Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
the intent of what I put up is actually an attempt to reduce jail usage and get people to face what they've done and add an element of showing how unbelievably unacceptable their actions are.
There are lots of educational programs out there, there are ads on T.V. every single night about the effects of drinking and driving and nobody pays attention.
Making drunk drivers interact with their victims and society and taking away their ability to drive is the only way in conjunction with education that will get the message across.
I think you have to shock the crap out of someone on their first offense and show them the cost of making a selfish decision.
The only other alternatives to me are to either imprison them or bring back corporal punishment and whip them.
While adding more taxi's and more transits might cut down, there's still a hardcore bunch of idiots that drive drunk because they believe they're ok, they don't give a crap or the old "Man I need my car tomorrow to go to work"
There are certain crimes where you really have to face the possible results of your self centered action, and be shamed, and hammered financially.
Education by itself isn't enough.
Most people that I've known that have driven drunk and gotten caught and sent to things like driver education laugh it off. Go to court and claim hardship on a license suspension and don't care.
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I'm not saying education by itself. I'm not even over estimating how effective it is. The message is out there. I'm not sure how much more education is needed or would help. All I'm saying is stiffer penalties probably won't amount to a lick. Do these people deserve it? Probably, though that's always a dangerous attitude in crime and punishment. The big question is, will it work? I don't see it, for the reasons I listed before.
I guess where our outlooks differ is in what you mentioned about first time offenders. I've known a few people who got caught and shaped up. I don't doubt you know a few that went the other way, but would a stronger 2nd penalty help? It's already 3 year suspension now, 2500-5000 in fines and lots more punishments if you cause injury or damage. Not to mention it's a criminal charge right from the 1st offence. If people aren't paying attention to that, they wont pay attention to worse punishments.
I like your idea about drunk drivers having to face aspects of society that have been hurt by it, but that's actually just as much, or more, education as it is punishment.
The problem is the addicting nature of booze, and the fact it impairs your decision making. It's basically the perfect storm to caue people to try and get away with it. And I'm not sure how you crack that nut.
Lastly, I'd add that if the plan is scaring people after the first offence, you've already lost. You want to stop people before they ever offend.
It's a tough issue for sure. It may not be fixed till we're all using self driving cars. We just have to do our best in the meantime. Which is probably more options and education. And maybe better policing.