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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cca!pbear!peterb
From: peterb@pbear.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: DWI Crackdowns
Message-ID: <6700025@pbear.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 01:49:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: pbear.6700025
Posted: Tue Jul 23 01:49:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 00:05:33 EDT
References: <378@kontron.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:kontron:-37800:pbear:6700025:000:3519
Nf-From: pbear!peterb    Jul 23 01:49:00 1985


The following is stated without belief in either side of the issue:

	Being a convicted first offense drunk-driver here in MA, I can state
FOR THE RECORD that all of you're plans won't make a dent in stopping the
rampant problem of drunken driving. First people have to realize that drunken
driving is not a social problem, it it a disease like venerial disease. No
one wants to talk about it, but everyone will admit it exists.

Here in MA every 12 MINUTES a person is arrested for OUI(Operating Under the
Influence).  That's 5 every hour, 140 per day, and 38000 per year! And this
is just in the STATE of MA. I'd love to see qhat it is like in the US.

I am not condoning the activity of drinking and driving, and I am not saying
it is bad or good; what I am saying is that it is something that has to be
reckoned with. Especially since soon(at this rate) we(the drunken driver's)
will become the majority and decide what to sentence you the un-drunk driver
with.

Do me a favor, get off your high horses and do some serious thinking. Don't
condemn a person without knowing the facts. Think of the extent of the impact
your idea may have on them(and yourself!). I think the sentences here in MA
are quite nasty by themself. For a first offense(with no extensions such as
accident/moving violations), the sentence I recieved is:

	150$ fine,
	30 day AUTOMATIC suspension (90 day if I refuse a breathalyzer
				     test),
	480$ enrollment charge for MA's Alcohol enrollment course,
	and 1 YEAR's probation.

This sits on my record for 7 years. Then it is expunged. I would like to
hear from other offenders out there on the net. Anybody want to drop me a
note regarding DWI??? I am open to flames/notes. If you start riding your
high horse, don't; I'm not in the mood. I'll pull out a flamethrower and
burn it out from under you.

	Sentencing a drunk driver to riding a motorcycle is not smart. I
have a license for both, and I can tell you that you gotta be sober to drive
a bike. I got picked off in a car, but if I had to drive a bike, I would not
have had those last few beers.

	But don't construe that as a deterent. If a person was impaired and
had his choice, he'd choose the car each time since his life would be safer
and his chances would be better. But if forced, then more people would die
needless deaths. If you think this is good since it removes another drunk
from the road, think about it; you're bringing yourself down to the level of
Hitler in that you are expunging a bad attribute from the "race".

	Also since a motorcycle can travel FAR faster than the speed limit,
and can kill far more than a car would... A FJ1100 by Yamaha can truck along
at about 150 mph, and weighs about 790 pounds(depending on accessories).
With the formula of 1/2 M V^2, it would have about the same impact as a car
that weighed 7110 pounds travelling at 50 mph. This is about twice the
impact of a standard car of this year's make at the same speed. It's not
just the weight of the vehicle, but the speed is relavant also.

	Until people properly address the problem, I think that the
sentences imposed are proper and fair. There can be improvements, but that
takes time, and it is being covered and corrected.

I am open to ideas regarding public awareness of the issue and ideas to
preventive/corrective measures.

Peter Barada
{ihnp4!inmet|{harvard|cca}!ima}!pbear!peterb

Ps - If you're gonna flame, take the time to pull the pin from the grenade
      since someone else will pull it for you and send it back...