[billybob123]

Originally Posted by GGG

As someone who got a DUI in my youth I would argue that the consequences don't matter because you don't consider them. The problem is that I can rationally tell and could at the time that it was stupid but when drunk that logic would go out the window. The impairment impairs your ability to decide if it's a good idea.

Agreed - this is why judgement calls are terrible ideas. People consider that "I'm fine" but how does one know they're "fine"? He or she doesn't. They're impaired!

So two things I think would be effective. Make it less socially acceptable to drive drunk. This guys friends probably knew he was getting in the car. This comes through education and I almost want to say bullying of people you know who drink and drive.

I disagree heartily with you here. It is not, nor has it ever in my life (I'm 38) been socially acceptable to drive drunk. Never. Everyone under the age of 40 has had it drilled into their heads that impaired driving is dangerous. When I was in high school, we had an 18-year old come to talk to us about how he killed his friends in a crash. There are commercials on TV. There are advertisements in the bars and pubs. It is socially unacceptable.

The way to eliminate the few who don't listen is to make it draconian punishment if one attempts to do it. Fear is a good motivator!

The second is better enforcement if you caught someone drinking and driving the first time they did it, or at least the probability of getting caught was 1/10 instead of 1/1000 or worse that would drastically curb it. Why doesn't McLeod trail have a checkstop every Friday and Saturday from 11-4?

Unfortunately cost-wise it's not practical. I agree, though, if people are fearful of getting caught and fearful of being imprisoned, it might deter the dummies who didn't get the message already that DUI is a no go.

I have particular hatred for irresponsible drunks who drive and endanger everyone. I have no sympathy, I have no compassion, I have no leniency.

I have lost two friends to irresponsible chronic drunk drivers. Two innocent people who missed out on their entire life. Children, marriage, travel, career. Because of ignorant ass drunks (repeatedly convicted) who killed them. One of whom spent less than a year in jail for murdering my friend. While driving on a suspended license, from a previous DUI conviction.

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Totes. After the raging success mandatory minimums enjoyed in curbing drug use and distribution in the USA, finally we'll have the society we all want and deserve!

Hang on, are you implying that drug use and distribution laws have anything to do with the reckless endangerment of the innocent public that drunk driving causes? Apples and oranges. I could care less about alcohol consumption and distribution. I care about safeguarding my, your, and everyone's safety on the roads because of irresponsible drunks who decide to drive impaired.

And I feel the same way about drug-impaired drivers. Impairment is impairment.