Have the police launched a DUI crackdown on rich people??

Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Baron von BeeGee

Beer Bully
Joined
Jul 20, 2005
Messages
5,374
Reaction score
36
Location
Barony of Fuquay-Varina, NC
Eric Musselman (coach of Sacmo Kings) arrested for DUI:
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2594654

Koren Robinson, Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton, and I know there have been several others lately. It's not that I really care that much, other than I like to see them get the same treatment as the rest of us, but my question is this:

If I can afford a freakin' taxicab, can't a professional athlete or Hollywood type? I'm thinking I would just have a chauffeur! What in the hell would possess people who are choking on their own money to drive a vehicle while intoxicated?

I'm lost.
 
I know a few guys who have gotten themselves in trouble down here in that regard - it wasn't pretty. I know* a Canadian who got busted down here for kiddie porn, he's been in the clink for five years. Two more and then he gets transferred to Canada to serve 7 more. BTW, he's serving the time in the national prison, not the one for expats. I've heard some horror stories...

*met him once before he was busted and he was a freak people! He can rot in hell!
 
Baron von BeeGee said:
You know what the punishment for DUI in Cuba is? Let's just say it involves habanero peppers and an empty rum bottle. :drunk:

I dunno if I have a problem with that TBH

1st offence - ok everyone screws up. - slap on the wrist, cash, 1 year in a work release, maybe another on probation
2nd offence - What are you stupid? - big hit, cash, jail time 5 - 10 years, never drive again
3rd offence - OK you are stupid. - Jail Time, 15 - 20 years
anything after that - You're too stupid to breath. - put them away for good
 
Even in this case, I wonder how expensive can a cab be in Cuba? In Mexico I never pay more than $5-7, and in Ecuador it's usually <$2.

I would hate to be in the Cuban national prison...is it that fortress in Habana where El Che held "trials" aka executions for all those imperialists while bringing justice to the system?
 
Pumbaa said:
I dunno if I have a problem with that TBH

1st offence - ok everyone screws up. - slap on the wrist, cash, 1 year in a work release, maybe another on probation
2nd offence - What are you stupid? - big hit, cash, jail time 5 - 10 years, never drive again
3rd offence - OK you are stupid. - Jail Time, 15 - 20 years
anything after that - You're too stupid to breath. - put them away for good

I consider that absurdly harsh for driving under the influence of alcohol unless the driver caused death or serious injury to someone.
 
beer4breakfast said:
I consider that absurdly harsh for driving under the influence of alcohol unless the driver caused death or serious injury to someone.

You also dont spend a good portion of your time scraping those people off dashboards and windshields.
 
Pumbaa said:
I dunno if I have a problem with that TBH

1st offence - ok everyone screws up. - slap on the wrist, cash, 1 year in a work release, maybe another on probation
2nd offence - What are you stupid? - big hit, cash, jail time 5 - 10 years, never drive again
3rd offence - OK you are stupid. - Jail Time, 15 - 20 years
anything after that - You're too stupid to breath. - put them away for good

I think this is a bit lenient. One drunk driving ticket, you take the bus the rest of your life. On the freeway speed is not the wrost thing, bad driving habit are: tailgating, changing lanes irradicily, cutting people off. Drunk driving is serious stuff because you do these things and not know that you are doing them. The jail time I agree with, but for me it's one strike your out. And one of my friends was caught drunk driving and it doesn't change my mind.
 
I agree with Pumbaa...I have worked many accident scenes where drunk drivers killed innocent people minding their own business. Also, several fellow officers retired out because drunks, for some reason, like to drive towards the pretty flashing lights. Wish people would use DDs, or stay home and get snockered.:(
 
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion and everyone has the right to express it and to advocate it. That's a good thing for us all. Unfortunately, it becomes impossible to discuss such differences of opinion in certain venues, such as this forum, because beliefs regarding crimes and punishments are rooted in political ideology, and politics is a forbidden topic here. And with good reason, since politics is one of the two most contentious topics that a forum might entertain. Unless the forum is intended for such debate, it tends to distract from the proper focus of the forum.

To those of you who advocate extreme punishments like life imprisonment for DUI in situations that only have a potential to cause harm, versus the more serious situations that result in actual harm, my sincere hope for you is that you will never have to face the terribly sad circumstance in which you or one of your children or loved ones is arrested for DUI.
 
beer4breakfast said:
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion and everyone has the right to express it and to advocate it. That's a good thing for us all. Unfortunately, it becomes impossible to discuss such differences of opinion in certain venues, such as this forum, because beliefs regarding crimes and punishments are rooted in political ideology, and politics is a forbidden topic here. And with good reason, since politics is one of the two most contentious topics that a forum might entertain. Unless the forum is intended for such debate, it tends to distract from the proper focus of the forum.

To those of you who advocate extreme punishments like life imprisonment for DUI in situations that only have a potential to cause harm, versus the more serious situations that result in actual harm, my sincere hope for you is that you will never have to face the terribly sad circumstance in which you or one of your children or loved ones is arrested for DUI.

I hope I never run into that situation myself but IMHO if penelties were much stronger maybe people would realize it's not a joke. Like I said above I'll give everyone a first "oh ****" . . . because as I have said before (maybe not here) drunk driving is like masterbation . . . everyone has done it at least once, and if ya say ya havent then you either a a liar OR you dont know what it is.

Hell I probably was breaking the law the other night when I drove home from a Union meeting. it wasnt the smartest thing to do but TBH I dont really regret doing it either. If I would have been pulled over and busted I wouldnt have had much to whine about though. I knew the risks, I made my decision, and I (probably) broke the law.

On the flip side . . . I also think the drinking age should be about 16 and the legal driving age should be 21, AND as much as it makes me want to choke (I'm not a big Europe fan, There were reasons our families left it) I think we should take a more European attitude to driving over here. They realize driving is a serious task and rarely will you see them doing something else when they are driving.
 
Pumbaa said:
I think we should take a more European attitude to driving over here. They realize driving is a serious task and rarely will you see them doing something else when they are driving.


That's so true, the average skill level of drivers over there is way higher than in north america.
 
As a "free" country, a lot of people think of driving as a right and not a priviledge. That being said, drunk driving is one of many problems drivers face today. Cell phones, dvd players and general inattentive driving makes me dread every trip we take up to New Jersey.


I hope that we see cars that can drive themselves in our lifetime.
 
Philisophically, I don't really like distinguishing between being in a situation with the POTENTIAL for harm (DUI, no accident, nobody hurt) versus one with actual harm (you kill someone). To my eye, the difference between the former and the latter is primarily a matter of luck - you didn't HAPPEN to run into someone this time (but would have if they were there). I also happen to believe that the punishments for crimes like attempted murder ought to be a lot closer to those for murder; should you receive leniancy because the bullet happened to miss a major organ?
 
Let's get this back on topic:
Mel_Gibson.jpg

image5c9c0392-bc6a-4fb0-b48f-351c2a4c1587.jpg

ap_8053352_43310.jpg

review142.jpg
 
I am ready to form a new organization: DAMM - Drinkers Against Mad Mothers

I am tired of my rights being taken away because existing laws are not enforced and because others happen to not approve of drinking.

This is a HOT issue for me. I had a brother killed by a drunk driver, but still know there are responsible drinkers out there.

THUMP (the sound of me getting off my soapbox)
 
Baron von BeeGee said:
Let's get this back on topic:
Mel_Gibson.jpg

image5c9c0392-bc6a-4fb0-b48f-351c2a4c1587.jpg

ap_8053352_43310.jpg

review142.jpg

I dont think they are cracking down on it more I think it's more of a media that has nothing better to do. With at least 4 24 hour cable news networks there just isnt that much to cover right now so when things get slow . . .

Except that last guy . . . he's someone to watch out for . . .
 
Interesting headline article in my local newspaper today. They described both drunk driving and driving under the influence. Drunk driving is .08 or above on breath or blood test. But you can receive a driving under influence citation for even a trace of alcohol. In either case you are going to have to get a good attorney to beat the case. And in either case that cost will run you upwards of $2500. I bet the laws are similar where you live. The driving under influence covers the cop and gives him descretion of judgment on the spot.

You sure don't want to get caught under the hidden clause of the law for driving under influence. If you had a beer and know you are not drunk, you can still lose under the letter of the law. Prescription and other drugs come into play if admitted to or if an accident occurs.
 
Baron, you are correct. I can add that seniors driving are a danger from such prescriptions as oral diabetic medications. We had an 82 year old killed yesterday flipping his car on the freeway after passing a car on the right and crossing two lanes left and over the center divide. A 16 year old girl killed herself last week from huffing keyboard air cleaner and crashing into a telephone pole. 2 passengers may recover. Our paper falsly claimed that 27,000 a year died from drunk driving. I find figures put that number more like 13,000. But fatalities are up in recent years from other under the influence causes....... cellphones being a major problem.
 
beer4breakfast said:
To those of you who advocate extreme punishments like life imprisonment for DUI in situations that only have a potential to cause harm, versus the more serious situations that result in actual harm, my sincere hope for you is that you will never have to face the terribly sad circumstance in which you or one of your children or loved ones is arrested for DUI.
I agree with the punishments being discussed here as extreme, impounding the car and taking the licience away is good enough. Big stigma attached to not being able to drive. Very limiting I would imagine in America where everybody seems to drive everywhere.

As for how I would feel if my kid or family or friends got arrested for DUI I would be more upset at them driving after drinking in the first place.

It really is not neccessary in todays world. If you have to drink and drive then there are other problems you need to address first.
 
Going back to the question at hand...

I don't think celebrities are drinking and driving more now. What's happening is that cops are under intense pressure to never let ANYONE slide on a DUI. It doesn't matter if you are the cop's neighbor or the cop's best friend on the force. If you pull a guy over for driving poorly, notice alcohol on his breath, let him go, and he kills someone, your department is going to have an 8 figure lawsuit.

You simply cannot let anyone slide on a DUI anymore. The nicest thing you could possibly do would be to take the guy's keys and tell him to walk or take a cab home. However, a few years back, a cop did that for his buddy and the buddy returned with an extra set of keys and hit someone with the car.

I have been in the back of a squad car while heavily intoxicated. I wasn't driving. I was on a train and I overslept my stop. The cop picked me up and took me to a hotel and got me a room. I'm sure he could've nailed me for public intox, but the truth was, I wasn't causing anybody any harm. I never thought I would even get that good of treatment from a cop, but it was definitely an enlightened view on his part. He was probably glad I knew better than to be driving. Anyway, that's my only run-in with the law involving alcohol.
 
Sorry to come back to some fairly off topic comments earlier, but i agree on a more European approach to driving and laws. My friend that i am staying with and i went to Munich last night and i got some beers with dinner and at the bar and he had none because he had to drive...3 hours later. I know that sounds extreme, but you sure dont hear too often of drunk driving problems here and dont have crazy organizations like MADD.

It comes down to luck and how well you handle your liquor. Both are somewhat out of your control so why take risks? What do i know though, i cant even legally drink in America yet. :p
 
We could have a European approach here. Just as soon as the suburbs can be reached via public transportation in less than 4 hours. Seriously, I was once house sitting for an uncle in Naperville and, wanting to go back into the city for a few beers, I checked the public transit. The only late night option to return would have been a 4 hour bus ride. Ok, so take a cab, right? Well, that night I overslept my stop, they wanted $140 for a cab ride back to the city. Yeah, I wayyyy overslept. The hotel was only about $65.

Anyway, so long as public transportation is inefficient, and other means are exhorbitantly expensive, I don't think the European model will work here... well, unless we start doing other things like raising the minimum wage and whatnot. Otherwise it just makes the whole class system in this country that much more austere.

The other difference between Europe and America is that, if I am dropped off on the opposite end of most European countries, I can make my way back, on foot, in a couple of days or so. That doesn't work here.
 
In fairness, most European countries have populations less then 50 years ago. So, the public transportation of that time has been easy to maintain. But, they also improved on the system that works. The US mostly abandoned public transit after WWII, in favor of cars. When the gas runs out or becomes too expensive, the USA will suffer most.

Apparently, in Europe, a car is not a right or privilege, but rather a luxury. In most cases a person can get by walking, public transit or bike. That is possible in only some of the smallest or largest cities in the US. And sidewalks and walkways are mostly things of the past in the US, so walking is a bad idea.

Actually, I prefer traveling by train or bus. But those services are more limited all the time. No train runs here and bus only twice a day. and very limited on towns in between. I have to go 26 miles to the bus stop too. So like everyone else, I drive.
 
Sometimes it's actually faster to travel across the country than from one suburb to another and back. Think about it. ORD to LAX takes 4 hours, plus 2 at the airport, plus an hour to get there. 7 hours. That's not much longer than it takes to go from Point A to Point B if you're stuck using 3 different public transportation companies without meshing schedules.

It is our size that makes things dramatically different than over in Europe. Europeans prefer to believe we are unenlightened, but typically they don't have an appreciation for the vastness of our country and what that means for travel and commuting. I'm not saying our system is better. Far from it! But what works there is simply untenable here. People need to drive more here. Although it does cause more deaths by DUI's and whatnot, from what I've seen, it also makes our economy substantially more efficient. Cell phone do too. I hate to say I support people talking and driving, but let's not kid ourselves about how much extra work an American can do if he can talk for the three hours that he's in his car. Sure, for you, maybe those conversations are pleasure and fun, but I'm not going to be the one to say that that is any less important to our happiness than closing an extra deal.

Overall, I think our system is pretty good for out situation. Could it be better? Sure. But it's not bad, given what we've got to work with...
 
Toot,
tis a fair call about having to rx and tx calls from a car, this is the nature of the world today - nothing stops for anything, most phones have a hand free option anyway.

Why is your economy more efficient if you need to drive more. I am confused! (by the way in case you read this wrong I am just interested - not having a go :)) ...you will know when I am having a go!
 
The German car companies could understand why Americans wanted cup holders in their cars. Like why would anyone be drinking coffee or soda when they are driving? The accidents increase with distractions. I have seen people driving and watching TV, though illegal. Law in Oregon is if you can hear a car's stereo is audible at 25 feet it is too loud. But who wants to hear approaching traffic while driving.

I have driven in over 50 countries. I rate the Germans as the best drivers, but very fast and hard for me to fit in. UK, France and other EU countries good. But Italy is hell especially in cities. Mexico is alright except as you near Mexico City. Asia and South America are good as is Australia. As an American, I place Americans as low performance drivers. But it varies. Generally the worst drivers are on both coasts. In Oregon, the worst drivers are displaying Alberta Canada license plates.

On the other hand it can't be said the laws in the US are too soft because we have more people in prison than any other country. More than 2 million. I am sure a good many for serious driving violations

I know most American drivers could not pass a drivers test in the UK as they require knowledge on car maintenance and repair as part of the exam.

The US is neither as vast nor sparse as Austrailia, Brazil or many other countries. Air travel and cars changed transportation in the US. I can still remember good rail and bus service in the 50's and 60's. But it all came to an end with Federally subsidized AmTrac and the loss of TrailWays and other bus services.
 
Genghis77 said:
On the other hand it can't be said the laws in the US are too soft because we have more people in prison than any other country. More than 2 million. I am sure a good many for serious driving violations

People get sent to prison for serious driving violations? This is news to me.
 
dibby33 said:
Toot,
tis a fair call about having to rx and tx calls from a car, this is the nature of the world today - nothing stops for anything, most phones have a hand free option anyway.

Why is your economy more efficient if you need to drive more. I am confused! (by the way in case you read this wrong I am just interested - not having a go :)) ...you will know when I am having a go!

It's cool. I thought someone might call me on that...

We drive more, but we take less public transportation. Therefore, we are not tied to other peoples' schedules to get around. Surely, you would agree that, from a business perspective, a car is more efficient than a public bus or a train. So, the ability to "move around" more is a benefit. I've never had a job where I didn't need my own car. Even if I was just pumping gas, I still needed a car becuse sometimes we had to go get stuff to fill a vending machine or whatever. I wouldn't want to lug 30 cases of soda on a public bus.

What's more, I could go at my leisure, the moment we had some down time. I could leave my house right at 7am (the time I was supposed to arrive at work), get to the supply shop, and be at work by 7:45 with the supplies. If I was taking public transportation, it would've been an hour and a half or more. Even if the public transport were good, there's still, undeniably, more waiting and walking to do.

Driving is more efficient from a business perspective, just less so from a social or environmental perspective.
 
beer4breakfast said:
People get sent to prison for serious driving violations? This is news to me.

I had a neighbor that killed 5 people while driving the wrong direction on the freeway. That was 8 years ago. He was sentenced to 17 years in the State Prison and permanent loss of driving privilege. No provision for parole or early release. He was taking medications for schizophrenia as well as bi-polar. Rightly he should have received a hospital sentence rather than prison. But this example proves that it does happen.

In Oregon the 4th DUII in 5 years requires a 1 year prison sentence. Not sure it is actually imposed though.
 
Toot said:
It's cool. I thought someone might call me on that...

We drive more, but we take less public transportation. Therefore, we are not tied to other peoples' schedules to get around. Surely, you would agree that, from a business perspective, a car is more efficient than a public bus or a train. So, the ability to "move around" more is a benefit. I've never had a job where I didn't need my own car. Even if I was just pumping gas, I still needed a car becuse sometimes we had to go get stuff to fill a vending machine or whatever. I wouldn't want to lug 30 cases of soda on a public bus.

What's more, I could go at my leisure, the moment we had some down time. I could leave my house right at 7am (the time I was supposed to arrive at work), get to the supply shop, and be at work by 7:45 with the supplies. If I was taking public transportation, it would've been an hour and a half or more. Even if the public transport were good, there's still, undeniably, more waiting and walking to do.

Driving is more efficient from a business perspective, just less so from a social or environmental perspective.

Good points. I suppose it depends on what your business is. I travelled a lot between Glasgow and Edinburgh and it was a lot easier to get the express train (one leaves every 15 min) and then a taxi if required. Could sleep on the train or read paper / make calls / drink beer...

There are big differences between where I come from and where you are. One is the amount of space - in Scotland most is crammed in to the cities and therefore it is more economical to have public transport than in America where everything seems so much more spread out and it would not be viable to have public transport linking it all on a regular basis.

Tasmania is a bit like Scotland. I get the bus to work each day (10min bus ride :rockin:). I am lucky enough to have a bus stop basically across the road from my house. It would take me longer to get my ute warmed up (she is 19 and likes to smoke a bit), drive through the traffic, park (pay AU$12) and then walk to work. Making the trip home with HB supplies strapped to my back can get a bit tiring though ;) esp with 8Kilos of DME like I did last week :D

Horses for courses and all that...

DUI is pretty rife here in Tas esp if you live far out of town. There are always random breath tests set up on the roads. My father in law was banned for 1 year - only blew 0.06 (limit is 0.05 here) but he was a regular and they threw the book at him. One of my mates has been on zero for 6 years and still has another 3 to go. He blew 0.26 I think.

I am getting thirsty!
 
In Sweden the allowable BAC is basically zilch. You're okay with one weak beer, but beyond that you would be illegal. However, as mentioned, the public transit is such that you can get most anywhere you need to go without driving, and going out on a bicycle is not too unusual nor does it carry any negative stigma.

The fact that a decent pint costs ~$7-8 is really the main obstacle over there...
 
Back
Top