Driving Under the Influence

[shermanator]

From the perspective of personal responsibility, which is all we as individuals can do....

....take the decision out of your hands altogether before you have that first drink. Alcohol impairs your judgement. You cannot trust yourself to do the right thing when impaired. Even if drunk you has made the correct decision 100 times before, one time drunk you will make the wrong decision and it can have catastrophic results.

Two ubers is a hell of a lot cheaper than the impound fee, which is cheaper than the fine, which is cheaper than the consequences if you hurt or kill someone.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Blow boxes are not a 'one and done' solution when installed in a vehicle. While you're driving, they will periodically require you to pull over and re-blow to confirm you haven't been drinking while driving (called a 'rolling retest').

I know this because my cousin got a DUI and had to get one of these installed in his Civic some 15 years ago in Manitoba.

Mandatory blow boxes for those convicted of a DUI, 100% onboard for that. For everyone? Not a chance.

I’m sure the technology could be updated.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by shermanator

From the perspective of personal responsibility, which is all we as individuals can do....

....take the decision out of your hands altogether before you have that first drink. Alcohol impairs your judgement. You cannot trust yourself to do the right thing when impaired. Even if drunk you has made the correct decision 100 times before, one time drunk you will make the wrong decision and it can have catastrophic results.

Two ubers is a hell of a lot cheaper than the impound fee, which is cheaper than the fine, which is cheaper than the consequences if you hurt or kill someone.

The city makes it difficult to just leave a car overnight.

This really is a situation where the city can help by providing people with more options for both transport and overnight parking.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Locke

I think we need to focus on the 'driving part.'

People will complain about drinking but humanity has been drinking or otherwise intoxicating itself since the dawn of time. Thats not going anywhere, its essentially just a part of the Human Condition.

Its the driving bit we should be focusing on.

As someone who is drug free and alcohol free, I don't find this argument all that compelling.

I'm not in favor of prohibition or anything close to it, but raising taxes on booze and other recreational drugs to pay for increased education and awareness campaigns, seems like a good idea. Plus giving police officers more of a mandate to do spot checks and pull people over suspected of drunk driving. They already can do it, but they need to do more of it.

And of course anyone with a DUI should not be allowed to drive any vehicle without a blower installed in it.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

For what it's worth, currently:

First offence is $1,000 fine (possibly cost costs and victim fine surcharge), one year nation-wide driving prohibtion, and a criminal record.

Second offence 30 days, plus driving prohibition.

There offence is 120 days, plus driving prohibition.

If your readings are high, the fine increases.

If you refuse a valid breath or blood demand, minimum fine doubles to $2,000.

If you drive while prohibited, at least around here, you're going to jail.

It's so not worth it.

If you're in an accident and kill someone, you're going to a federal penitentiary.

The sentences aren't rinky-dinky, but even if they were harsher it wouldn't make a different. Most people don't know what's set out above, so how does making the penalty stiffer deter?

All that said, first offence you can apply and install the interlock device at your own cost (I believe the fine must be paid first, but I could be mistaken on that). Second offence and beyond the court needs to grant you the ability to have it installed.

The interlock program is provincial so it may vary province to province.

That said. Get a cab. It's cheaper than a grand, bo possible jail sentence, you'll be able to drive in the morning, and still travel internationally without worry.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I’m sure the technology could be updated.

... okay? Updated for what? That's not a bug, it's literally how they're supposed to work. If you don't want people getting into the car while drunk, you probably don't want them getting into the car sober and getting drunk off road-rockets either.

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Plus giving police officers more of a mandate to do spot checks and pull people over suspected of drunk driving. They already can do it, but they need to do more of it.

Bill C-46 already empowers them to do this, and it was announced CPS would back in 2018.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

As someone who is drug free and alcohol free, I don't find this argument all that compelling.

I'm not in favor of prohibition or anything close to it, but raising taxes on booze and other recreational drugs to pay for increased education and awareness campaigns, seems like a good idea. Plus giving police officers more of a mandate to do spot checks and pull people over suspected of drunk driving. They already can do it, but they need to do more of it.

And of course anyone with a DUI should not be allowed to drive any vehicle without a blower installed in it.

Its not an argument. I'm not condoning drinking and driving whatsoever, I'm simply pointing out that humanity has been finding ways to get drunk or stoned since the dawn of time.

They've found Egyptian breweries that are thousands of years old.

https://www.amazon.ca/Drunk-Sipped-D.../dp/0316453382

Its a really good book.

But as I said, we have to look to curb the 'driving' part. The drinking isn't going anywhere.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

In the wake of this sort of tragedy people always call for more severe sentencing. But that won’t move the needle. It’s not as though people who are drunk and getting behind the wheel make an assessment that it’s worth spending 10 years in prison if they kill someone, but they’ll find another way home if they’re looking at 20 years.

So, I think the actual penalty that needs to be more severe is just with regard to licensing status - just permanently revoke your license on the first offence. I suspect part of the problem is that prison seems like a remote possibility that people have difficulty applying to themselves, like picturing what it would be like to be a billionaire as opposed to pitcturing what it would be like to win 10,000 dollars.

Second, there are other vectors for this. I used to work the door at a place where a regular customer was killed by a drunk driver while walking home on the side of the road, he was too intoxicated to drive so he left his car there. Thereafter, anyone who was served more than 4 units of alcohol was asked if they were driving, and if not, they could have their drink... but I would then have to offer to call them a cab, and if they tried to drive, call the police and give them their license plate info. That showed me how many of these pricks (and it was 98% guys, unsurprisingly) are out there. But even placing a somewhat higher burden on pubs and restaurants is something that could be done.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by blankall

The city makes it difficult to just leave a car overnight.

This really is a situation where the city can help by providing people with more options for both transport and overnight parking.

I'm saying don't drive down in the first place. Even if you intend to leave your car overnight, drunk you has a non zero chance of going back to your car and putting the keys in.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by shermanator

I'm saying don't drive down in the first place. Even if you intend to leave your car overnight, drunk you has a non zero chance of going back to your car and putting the keys in.

I agree. I never drive to a restaurant or bar to meet friends. I do see it as an issue though, where people end up drinking after work and then the city doesn't provide many options for them to ditch their cars. I take the bus into work, but when I lived in Calgary, that wasn't an option. Calgary's transit system almost shut down post-rush hour. Uber clearly provides a big option.

I'm not in any way taking responsibility away from drunk drivers, but do think the cities could do more to create other travel options and to accommodate parking after hours.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its not an argument. I'm not condoning drinking and driving whatsoever, I'm simply pointing out that humanity has been finding ways to get drunk or stoned since the dawn of time.

They've found Egyptian breweries that are thousands of years old.

https://www.amazon.ca/Drunk-Sipped-D.../dp/0316453382

Its a really good book.

But as I said, we have to look to curb the 'driving' part. The drinking isn't going anywhere.

Humans have been doing all kinds of ####ty things since the dawn of time. Doesn't mean we shouldn't try to suppress and discourage those behaviours.

Not that having a drink is a ####ty behaviour per se, but making a habit of getting #### face drunk is something that we should frown upon as a society. We currently don't.

Two things I'd very much suggest is raising taxes on booze and other rec drugs, and banning advertising of such things (just like we ban advertising tobacco).

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

... okay? Updated for what? That's not a bug, it's literally how they're supposed to work. If you don't want people getting into the car while drunk, you probably don't want them getting into the car sober and getting drunk off road-rockets either.

Something that only requires a blow when you start the vehicle is going to reduce the number of drunk drivers dramatically.

[Muta]

I've always thought purely from a safety standpoint, the City should have parking times on Saturdays and Sunday start at 9 AM or later. This gives people the incentive to not drive their cars home the night before for fear of getting a ticket, which is something people consider when making that choice (as dumb as that sounds, but it's a real thing). If someone is incentivized to not drive and take a cab or Uber instead, it should absolutely be in place.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by blankall

The city makes it difficult to just leave a car overnight.

This really is a situation where the city can help by providing people with more options for both transport and overnight parking.

More ubiquitous self driving or heavily discounted taxi/uber service that caters to those under the influence could work, but I think some of the issues relating to the DUI aspect is inconvenience and ego. Sometimes, money isn't the issue, its the principal of paying the money to certain services that upsets some people.

I've also wondered if a service that allows you to have your vehicle towed to a special lot that you can pick up later (but not an impound lot). Like something attached to your City of Calgary parking app that is verified that you have the right to make such decisions so these tow trucks aren't haphazardly towing vehicles it shouldn't. You wouldn't have to rush out while hung over and potentially still drunk because you parked in a space that needs your vehicle to be moved by 8-10AM (I'll take a pic of the parking number and then I'll use the park plus app to park for like 1-2 hours in the morning for some cushion before picking it up).

I know there is a service where you can get someone to drive your car home, but the $55-80+ charge is enough that some people would rather try and save the amount. I wonder if it could work where certain parking lots where you could hire someone to pick up your car and drop it off there for cheaper than driving it home service and have reasonable rates for leaving your vehicle there for up to 24 hours (ie: A higher minimum parking fee, but lower long term parking fee). If the city subsidized that type of option and a bunch of Uber guys hung out in that area who were also part of that pick up program, I wonder if uptake on such a service would increase if it was <$30.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Something that only requires a blow when you start the vehicle is going to reduce the number of drunk drivers dramatically.

You wonder if we can get it to a point where it's done electronically, rather than attached to the vehicle, so it's just basically an extra step before pushing your ignition button. Obviously would only be used in newly produced vehicles. The problem is that it's just another thing that can go wrong and make a car not start when it should via malfunction.

I mean we're heading toward a dystopia where all your vital info is tracked via some sort of implanted fitbit-esque device anyway, might as well link it to your mode of transport.

[MoneyGuy]

Blow box + DUI gets a lifetime driving ban, problem solved. Do it!

[rohara66]

Month or so ago I called 911 on an erratic driver, I suspected drunk, and they could not have cared less.



I was passed off onto the non emergency number, then put on hold for more then a few minutes, then was made to feel like I was being a total inconvenience.


That'll be the last time I call in a drunk driver.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

This winder I called in an erratic driver to 911 when I was just west of town and they took it very seriously, so I guess it varies based on operator.

[TheIronMaiden]

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Month or so ago I called 911 on an erratic driver, I suspected drunk, and they could not have cared less.

I was passed off onto the non emergency number, then put on hold for more then a few minutes, then was made to feel like I was being a total inconvenience.


That'll be the last time I call in a drunk driver.

I had a Drunk Driver plow into my parked car, in front of my house, in the middle of the night, he hit it so hard it was shoved 3 driveways down, onto it's roof and spun 180 degrees.

I have photos.

All on video.

You know what the Cops said?

"When we got here he was wandering around the street so we cant put him behind the wheel."

That fun little incident cost me a lot of aggravation and money for no fault of my own. Still pisses me off to this day.