Paris Hilton out of jail

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

When I was living in Norway, the penalty for drunk driving was a month in jail and a year's salary in fine (you're fined according to how much you earn there). And the blood alcohol limit is 0.02. Needless to say, people don't even sniff alcohol if they plan on driving later that day.

Sounds like a great idea to me. To me, drunk-driving is barely below Manslaughter.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

a year's salary in fine (you're fined according to how much you earn there).

I like that idea. Having the fines relative to your salary makes sense. It's a joke when the NHL, for example, fines players $10,000. When you make an average of a couple million dollars a season. The fine is chump change. It's almost as ridiculous as suing a Mom and Pop dry cleaners for $54 million because they lost your pants. But really, who would do that anyway?

[Cowperson]

One guy in Finland paid $204,000 USA for a DUI based on income.

Cowperson

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

One guy in Finland paid $204,000 USA for a DUI based on income.

Cowperson

Doesn't Teemu Selanne hold the record for the world's most expensive speeding ticket based on the same idea?

[ken0042]

Speaking of fines relative to your salaries- I think this is why they are making an example of Paris in this case. If they fine her $10K then daddy could just write a cheque. No lesson learned. But jail is jail no matter how you slice it.

[Cowperson]

It's not really an issue of going to jail since that's common in her circumstances . . . . . it's how long she's in jail.

Clearly, based on the evidence, ignoring all the histrionics surrounding her reputation which should have nothing to do with the argument, she's being treated quite a bit more harshly than you would be in similar circumstances.

I'm not crying over her fate but . . . . .

Cowperson

[ken0042]

True enough CP. I suppose my thinking is that because of who she is, she was previously given special treatment that you or I may not have received. Getting busted driving under a suspended license- do you really think either of us would be allowed to just sign a note saying we promise not to do it again?

Then again, perhaps I am being a bit of a vendictive SOB.

[Burninator]

Could this lead to other people convicted of crimes having to actually serve out their minimum sentence? To be honest, I didn't really know that people would serve a couple days out of a month and a half sentence. I was unaware that most of them got out really early. At first I thought it was celebrity preferential treatment, but it seems like the opposite now.

Is it possible that this has raised awareness of this happening? Maybe Paris going to jail will prompt something to change? I really hope she doesn't come out of this looking like the victim.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

It's not really an issue of going to jail since that's common in her circumstances . . . . . it's how long she's in jail.

Clearly, based on the evidence, ignoring all the histrionics surrounding her reputation which should have nothing to do with the argument, she's being treated quite a bit more harshly than you would be in similar circumstances.

I'm not crying over her fate but . . . . .

Cowperson

I agree completely. It seems she's paying the price for so many other celebrities that have gotten off with the proverbial slap on the wrist. Eventually us common folk get upset at the unfairness and someone has to be made an example of. I think in Paris's case its a combination of Russel Crowe, Winona Ryder and others getting off with seemingly little or no consequence and her image as a spoiled brat that's fueling the public bloodlust. In turn this creates pressure on those involved to treat her more harshly than your average person.

But I, for one, can certainly understand and even appreciate the public's pleasure with seeing someone like her get knocked off her pedestal. It may not be blind justice, but it certainly is poetic.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I like that idea. Having the fines relative to your salary makes sense. It's a joke when the NHL, for example, fines players $10,000. When you make an average of a couple million dollars a season. The fine is chump change. It's almost as ridiculous as suing a Mom and Pop dry cleaners for $54 million because they lost your pants. But really, who would do that anyway?

I agree; I think its a good system. If you want to reduce drunk driving or speeding or anything, you have to give consequences that have meaning. Like you pointed out, a $1000 fine to someone who earns $200K a year is hardly a meaningful consequence. By linking the fine to his income, it becomes very easy to make the consequences meaningful.

Also, on the flip side of the coin, its also a way to keep the system fair. In the previous example, the $1000 fine to a student who earns only $4000 a year is a pretty severe penalty. By linking the fine to this persons income, we can be certain that the personal impact of the fine to both the rich man and the student is the same.

[Cowboy89]

It really boggles the mind why these people drive when they're smashed. It's not like they dont' have the money to call a posh version of drivers choice. Lohan especially, when it turns out her bodyguard was with her the entire night. Why the hell would she drive herself when her employees are there on duty and able to drive?

[REDVAN]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/0...ase/index.html

Sorry I don't know how to insert a link that is called something different, ie/ Paris Out of jail.

Anyway, now that she is actually out of jail, I can't help but be optimistic. Maybe she actually won't be so dumb anymore. One thing is for sure- she looks happy in the pictures getting released, so let's see if anything good does come of this for her.

[Bobblehead]

MSNBC morning newscaster, Mika Brzezinski, refused to report on Paris Hilton.

MSNBC video of the "incident"

[peter12]

Wow, what a couple of good ole' boys on either side of her.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

MSNBC morning newscaster, Mika Brzezinski, refused to report on Paris Hilton.

MSNBC video of the "incident"

US Magazine, a sleezy tabloid if there ever was one, has edited all mention of Paris Hilton from its coming edition . . . . which is obviously a publicity stunt in itself.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rtainment/home

Cowperson

[feartheflames]

Paris Hiltons interview was horrible, she came across as unintelligent and to some degree and somewhat contrived, she kept repeating the same things over and over again and didn't say anything substantial. Yes she has a harsh sentence but life is hard.