newsobserver.com projects - drunk driving - Comments

One for the road.

domewatcher — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:06:21 -0400

Might help the poor folk because I don't think rich folk ever lose their licenses for drunk driving. There seems to be something about rich folk that the court system likes. I've never figured it out. Must be their manners.

Re: 9th chance for habitual drunk drivers

GiggleBox — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:41:58 -0400

Excuse me, I'm a little slow.

That's okay. Cary Allred is fast enough for all of us.

Re: 2nd chance for habitual drunk drivers

NativeTheel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:40:03 -0400

Excuse me, I'm a little slow.

How are people, who have lost their license for being a habitual drunk driver, able to legally drive so that they can accumulate a clean driving record over 10 years.

Doesn't lost mean lost?

Note to Drunk Drivers

GiggleBox — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:43:36 -0400

Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat and a lawyer, recalled representing a friend who would stop drinking after being charged with DWI and started again when he got his license back.

Don't hire Tony Rand.

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

Gosh — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:51:57 -0400

Gosh - Criminal penalties are defined by statute (which are passed by the GA). Thus it is not the GA dictating in the realm of the courts if they were to mandate a night in jail.

PJ - I'm old enough to remember a time before mandatory minimum sentencing, when Judges were among our most revered public servants that were trusted to weigh evidence and mitigating factors alike in administering justice equitably and fairly. Now a vending machine could hand out one size fits all punishment.

I realize mandatory minimum sentencing has been all the rage since the mid-80's, but I'm no fan of shifting decision making authority from those trained to fairly interpret the Constitution and administer justice to politicians and their populist appeals to the dumbest among us.

Note, I'm all for harsh sentences when deserved. I just doubt justice is served by forcing a judge to send a 73-year old Lahja Pohjoisrinne, arrested for DUI to jail as opposed to mental treatment. Just the first example that came up in Google. Stuff really does happen, and the presiding Judge is always the best arbitrator of the details.

We don't want to take the same path with alcohol with did with crack cocaine in 1986. That worked out so well.

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

jejohn8 — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:38:37 -0400

just don't blow

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

cornbread — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:41:03 -0400

How will the Senator pay for these increased penalities and jail nights?

Perhaps an increase in the alcohol tax?

I request a fiscal note.

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

pjpuryear — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:14:56 -0400

Gosh - Criminal penalties are defined by statute (which are passed by the GA). Thus it is not the GA dictating in the realm of the courts if they were to mandate a night in jail.

My question is which breathalyzer is used (the one at the scene or the one at the station).

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:02:34 -0400

It would be if you are convicted, not the night of the charge.

— RTB

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

Gosh — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:02:05 -0400

RTB, does this mean a mandatory night in jail after a conviction or the immediate night of the charge?

If the night of the charge, that's sentencing without a conviction.

If after the conviction, that's the legislature dictating in the realm of courts.

Either way, don't these over reaching authoritarians have a budget to balance?

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

captainjack — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:35:01 -0400

I think we should give a free get out of jail card to all those who participate in the liquor tastings at the ABC Store. It would not be fair to penalize those who were sampling the cooking liquors. Now the people who are drinking for other than cooking reasons, they're fair game!

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

RalGeoff — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:24:36 -0400

.20? if you have enough motor skills to take the test at .20, you need some kind of a wake up call anyway. I think .1 while driving should be adequate for one night in the drunk tank.

Re: Blow a .20? Go to jail

domewatcher — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:16:45 -0400

I am all for this!

I read where some dozen or so people had their cars confiscated for racing on the highways. The threat of having your car confiscated should make people think.

I have no sympathy whatsoever for those who drink and drive! Tougher penalties.....yes!!!!!! If we confiscate cars for racing, then why not for driving down the same road drunk.

If we confiscated all drunk driver's cars, the state could sell them and close the budget gap.

Re: Boylan: 'My name is Joe'

Lydiaowen — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:01:10 -0400

Joe has many friends and loyal supporters in Moore County. We believe in him, and fully support his efforts to tackle his issues with alcohol. Joe has a bright future. We haven't seen or heard the last of him.

Re: Hi Joe

Isaac136 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:17:12 -0400

What cyber giggling? Are you posting an objection here to comments on another forum?