[*BCM*] Drunk driver gets 10 1/2 years for killing cyclist

[Jon Ramos]

I second that.  Driving is a privilidge, not a right, but many rulings are leiniant because (like Jym said) the offender "needs" to drive.

My father was a repeat DWI offender in NH.  The state only took his license away after being caught 3 times! (he was only *CAUGHT* 3 times) And when they finally did take away his license, it was only for 6 months, and he drove that whole time without a license anyway.  It needs to be made clear to drivers that it is NOT an american right to drive.  I think we should impound offender's cars, and provide them with a nice steel commuter bicycle.

I love my dad.  Eventually he was sucessfully rehabilitated from his alcoholism, but it took 3 times being caught, thousands of dollars of fines, 3 heart attacks (he also had eating / smoking problems), and my mom threatening a divorce to get him to wake up.  

He is also losing his eyesight, and he has extremely slow reflexes... yet he still drives, but that is a different discussion.

- Jon


----- Original Message ----
From: Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org>
To: Boston CM <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 4:15:47 PM
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Drunk driver gets 10 1/2 years for killing cyclist

> She got caught driving drunk once, and her license was
> taken away. Not convinced at this point that driving drunk
> was a bad idea, she decided to do it again without the
> benefit of a driver's license this time.
>
> She killed someone.

=v= The situation is even worse, because there are plenty of
judges around who are lenient on dangerous drivers (not just
the drunks) because the offender "needs" to drive.  The drunk
and bad drivers I'm acquainted with only had their licenses
taken away after multiple offenses.

=v= And they all went on to drive anyway.  Personally I think
they need to have their cars taken away as well.
    <_Jym_>

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