Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowboy89
On another note, the real reason why we dont' have tougher sentancing and consequences for drunk driving is because the silent majority doesn't deem it necessary to do so. Already we have DUI laws that violate the Charter (Blowing between 0.05 and 0.08, though still technically legal they still unconstitutionally impound your vehicle). With regards to tougher sentancing: not until aggrivated sexual assualt, Manslaughter, Second Degree Murder, and First Degree Murder charges have severly tougher sentances that get better enforced as well. The public will find it hard to believe that the Karla Homolka's of the world are somehow on par with someone who gets smashed behind the wheel.
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I personally think its a symptom of a sick and troubled society when tax evasion can carry a higher sentence than rape. The fact that the theory of rehabilitation takes precedence over protection of society and the rights of victims is concerning too, which is why we have such pathetic sentencing on the crimes you have listed.
I also think its truly sick that the police can call "speed on green" fundraising a safety measure, when they cut corners on enforcing actual traffic infractions, gang violence and property crime enforcement. Speed is always a factor in collisions, whether its above or below a posted speed limit. Going 90 on Deerfoot can easily kill just as much as going 100 or more. Yes, the faster you go, the greater the momentum and more devastating the impact, but once we're talking any high speed, the velocity and momentum are deadly. There's also the braking time/reaction time argument, but there's such a deviation between vehicle braking ability as well as driver reaction time, any high speed, even a "legal" one, can be dangerous. There is a clear distinction though between speeding and excessive speeding. Joe Blow doing 120 on Deerfoot is clearly speeding, but its hardly excessive. Buddy ######bag doing 180 on Deerfoot is excessive, and that is dangerous. Essentially, anything that carries a required court appearance.
Deadly collisions are primarily caused by excessive speed, alcohol abuse, driver distraction/failure and dangerous road conditions, not a sober and alert driver doing 81 on 14th St. SW in ideal conditions. Yet, I see the police/city/province doing very little about cracking down on those issues and outright lying to the public about what they are doing.