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

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.

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?

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.

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.

"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'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?

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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!!

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.