Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
I'm a bit less "lock them up and throw away the key" then you guys. Stiffer sentencing is okay but lets not get carried away on the first timers.
Most of these people are just idiots but they're not violent criminals. People make really, really dumb mistakes.
2nd or 3rd DUI's on the other hand, go nuts. They should definitely never be able to drive again and some jail time is definitely warranted.
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I think most people struggle with the fact that yes, even though it is a "mistake", that same mistake can take away countless lives.
444 people were killed and 6,649 people were injured from alcohol related collisions from 2009-2013 in Alberta alone. In 2013 alone, 80 people were killed. That's more than 1.5 people a week.
The "mistake" is playing with fire and somehow people think its still acceptable. CDC has a stat where they figure the average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 (!!) times before their first arrest.
I don't know where the happy medium is when it comes to sentencing. But people, especially those who were picked up at a roadside/pulled over by cops/non-injury accident/etc., need to realize how serious of a crime this is and the incredible potential they put themselves (legally, physically, etc.) and the general public in.
I don't know how much more public awareness, etc. can really happen. MADD Canada has a budget of 16 million dollars. 11+ million of that is spent on "Public Education & Awareness, and research". Never mind the amount of money police/provincial government/federal government put in to these initiatives as well.
Again, I'm not saying lock them up and throw away the key, but there is an incredible problem with drunk driving in this city, in this province, and in this country.