Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site burl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!houxm!mhuxt!mhuxr!ulysses!burl!rcj From: rcj@burl.UUCP (Curtis Jackson) Newsgroups: net.legal Subject: Re: DWI Crackdowns Message-ID: <803@burl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 19:13:38 EDT Article-I.D.: burl.803 Posted: Wed Aug 14 19:13:38 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 21-Aug-85 05:50:18 EDT References: <202@SCIRTP.UUCP> <378@kontron.UUCP> <586@ttidcc.UUCP> Reply-To: rcj@burl.UUCP (Curtis Jackson) Organization: AT&T Technologies, Burlington NC Lines: 77 Summary: In article <1785@bmcg.UUCP> bobn@bmcg.UUCP (Bob Nebert) writes: >I think it is incredible that you can determine that a person is driving >while under the influence of alcohol at a level above the allowed limit >just by watching their car. I hope your beer can dosen't get in your >way while you are watching them. Obviously if the person is staying in between the little lines I can't tell. It's when they are obviously weaving badly that I'm concerned. >I happen to work at certain times of the month, three jobs, to support >my family. I get about four hours of sleep at those times and I weave >at night because I'm tired. I worry about driving because my reactions >are slower than normal. The front end on the van I drive needs work and >when I have the extra money I'll have it done. Now along comes somebody >and calls the cops because I'm driving while drunk and that person had >to put down his beer to call the cops. Shame on you Mr. Hypocrite. Then you are no better at that point than a drunk driver; supporting your family or no. As for "Mr. Hypocrite", you notice that I would be calling in suspecting that you were driving DRUNK, not DRINKING WHILE DRIVING, which was the point of my whole article. >I hate to be the one to tell you but the average human body disperses >1 (one) oz of booze ( one 12 oz can of beer) in one hour thru sweat, breath >and urine. If you have 2 cans during 45 minutes I'll bet somebody's pay >check that you are LEGALLY driving while drunk. I'm sure they are 12 oz >cans and not 16 oz. Hmmmmm. Doesn't jive with the figures I've heard, but just to be safe I'll cut it down to one at a maximum. Thanks. >The spirit or the letter of the law has no difference to a parent whose >child has been driven over by a person whose reactions have been slowed >by alcohol. Not only reactions but judgement and the entire thinking >process. Agreed. People shouldn't drive DRUNK. Having a (singular) beer on the way home from work does not drop judgement or thinking even as much as being tired. BTW, I do NOT have any beer on the way home if I am very tired. >This last statement really irritated me, sorry. Nobody ever said that people >who dress shabby are potential muggers. I'm saying people who drink and then >climb behind the wheel run a higher risk of an accident. LORD IT'S ROUGH >ENOUGH OUT THERE ALREADY. That might be the only clothes that person has but >NOBODY forced anybody to buy and then drink while driving. Bad analogy on my part; but I think you really did get my point. I can see yours as well -- I definitely want to disallow homosexual men from giving blood to the Red Cross going on the assumption that they (could) have AIDS. But in that case all I'm doing is saying, "Sorry; can't use your blood." In the case of open container laws, I get fined even though I'm not drunk and not posing a threat to anyone. That is not police work (keep the peace, protect the people, serve and protect, all that rot); that's blind law enforcement. >To pose a situation, let's say you just finish your second beer and your >about two blocks from home. You hear a noise off to the left and just for >a second you look. In that second a child wanders in front of your car. It >happens enough so bear with me. You hit and kill. The childs mother or father >comes running up and you smell like beer. >The police come of course and off you go for testing. Your blood count is >below the limit. Now granted this can happen even if you never had any beer >but the only thing these parents know is you were drunk. >And you have to live knowing the that maybe, just maybe if you wern't drinking >your reactions would be different. What if I wasn't drinking at all but just dropped a hot cigarette ash on my pants? (I don't smoke, though, do you? While driving?) What if it is you when you are coming home from that third job? What if it is morning and you look down to pick up your coffee cup for a half-second? Life is a bitch that we can minimize; but there are definite tradeoffs. Eating, smoking, and a beer on the way home from work are in my mind quite acceptable. -- The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3313 (Cornet 291) alias: Curtis Jackson ...![ ihnp4 ulysses cbosgd mgnetp ]!burl!rcj ...![ ihnp4 cbosgd akgua masscomp ]!clyde!rcj