might make a teen think twice than someone who done the damage? most teens are not listen to organization speaches.. that is just not getting the point across!

after reading another comment I have to differ that the statement "there are no DUI accidents,that it could have been prevented if one driver was not impared" The other driver was the actual cause of the accident,but I was drinking,And I was charged.I wouldnt have had it any other way though!! But there was nothing I could have done to pervent what happened.What i am telling you is not just my belief,but was in the investigating report. We all have our own feelings on the DUI subject,and instead of all the energy that is used in here to express your anger on how u feel it would benifit those with no understanding to how it effects all lives involved

You are all wrong. DRIVING DRUNK IS NOT THE ISSUE. HAVING TOO SOFT OF A DUI LAW SET IS NOT THE PROBLEM! The issue is in fact that the United States' live in a lifestyle of EXCESS! You can fine people all you want but the underlying cause is that this country is designed to induce a fearless lifestyle of excesses SINCE YOU WERE BORN. You're always thinking of more MONEY, more POWER, and MORE WAYS TO BEAT YOUR NEIGHBOR. Thinking twice is not a common practice until its too late. And I'm sure there are many people who are benefitting from this including Lawyers, MADD, the Government who use this setting as a means to bring in the cash WHILE STILL BRANDING JUST A CARING IMAGE. Give me one instance where we have not benefitted from someone elses tragedy??????? Tell me the true administrative cost to issue a reinstatement license is over $400! You want a better solution??? How about double or triple the 1st time offense with car impoundment? but here is the kicker...no monetary fines. HA HA HA, our government and MADD could care less if innocent people got hurt. YOU DO NOT NEED MONETARY FINES TO PREVENT DRUNK DRIVING, just a good honest culture.

In todays world driving is the difference between prosperity and poverty.I am one of those people with a thrd duii.When I got my first one,I was in the parking lot of a bar waiting for a ride,but I was sitting in the driver seat of my car. I got a duii with intent to drive.Second one I left my house to avoid fight with girlfriend,and go to my friends house a few blocks away.Girlfriend calls cops I get another ticket.Never had accident drunk or sober.I should not have been drunk or drove drunk.I think if M.A.D.D. wants to prevent drunk driving,why don't they require all registered vehicles to have breathalizer interlock devises. Then peoples lives won't get desroyed by making a dumb decesion when they are under the influence.Wouldn't that make more sense?

Drunk driving can be stopped by making understand the youths about the loss of it. We can give him the previous records of deaths due to the drunk driving.In this way we can stop it.
_____________________________________
anrik
<a href="http://www.addictionrecovery.net/hawaii">Addiction Recovery Hawaii</a>

no doubt there are issues out there. tell me why do liquor stores close at 8 and bars close at 2 why do all bars have parking lots ?
its a scam and peoples lives are greatly afected by it. it is a risk to drive no matter what, if i drive i could be killed by an old bastard or poor visioned driver or what ever its a risk we tend to over look
make booze illegal and exicute the fuckers that drink

It seems fairly simple to me. Driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 is against the law. If you break the law, and get caught, you pay the price. If you don’t like the law, change it – MADD did. Get together with other drinker/drivers and force the legislature to raise the limit. What do you think is fair? .02, more?

Oops, I meant .2, not .02.

Anything over .01 BAC. you can get a DUI it's up to the officer. You can fight it and maybe win but it will cost you your license and at least $2,500. Is that right. Also not every person that drinks and drives and is invoved in an accident is their fault but that is the way it works that is just BS.

The real victims are the young children, forced to grow up with only one parent supporting them. Being singled out, your Dad is a criminal! Your Mom is a drunk! Make drinking against the law, altogether!!

ur a dooschbag. shut the fuck up

You all must realize one thing. The government makes laws like DUI to generate revenue. They could honestly care less about your lost loved ones. They only care about making money. The more money you have, the more power you have. The generation of revenue is the sole purpose of the government. MADD is just the same. It was originally founded to help crack down on drunk driving, and push for laws to dissuade people from drinking and driving. Now the organization has turned into (as someone else stated), a monster growing and feeding off ruining other people's lives. The original founder, Candy Lightner, left the organization because she disagreed with the new focus and direction it was taking. You should look up the financial statistics (since you all believe the MASS stats) for the personal income of the executive board of MADD. I'm sure they make more, much more, than either you or me. Now as far as losing a loved one. We all go through it. Many are lost in what seems like the wrong time. But to all you Bible thumping drunk driver haters, you're all hypocrites. I use to be somewhat religious, and was always taught that "it's God's will" when someone close to you dies. So if you have lost a loved one from drunk driving you should be blaming your "God" and your own "faith" as it has failed you. By you hating and wishing death upon others you will not receive the "Kingdom of Heaven" when your time comes. (Remember the Ten Commandments?) How do you personally know that your lost child was killed to prevent atrocities they may have committed to other "innocent" people? Would you cry if Hitler would have been killed as an "innocent victim" in a drunk driver "accident"? You lowly hypocrites. Or maybe you would shed a tear for Ted Bundy if he would have been run over and crushed by a drunk driver? Hypocrites. Open your eyes, shut your mouths, and think before you comment on laws that are growing inevitably unjust. I hope some of you keep your hatred strong. Keep your vengeance burning. Maybe one day we'll see each other in hell. Then we can settle this argument (without the threat of being unfairly punished by our beloved government). And never forget, like it or not the only certainty in life is death. Dying in an auto "accident" by the hands of a "drunk driver" is surely better than suffering the horror of cancer.

SENSE DUI/DWI HAD BECOME A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, THE DUI/DWI IS THE ONLY CRIMINAL/FELONY. WHO DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. AND CAN BECOME A FELONY FOR GETTING FIVE TRAFFIC TICKET, ONLY TRAFFIC TICKETS. LIKE, BEING STOP FOR YOUR TAG LIGHT BEING OUT, AND BEING FORCED TO TAKE THE BREATH TEST, OR THE POLICE DOING A WELL FAIR CHECK BECAUSE YOU ARE PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIND YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING, PULLING YOU OVER AT A STOP LIGHT BECAUSE YOUR BRAHELIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS TIME I PULLED ONE ON THE S.O.B.. WHEN HE ASK ME ABOUT THE FIELD SOBRIETY TEST I ASK HIM IF HE HAD A WARRANT. HIS REPLY WAS HE DID NOT NEED ONE. UNDER THE 4TH AMENDMENT SEARCH AND SEISUZIE YOU DO TO SEIZUZE ANY EVIDENCE. SO WE WENT TO THE POLICE STATION, THERE HE ASK ME ABOUT THE BREATH TEST AGAIN I ASK HIM IF HE HAD A WARRANT. AT THAT TIME HE ASK ME IF I WAS REFUSING THE TEST. I TOLD HIM I WAS NOT I WAS PLEADING THE 5TH AMENDMENT. I WANTED HIM TO CHARGE ME WITH REFUSUAL. BUT HE DID NOT. SOME HOW WITH NO EVIDENCE HE GOT A WARRANT FOR FELONY DUI AND NOW I AM DOING A YEAR HOUSE ARREST.BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH, AND HAVE THREE YEARS PROBATION. NOW THE ABOVE CHARGES ARE TRUE AND THEY ARE THE ONLY TRAFFIC CHARGES I HAVE HAD SENSE 1988. THEY COULD NOT PROVE MY DRIVING WAS IMPAIRED AS PUR IMPLIED CONSENT. WHICH SAYS TO GET IMPAIRED DRIVED OFF THE ROAD. AND IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT YOU BEING PARKED AND BEING THE ONLY ONE THERE TO DRIVE.THEY CAN ARREST YOU FOR DUI JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONLY THERE AND YOU HAVE THE KEYS. BUT AT TIME YOU ARE NOT DRIVING, AND THEY CAN THREATEN YOU WITH ARRES IF YOU LEAVE DRIVING. WILL ARE YOU ALL BOARD ASLEEP YET!!!!

SEEK YOUR NEAREST MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY BEFORE YOU DIE OF A STRESS RELATED HEART ATTACK

Dude I'm just stating the obvious. Which is obvious that you can't cope with reality. I would gladly welcome a heart attack, as then I would no longer have to deal with the rest of this p.o.s. world. Unfortunately my life is fairly stress free, so that will be no time soon. In ending G.F.Y.S.

I'm starting a new group called MAC U....Mothers Against Cellphone Users...did u hear about the 16yr old who plowed his car into the back of a semi truck cuz he was texting???? or the girl that turned her car into oncoming traffic while texting to her xbf she was going to committ suicide? oh ya she killed a mother of 4. No one gets in a huff about cellphones? soo i think i'm gonna start one and start taking out my anger on any and all idiots on the road. the person that made that STUPID decision to run the red light, sober, and hit someone....ne one wanna rally against him? WITCH HUNT you BETCHYA. I'm 21, I DON'T drink and drive, i lost a COUSIN AND UNCLE to a drunk driver..and i STILL think the laws are to harsh. NOT EVERY DRUNK DRIVER HAS KILLED SOMEONE OR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. JUST LIKE NOT EVERY WRECKLESS STUPID DRIVER SPEEDING AND SWERVING THROUGH TRAFFIC HAS KILLED SOMEONE. YET THE DRUNK DRIVER GETS HARSHER PUNISHMENTS WHEN PULLED OVER THAN THE WRECKLESS MORON? THEY BOTH COULD OF KILLED SOMEONE. Y THE PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST DRUNK PPL? THEY MADE A STUPID CHOICE I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE BRANDED FOR LIFE W/ A HUGE SCARLETT DD ON THEIR FOREHEAD. OUR MONEY CAN B GOING TOWARDS BETTER THINGS.......LIKE EDUCATION.....omg wat a concept???? lets stop w/ the witch hunt, MADD u already did ur damn job THANK YOU. now focus ur energy on the kids now, today. the ones right now that are going to have a lot of spare time on their hands when all after school sports get cut becuz of funding. idle hands lead to trouble. EDUCATE FIRST WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG TO STOP THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT GETS TO DRUNK DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.......duh!

the problem isn't with the law or MADD... when your driving, you shouldn't be driving and texting, or driving and drinking, or driving and putting on makeup. you should be driving and paying attention to the road. if you've got something so important that you have to do then stop somewhere and do it. you don't HAVE to text ur boyfriend now, you don't HAVE to put on makeup now (do it in the bathroom where you won't accidentally kill someone), and you don't HAVE to drink now. you can drink in the safety of your own home where you're free to do what you please and you can't hurt anyone. I'm not saying that when you drink you hurt someone else physically or mentally, i'm just saying that there is a higher chance because the alcohol in the drink makes it so. In short, if you're going to drink, Be sure it won't affect anyone else.

It's good to see that some here realize that while some (MADD) who advocate for tougher drunk driving lives are doing so for the right reasons (saving lives) but those that legislate and implement these laws (often) do so for money and political clout. Else why not install a breathalizer in every car and be done with it...lord knows I would have avoided two charges (blew .09 and .10 with a .08 limit) when I thought I was fine to drive and a few lost years. Oh...and the same lawmakers and enforcers would be subject to the same restrictions as the 'common' folk.

Oh and as much as I'd rather turn the other cheek to some 'militant' MADD suporters...I'm a 29 year old 3 time offender that has been fortunate enough to see the light of day and have nearly three years sobriety. Two degrees (including an MBA with honors) and a CPA license later I hold the position as the CFO for a major real estate company (with NO driver license...so its possible to work a decent job without a license if your willing to work hard and change your ways) and probably have prepared one of your relatives tax returns at some point...so there is hope for those who have been traveling the wrong road...don't give up and if you have a problem (as I did) address it and move on.

Oh and I WILL drive again (June 2012) for those of you who advocate perminent revocation...what an asinine view some of you have!

Once again lets simply address the issue...identify a legal limit that makes sense...and install devices that lock out at or above it and be DONE with it!

After reading so many of the posts here, I'm pulling a great deal of arguments from outrage and animosity from a large portion of them towards the audacity that there be laws and severe consequences against individuals that make the CHOICE to NOT be responsible, to NOT be level headed, and to NOT incorporate common-sense joined with critical thinking skills prior to and while consuming alcohol and prior to getting behind the wheel. It is the individual's responsibility to know the legal limit, know their own limit based on weight, the time they will be somewhere, the amount of time it will take for the alcohol to disperse through their system, and to have the common sense to either designate a driver before going out and getting loaded in "social gatherings", or better yet, have the bartender call a taxi or cab, or another person that can come get them. I do not agree with the ability to continue to repeat the offense and get away with the crime, in essence it shows a total disregard for the law and the rules set up to protect others. If the law is A, and the consequences are defined as B + C, then commons sense would tell one that if A is broken, B & C will be the result. Period. Laws and rules were created because there were too many individuals that were not capable of implementing and utilizing common snese and doing things correctly. People started suffering at the hands of those unable to be responsible, hence laws and regualtions, and penal codes. Having had to deal with an individual that decided to break the law in another state in which he lived (NY), and being subjected to a routine that affected the entire family, and caused a tremendous amount of sacrifice thrown upon innocent individuals (children) within the family. When the person took the courses and stated that the lesson was learned, it was expected that it would not happen again. That person committed another offense in this state (PA) within 10 years as of October 2008 (thankfully, we were no longer together), got charged accordingly, had to do the program - AGAIN - and prior to being incarcerated for the 2nd offense, committed a 3rd offense within 6 months from the 2nd one. This was choice - the individual chose to drink more than he should have, and climb behind the wheel on both occasions. Apparently, deception goes hand in hand with breaking laws and feeling that such rules and regulations don't apply to them. Driving is a privilege - not a right. A vehicle is a deadly weapon in itself if not used with common sense, application of paying keen attention to the environment at all times, as well as weather conditions, and the other vehicles out on the road. To get behind the wheel intoxicated is a lisense to kill. I am not against consuming alcohol, since it's a societal thing. I am against the idea that people think that everyone else should be responsible for keeping them in check. Putting breathalizer modules on cars shouldn't be an option. If individuals want to enjoy the privilege of driving, then it should be respected, and laws should be followed. MADD had good intentions in the beginning, and I beleive that the idea behind it was justified. Do I agree that it should be a war on drinking? No. Do I think that that they have made a positive difference? Yes. I think that .08 is an acceptable limit - that's the equivalent of 4 drinks. If someone has intentions of going to the bar or club to get smashed, then be a passenger, and have the driver be non-consuming of alcohol, or call a cab, or have someone come get them at a certain time - when the bar or club closes. It really is not that difficult of a concept to be able to use common sense and make the appropriate choices, instead of taking a chance, being the one with the "I'm not that drunk" attitide and then climbing behind the wheel. Yes - the individual MIGHT make it home without incident, but there's an equal enough chance that they MIGHT NOT, and end up hitting someone else and altering lives beyond their own, or killing themselves. Is it truly worth the toss of the dice, the one bullet in the chamber of a gun, (Russian Roulette), or facing charges, fines, loss of the license and the humliation? Personally, I think not. Traffic and vehicular altercations happen everyday in life, that cause deaths and dismemeberment, that is true. But to try to justify or compare alcohol or drug-related altercations and make them seem less of a problem is like a down player. While both have the same result, the methods involved is different. It all comes down to 100% choice - noone FORCES someone to get intoxicated or make the poor choice, and there is no "gray area" between abiding by a law that was created due to so many accidents, deaths, dismemberments. There are options out there instead of getting behind the wheel when a person has gone past the line.
I personally believe that the consequences are not tough enough in our state. If the consequences were more strict right from the front line, and did not offer an option of plea-bargaining for lesser charges, then it would serve as the deterrent and be more effective, and there would not be 600+ arrests in one specific county area alone in one year. The message would be much clearer and more effective if the option to "cut a deal" was not available, and if the understanding that an offender would lose their license for a long period of time from the get go, and if committing a 2nd offense, would have their license either suspended for between 5-10 years or permanently revoked, individuals would take things more seriously instead of scoffing at the law, and going about doing what they want. If others are able to abide by the law, what makes these individuals the exception to any rule??

I used to think the system of law enforcement was on my side. I used to think cops were people I could rely on... I felt like part of the community. No more. An unbearably harsh DUI conviction has left me reeling financially, put every future job in peril, and made me distrust EVERYONE except my lawyer. I will not give a dime to charity in my godforsaken community, ever, and as soon as my interlock device is finished and my penalties are over, I am taking my savings and leaving the country. For political gain and lure of easy cash, our lawmakers are creating a tier of second class citizens. Enjoy the moral outrage. Soon it will be all we have left.

To the individual whoes comment I'm replying to...I just want to say I agree totally. I hit the reply button because I am so outraged at the whole thing and wanted to voice my opinion. Thanks to everyone who reads and please keep an open mind!

I too have my second DUI in the crazy state of Pennsylvania. I'll admit, I was over the legal limit and should not have been driving. But I was ablt to stop my car and have a conversation with the officer at a check point where of course...I was arrested for DUI.

I hear everyone talking about how it's against the law and you just shouldn't do it! You deserve what you get! You would want harsher penalties too if you had a loved one killed by a drunk driver! All of these things are true I suppose and I don't mean to minimalize them in any way. However, once upon a time in this country, you were 100% innocent until proven guilty of a crime. You were not merely sentenced based on what could happen (ie. driving a car under the influence could kill someone...that's why it's so bad). I understand all of this...but to anyone who is ready this...please, instead of becoming so angry at what I have to say I would kindly ask you to at least read the entire message of what I am trying to say.

In Pennsylvania, I'll admit I was over the legal limit, however I was also in control of my vehicle (please, I know you are all saying.."that's what every drunk says..." But I was about 175lbs at the time and did have a buzz....bad judgement yes...should it be against the law...no!

Laws should not be based upon someones moral picture of the situation. It's just like religion. We all know that can be a hot topic too. The reality is that some people have a higher tolerance etc. Early civilizations were based on the consumption of alcohol. It is perfectly ok. And contrary to what the new industry of Mental health will have you think, it is ok to get down right Hammerred. What has happened to our society. It's crazy. It's called having fun and having a good time once in a while. I'm NOT saying it's ok to get in the car and drive after you are HAMMERED! I'm just saying let's look at what we have created here. A society that crucifies someone for drinking and driving.

If the laws were equal, I guess I wouldn't have as much of a problem with the whole thing. Someone who has a bac of .10 or even .15 heck, and gets home safely isn't who you should be worried about. It's the individual who sits at the bar all day and who has been doing it for years and who has a bac of .20 pretty much everyday who probably will, since his capacities have been destroyed after 10, 20 years of constant drinking, hurt someone in the future. That's who the law was going after to begin with. And if it's your child who has had to much to drink and who drives, they simply made a bad decision.

Let's put it into persepective:
The pregnant woman who consumes a glass of wine at dinner while out at a local restaurant should be put away for 10 years (that's the way I see it). Hey, who knows, she could be damaging the fetus. And if she is so carefree to do it while she is out dining, what else does she do. Oh my gosh...is she also smoking a cigarette? Wow, let's put her away for 20 years. Her intentions may not be to kill or harm the fetus, of course she doesn't mean to do this...she is an expecting mother. Let's simply make it a law that if anyone witnesses this behavior, that on the spot, a citizens arrest should be make immediatley!! My gosh, we can't waste too much time here. She needs help and we need to save the baby.

Or what about the individual who drives 85 down the interstate highway system. We have all seen this right. Whether you live in the mid states or around Washington D.C. it happens everyday. And almost every day you see an accident....ok, maybe every other day! That person wasn't drinking at all, or at least I hope not. But they made a concious decision to go 20 miles or depending on the posted speed limit 30 miles over the speed limit! The have a highly dangerous projectile that they are controlling. It's almost like a bullet. Ploice should be placed on the highway system every 15 miles and the first time anyone in the United States is caught breaking the speed limit in this way they automatically lose their license and serve prison time. Heck, make it a misdemeanor while your at it. Now, I'm sure plenty of you are laughing, but wait a second here. You WILL kill someone at that speed. No doubt about it. And you made the concious decision to drive like that. At least if you were drinking someone could say "he was drunk, he wasn't thinking clearly". But I'm not saying only arrest them and convict them if they are in an accident, I'm saying immediatlely, accident or not. If you disagree at all, I challenge you to look at your stance on the DUI laws. Please, take a look and ask friends and family and truly challenge yourself. Don't just pacify your need to prove that you are correct, truly ask if you are right in believing that DUI or DWI laws are not strict enough.

My case because I'm sure you would like to know, happened like this. My first was on my birthday...go figure right. It was a .11.....really, not lie. I was so mad at the officer and made him a little angry by calling him a few names, so he pushed for a DUI. Guess i should have kept my mouth shut :). The second was very simple. My stepfather recently had surgery to remove a brain tumor and lymphoma..it was pretty bad and someone who I feel in love with made a handful of bad decisions and the relationship ended at that point. I wasn't feeling the best. Makes sense right...I mean I didn't need therapy or anything, I was just pretty bummed, but I was holding it together. A good friend said hey bud, why don't you come on out with us and meet us at.........place. So I did. I had some appetizers, some laughs and had a good time. For a the first time in a couple of days i actually had my spirits lifted by some friends at a bar! SSHHHHH....that kinda talk could get you hung in these parts....:) I left and the rest is history. Since it was my second offense within 10 years I spent 45 days in jail, 90 days house arrest, 5 years probation, approximately 10,000 total in expenses. I now have a criminal record (pennylvania will not expunge them). Oh, I also have a real college degree, but i can't get a better job beccause I have a criminal record. Wow. Do you think MADD offers free counseling. Because I really need it now. I almost lost my job a couple of times because I couldn't get there on time (I'm single so I don't have family right around the corner and my firends all have families, so i couldn't rely on them for a ride. Most people who go off to college are in towns where they didn't grow up.) It was a mess. Then I put the ignition interlock on my car (which is mandatory as well in Pennsylvania.) I was so broke at this time, but I had to get my car back. If you didn't have the car at the service stations on the day it was required, it would lock up and not start, then you would have to get it towed.) So i began taking out payday advance loans from companies on the internet to make sure I had the money on that day, because i knew I couldn't afford to have it towed to the station (25 miles away). Well, even with a college degree I knew that payday loans were not the way to go, but I really had no choice. So I did them for about a year and as you can imagine they are horrible. I eneded up taking out payday loan after payday loan to cover the first one. I ended up 15,000 dollars in debt with them. it made me late on my regular bills and harmed my credit. LOL....wow. All because I was having a bad day and some friends said hey, come have a drink and feel better.

I guess some people would say well, you see, you made a bad choice and you won't do that again. I say are you crazy? Listen, laws are governed by people, people should never be totally governed by laws! These laws are crazy, just because they are LAWS doesn't make them right! The only thing I would change if I had to do it all over again is just not to get caught. I should be able to go out and have some fun. Has everyone in the country become a prude? My goodness. Does anyone remember what it was like to have fun.

After all that I had to go through, let me tell you, I have many times thought about finding some sort of substance just to get me through it all. I never felt that way before.

The DUI Laws destroy lives in Pennsylvania and the United States. Plain and simple. And if you are a supporter, then welcome to a world that will soon be free of choice! It may not be your choice, but you do not have the choice to take away my choices.

I will spend the rest of my days....a little here...and a little there...making sure that sanity prevailes.

Thank You for reading.

R Douglas - I totally agree. I've helped a close family member through this for the second time here in the lovely state of Pennsylvania and the experience has been just crazy. So many of my friends drink and so many of my friends think they agree with the laws. They just don't really know the laws. When I explained to one friend that this is on your record for 10 years and a mishap during those years would send you to the State Pen - they were slightly shocked. Some of them were very understanding, but the ones that weren't, well, they aren't my friends any more. People just don't understand the small amount they need to consume to become legally drunk. It's crazy.

I like your explanation too about speeding. It is exactly right on. If you are going to punish the DUI with the Possibility of killing someone, then lets do the same with the speeder. It is an even greater offense because they (supposedly) know what they are doing. The DUI is slightly impaired when they make the decision to drive. LOL

I would like to work toward getting the laws changed, but they are such emotional laws. MADD has done a good job of marketing their agenda. How did the laws get to be so strict? Well, it just took MADD and emotion to do it. So how do we show how many lives are ruined because a person stopped for a couple (yes I mean 2-3) drinks on their way home from work and gets stopped. If we could only start a group - maybe call it Rational Citizens Against MADD.

It was nice reading your post - thanks for sharing.

I AM A DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING IN IDAHO AND WHAT I SEE IS THIS IF YOU DONT START TEACHING KIDS AT A YOUNG AGE ABOUT DRIVING AND DRINKING RESPONSIBILITY THEY WILL BE CARELESS. THE LAWS SHOULD BE TO GET YOUR LICENSE YOU MUST VISIT THE MORGE AND THE FUNERAL HOME AND LOOK AT WHAT THE COST ARE FOR IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR. iT IS $6000.00 DOLLARS FOR A PLAN JANE FUNERAL. KIDS DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT ENTAILS AND THE FAMILY HAS TO PAY FOR IT. EMBALMING COST, FREEZING YOURBODY IS MONEY, POLICE ESCORT FOR YOUR FUNERAL, LIMO FOR THE FAMILY, BROCHURES, FUNERAL DIRECTOR COST. $1500-$3500 THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I MAKE MY CLIENTS WRITE AN OBIT AND VISIT THE FUNERAL HOME AND BRING BACK THE ACTUALL COST SO THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DIE. YOUTH NEED VISUAL NOT SOMEONE YAPPING AT THE MOUTH. IMPACT IMPACT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! PARENT GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR KIDS SHOW UP TO THERE GAMES, SPORTS INVOLVEMENT GET YOUR ASS OFF THE FCKING COUCH AND BE A PARENT..........

Dear Counselor: My husband and I don't drink and our children have seen the MADD programs in school. One child was tagged with an open container, the other with a DUI. We are in the midst of Jail/House Arrest/Probation. The DUI doesn't just effect the individual, it effects the family and friends. The problem is that the penalty far out weighs the crime. I have the choice to support through this for the next several years or turn my back. I have chosen to support. Drinking and Driving is something that is accepted by more people then you think. Go to your local bar at 5:00 and count the number of people there during Happy Hour. The parking lots are packed! We all would hope that each person in attendance of Happy Hour would be responsible and only have the allowable 1-3 drinks (depending on food consumed) and drive home safely. I would probably assume that they won't. I am sorry for people's loss due to accidents, but it happens. My family was also effected by an accident in the past 10 years. We did not have a loss, but the moment will always be with me. I won't go into details here, but penalizing people to the level we do for a DUI is not helping the situaion. I recently read a report from my State on accidents in general and it was not what I expected it to be. The statistics that are kicked around out there are very in accurate. It's true, people can use statistics to say anything they want to say and sometimes it's just not the truth. People choose to drive in various conditions, but we don't penalize the tired driver for 5 years because they were driving tired. Hating someone will not bring the loved one back. Putting a DUI in jail will not hepl them deal with their problem. You as a counselor should know that. Then, maybe it isn't the individual problem, maybe it is societies problem, people hang out in bars because it is the place to meet, it is the place to socialize. Some of them make bad choices and a lot of them don't know the consequences of those bad choices. My family knows the penalty for the bad choice. Oh, by the way, my kids were in sports from the age of 7 and still are. The problem with the sports after High School is that the place to go after the game is the bar. I say if someone drinks and drives, fine them court costs and take their license away for 6 months. If it is a second offense, fine them court costs, take their license away for a year and get them counseling. Don't ruin their life, that is just being vendictive and maybe just maybe, MADD needs counseling too.

To all of you who do not want to take responsibility for drink and driving do not worry the state of Massachusetts will protect you. My husband a very hard working guy, was on his way to a doctors appointment 6 yrs ago when a drunk driver crossed in front of him, six years later he is in constant pain with a traumatic brain injury, he has had an awful headache that NEVER goes away from his injury. We sued the drunk driver because of medical bills and my husband can no longer work, but the judge and insurance company made sure that the drunk came out on top and we lost. So I have lost the husband I once knew, he suffers we have huge medical bills and the DRUNK who blamed my husband for the accident spends 5 hours in jail Gov Patrick makes the insurance Lawyer a superior Judge and we only have daily heartache. I work and come home to find my husband in bed from the pain. I worry that he may not be able to take the pain any longer. But all of you who do not think it fair that someone who drinks and drives get a jail sentence, but drinking and driving puts their victims in Jail. CT has a law 1st conviction gets 1 yr in jail!!! Massachusetts needs this law, but it will never happen with the Judges and Law makers we have now!!!!! Who protect the victims of these people who do not want to claim responsiblity for their actions.

CT has a one year suspension of driving privileges for 1st time offenders, I don't think there's jail time. Did you here about the kids here in Griswold, CT that hit a tree (Dec 4, 2010). 4 died, and the one that lived was in a medically induced coma, followed by intense rehabilitation. Alcohol wasn't a factor as determined by the State of CT but SPEEDING was. Where are the lobbyists pushing for legislation regarding people who drive recklessly without the assistance of alcohol? I have accepted responsibility for my actions and therefore did a complete 180 with my life. I never hurt anyone, and I am very grateful I didn't. I have done everything I have had to do because I CHOSE to change my habits, it wasn't mandated by the state. In my case, the state doesn't give a shit though. I am being penalized yet some more for shit I did almost ten years ago. I work side-by-side with a guy that needs my interlock device more than I do. I am going to relinquish my license and more of my liberties because I shouldn't have to blow in a tube to start my car. I was within 1 1/2 years of testing for black belt at the school I was attending. Martial arts is without a doubt the best therapy/after care recovery program I have put myself in. But now I have to quit because my roommate will no longer give me rides to school and I WILL NOT humiliate myself by blowing in a tube to start my car after everything I've done since 2002 to stay sober. 9 years of sobriety on Sept 30th (next Friday). So I hope MADD and the DMV here in CT is happy for being counter-productive. I hope all the victims of DUI's are happy to know that I get to suffer with you miserable people too. Does that make you happy?

I own my stupid choice(s). After not drinking for months, I binged last weekend at home. I had an argument, of my own design I am sure, and left the house. My wife of 17 years and amazing 6 year old boy stayed home. She says she tried to take the keys, but I was agressive and stormed out. I do not remember getting in the car, nor do I remember plowing my vehicle into a guardrail.

I thought I had my addiction under control. But stress got the better of me and I drove afterwards. I was in process of finalizing probation for the first DUI ... my license still had not been reinstated. So that's sum total of four middle fingers to the People of my State. I do deserve all the time I get (which could be two years).

I am now going to AA; we as a family are going to church. I would love to volunteer for programs for victims of drunk driving, or addiction-help programs. Yes, I should have done this two weeks ago. Bottom line, my life will bever be the same - and more importantly-- nor will moy son's or wife's. The one positive in all of this is that no one else was hurt. I suffered two broken ribs and a cracked vertebrae (C1). Had the impact been 1/2 inch higher or lower, I would have been killed or fully paralyzed. I am still capable of full health for a reason.

I could have killed anyone's loved one. And not even known. The fact I am here tells me it is due to more than just being a "flexible drunk".
I will be an advocate for fighting addictions and also limiting drunk/drugged driving. I need to be an advocate, I owe so many.

I will likely lose my job...one I fought hard for and one in which I am very successful. I will go to jail for as little as 3 mos to 2 yrs. My wife says she will stand by me. I would truly be blessed if she would, but I don't know if that's best -- the burden would be difficult for her and our son.

I thought as a Dad I would teach my son the right things to do. And I am, sadly--by showing what NOT to do. Time to man up and face responsibility and consequences. Please let me know of any volunteer programs I can begin before jail-- dunking tank at a MADD event would likely be one, I know.

I have no sympathy for people who claim that their lives are ruined because they were caught driving after drinking alcohol. The fact is, they knowingly chose to commit an illegal act when there were other options. If you knew in advance that you were going to drink, then there is no excuse for not making arrangements for a safe ride home or a safe place to sleep it off. If you didn't know there would be alcohol at the party (or whatever), you still could have a) made arrangements prior to drinking, or b) abstained from drinking (as if it would kill you not to drink one night).

But you didn't. You chose to drink and drive. You chose to put other drivers, pedestrians, and basically anyone near a road in danger. Maybe you didn't kill anyone that time, but if you got a slap on the wrist, would you hesitate to do it again? Of course not. And I don't think we should take the chance. Drunk driving should be met with a permanent ban on having a driver's license and escalating penalties if there are others injured or property damages. I would advocate mandatory jail time for any harm done to another person and second degree murder charges for any deaths caused.

Think I don't know what I am talking about? A drunk driver ran up on my family's lawn when I was very young and we're lucky he didn't hit the house. If he had, I probably wouldn't be here today, neither would my mother, father, little sister, my parents friends, or their children; we were all in the front room for dinner. I'll never forget how scared I was seeing those headlights and then my parents talking to the police. Also, a family who lives near mine lost their little girl to a drunk driver when their car was hit.

Drunk driving is a choice. Period. The decision is made before the alcohol is consumed. If someone has so little regard for the safety and lives of others that they choose to drink and drive, I don't want them on the road. EVER.

Just to add to my previous post, I do not drink at all. I choose not to impair my mind under any circumstances because I believe it is irresponsible and I am not alone among my friends (despite being in university). A couple of my friends choose never to drink and to be responsible. If university students can do it, then others can too.

Never mind drunk drivers, what about the sober ones that make up the rest of the percentage of motor-vehicle related fatalities? A drunk driver drove up on your lawn....so what? I've been in accidents with sober drivers. What's a sober person's excuse for driving recklessly? People get popped for speeding all the time, isn't speeding also another sign of blatant disregard for the safety of others on the road? You choose not to drink, so I'll give you what my state is giving me...so fucking what? Who cares? Drunk driving is a choice, you are right. But you, like an ex-girlfriend of mine, have no clue what addiction is all about (other than what you read in your $75 school books). Speaking of this ex...I hated riding with her. She was involved in THREE accidents within TWO years, two of which were her fault. Did she get any suspensions, driving classes, jail time, etc.? Fuck no. If she had been drinking you can bet your sweet ass she would have been fucked. Drinking and driving is a choice, but so isn't being responsible and learning how to drive properly while sober. As far as I'm concerned there is no reason to get into an accident if you're stone cold fuck sober. And speaking of safe roads, what about elderly people that can barely walk from thier car to the pharmacy to get the numerous meds that they're probably under the influence of when they drove to the fucking store? You gonna sit there and tell me some 75 year old guy has the same physical reaction time as say, someone my age (34)? As I've said in this forum before MADD has set up a justice system where it's okay to drive like an asshole and cause accidents....if you're sober it's just a point or two on your license. If you're drunk, people won't be satisfied until you are executed. Yup, makes perfect sense to me.

Its mighty weird that not too many years ago the founder of MADD was charged with a DUI, Had to resign from MADD, and I guess she is the poster girl for MADD, do as I as not as I do.....I have been hit by a drunk driver, kept my younger brother from going threw the windshield, car a 1954 Chey, no seat belt back in the 50's..It was months before I could straighten my elbow from his hard head hitting my elbow, yeah he got a black eye we were even...This drunk went into his girl friends beer joint he has just left bought or was given a 6 pk which he began to drink, and was drinking when the police showed up....He got a ticket for PI not DWI.....No insurance, no drivers license, no tags or inspection on his car.....I have been a "County Mounty" and worked in a funeral home for a few years, before the Sheriffs dept....I have pulled broken bodies out of wrecks that drunks have caused..90% of the time the drunk was walking around with only minor scratches...One night I helped pull 7 teenage girls from a wreck, caused by a drunk, all told there were over 30 cars in that pile up including a tanker hauling gasoline....Wreck was just over an over pass with a heavy ground fog at the bottom..That drunk stopped in the right lane got out to take a "leak", that gas truck hit him first....All told over 20 people died because he need to pee..Those 7 teenagers one lived, her three other sisters ranging from 19 to 14 were killed, the other three were also sisters...Those were two phone calls that I was glad I didn't have make, but our funeral home did hold at no cost the funerals for the sisters of that survivor....That night there were way too many phone calls that some families even 46 years later still grieve about..

As long as people drink there will be no stopping it, most of you are way too young to remember prohibition...My self included, but it didn't stop the drinking, bloody wars were fought by gangs for control of the boot leg whiskey made....Outlaw booze??? Get real it will be prohibition all over, whether its by laws or people in MADD....People are going to drink, drunks will continue to kill people...

Read somewhere where some person said that ALL cars should be equipped with "Smart Start units", good point then no drunk would be able to start their car after drinking, but here's the down side to that...There are other things from hair spray to mouth wash, and even a "honey bun" can give a "positive" reading....Which means your Doctor puts on his aftershave goes to his car, takes a deep breath, and the fumes from his aftershave shows a "positive" he can't get to the hospital to save you....Yeah lets put them in police cars ambulances all emergency vehicles, and when they blow a positive again your home burns to the ground or you die because an ambulance won't start...

See how ridiculous this can be to rid our streets of drunks???

Because I was ordered to install this ignition interlock device I have been doing some research and I came across these old posts. Now it is my turn to say something. My last conviction was in '02. Never hit or killed anyone. 8 months in jail and 8 years later I am still ordered to have to install this ignition interlock device. I haven't had a drink since Sept 30, 2002 because there is something about jail that makes me not want to go back. Yet MADD had to boo-hoo to congress about tougher laws. The old laws worked for me but the DMV doesn't give a shit. Now I'm being penalized for shit I did almost a decade ago all over again. I used to say sorry and feel genuinely sorry for people who lost loved ones due to drunk driving, but not anymore. Not out of coldness, but because I never killed anyone and I WILL NOT apologize for the actions of others. I was lucky I never hurt anyone, and there are still days I thank whatever Gods are out there I never did. But MADD's policies are hurting the ones who "got the fucking message" along with the dipshits that never will. I work side-by-side with a guy that needs this device more than I do. Two instances happened here in CT. In Dec of 2010 a car full of highschool kids hit a tree. 5 kids in the car and only one lived. Alcohol wasn't a factor, but SPEEDING was. If MADD truly gave a rat's ass about the well-being of today's youth then where the fuck were they after this happened? Whoops, deaths caused by speeding isn't thier modus operandi. And just yesterday in Plainfield, CT a guy ran a stop sign and hit the driver's side of a TOWN POLICE CRUISER!!!!!! His penalty? Ann infraction for "disobeying a stop sign." You can all bet your asses if he had been drunk MADD's war drums would be beating up and down the fucking street til the guy was nailed to a cross. No classes, no suspensions, etc. As far as I'm concerned the only thing MADD has accomplished is setting up a system where it's okay to hit a kid in a crosswalk (Stonington, CT-2011), just make sure you're an elderly sober driver while doing it. It's okay to drive like a fucking retard, just so long as you're sober. If you're drunk and commit the same traffic violations you had better watch your ass. Yeah, you call this America? Fuck you, fuck MADD, fuck the politicians that bend over for them, because I could care less if little Sally got killed by a drunk driver. I'm sober, I never killed anyone, and I am determined to get on with my life. If you lost a loved one take it up with the individual involved. Don't take it up with me because I'm not the one responsible. Robberies sometimes turn into homicides, so should we treat every robber as if he/she HAD in fact killed someone just because the potential was there to do so?

Another thing, DUI's will never cease to be. There are 3 parts to make a DUI happen-people, cars, and alcohol. Until you entirely wipe out one part of this equation no mix of new laws, executions, penalties, revenge, vengeance, or justice is going to do a goddamn thing to change it. MADD knows this and so do the manufacturers of these interlock devices. So why not make some money out of it? My device is all fucked up. Consumer Affairs gave the manufacturer of said device an F rating due to the numerous unanswered complaints. I will turn my license into the DMV, along with the restoration notice the DMV gave me and what I want back is the letter saying I can have the device removed. If I don't get the letter I'll rip the fucking thing out myself. Over 2 1/2 years of martial arts training and I have to put it on hold because I can't drive. Are you MADD assholes happy? I did a complete turn-around with my life starting in '02 but you STILL insist I didn't get punished enough. Go right the fuck on ahead and say "you should have known better, you put yourself there, etc." At what point is enough enough? If I were to do anything stupid in my early 20's it should have been robbing stores or selling drugs to middle-schoolers. I still would have done the jail time but at least it would have ended when my probation did. You people are miserable because you lost someone because of something stupid and you won't feel satisfied until everyone, regardless of whether or not they killed someone, is miserable right along side of you. Good job MADD advocates, keep fucking with the one guy in a hundred that clearly "got the fucking message." I gave up alot because of what I did and you MADD losers feel justified because I COULD have killed someone? Fuck you, I don't owe you a goddamn thing. If you MADD advocates want to walk around expecting that everyone guilty of a DUI somehow OWES you something you will lose.

Eric - you are not alone. There are quite a few that feel like you do, they just haven't organized because they don't know how. My son got a DUI, but never caused damage to property or a person. He just happened to be driving home late at night, taking it easy and going the speed limit. I listen to my co-workers talk about stopping for a drink (or two) on the way home and it just bugs me. I've told a couple of them about the DUI and they are sympothic, but I can't tell ones that talk because I've also heard them talk about "those drunks". These people don't understand how low the limits are and how that one drink could put you in the catagory of being drunk. My son and I have done a lot of research and it is so surprising. My thought is about the same as yours, how much punishment is too much. Then there is the thought about Speed - killing and Tired driving - killing and weather. I found a report on our State website listing accidents by cause and time (and a few other catagories). DUI is not the biggest killer, the weather is. So what do we do to those people that go out and drive on a bad day, do we arrest them for trying to drive even if they don't have an accident? Do we give them community service and seminars to attend because they drove when it was really icy? Do we send them to jail because they try to drive in the icy weather? No, we say wow I can't believe you made it in this weather, you must be a really good driver. Lets face it if you drive (no matter the condition/situation) and you kill someone, you'll go to jail, unless the situation was out of your control. Oh wait, if you choose to drive in icy conditions, you did have control - you could have chosen to not drive. DUI laws are emotional and law is not supposed to be emotional, it is supposed to be logical. My son and I have talked a lot about his situation, he's only 16 mths into it. His punishment is a list of about 10 different separate "punishments", like 2 wks of jail and 8 wks of house-arrest and 5 yrs of probation to name a few. Then there are the court ordered "classes" to attend. The fact is the punishment is missing the mark. After a while, it looses it's impact. MADD needs to understand that you can't punish someone for the possibility of what they might have done. The DUI laws do that. We put you on probation for 5 years because you were bad and need to sit in the corner for that long and think about what you did. The only problem is after a while, you forget why you were put in the corner. Eric, I wish you well.

Well, I'm back to add another comment here. It's been 18 months since my son got his second DUI and what a circus it's been. I've told him a couple of times that he needs to write a book about this whole thing and it could even be a movie. Each step of the way the comments that have been made are, well, just so funny, from the police officer who told him everything would be ok to the lawyer who yelled at him to last week when I found out in our state, there is an alternative to the "Box". It might not seem like a great alternative, but he can give up driving for 12 months by filing for a certificate and get credit for the time the certificate is on file with the DOT. This is an option we didn't know he had. If is a real money saver and from some of the stories we've read about the "boxes", it could be a way to avoid the stress of getting a faulty "box". When I think back to the fact that he got a lawyer and the guy did nothing be yell at him and meet us in court and say thank you judge for the penalty. $2,000 out the window for nothing. I yelled at my son and he didn't have to pay me for that. No one through out this situation actually sat down and said these are you options or the actual steps you will take. To all that read this, ask questions and lots of them.