Drunk drivers need tougher penalties.

[Archae]

Back when I was still in High School, I would hear other guys laughing and joking about driving really drunk, "Getting home on autopilot."

Some of them simply grew out of this.

Others were killed or maimed in accidents.

Still others ended up in jail after killing or maiming another driver.

Others are in AA.

Dashcam shows head-on collision involving Wisconsin police cruiser

MIDDLETON, Wis. (WMTV/Gray News) - Police in Wisconsin have released a dashcam video that shows the moments that led up to a head-on collision involving a police cruiser.

WMTV reports the Middleton Police Department said a patrol officer and a dispatcher were hurt in a Feb. 15 collision and taken to the hospital for treatment. They both had minor injuries and were released.

The police department described the video as “yet another reminder of the dangers of operating while intoxicated,” noting that this was the fifth cruiser involved in a collision with someone subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

In this instance, a 26-year-old man was charged with operating while intoxicated, operating while left of center and operating after revocation.

https://www.wbay.com/2022/02/21/dashcam-shows-head-on-collision-involving-wisconsin-police-cruiser/

MN Patrol: Stevens Point woman killed in wrong-way crash, Oshkosh residents hurt

WINONA, Minn. (WBAY) - A Stevens Point native was killed and two Oshkosh natives were hurt in a wrong way crash in Minnesota Saturday.

The victim was identified as Hannah Alyce Goman, 20. The Minnesota State Patrol says Goman died at Winona Hospital.

Goman was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Nicholas R. Lemmerond of Oshkosh. The 21-year-old suffered non-life threatening injuries. Another passenger, Natalie Lynne Carlson, 22, Oshkosh, also suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The Minnesota State Patrol says Lemmerond was traveling on Highway 61 when a pickup truck traveling north in the southbound lanes hit his car, killing Goman and injuring Lemmerond and Carlson.

The driver of the truck was identified as Adam Samuel Anderson, 35, Winona. The State Patrol says he is suspected of alcohol use. Anderson’s passenger, Trena Lynn Anderson, 35, was not hurt.

The Winona County Detention Center shows Adam Anderson was booked on a charge of DWI-Fourth Degree Driving While Impaired and Criminal Vehicular Operation.

https://www.wbay.com/2022/02/21/mn-patrol-wisconsin-woman-killed-wrong-way-crash/

[Johnny2X2X]

1. I agree

It needs to be just not even an option for people. I think better public transportation can help too. Uber and Lift in bigger cities I am sure make a difference too.

As we’ve learned through Covid, Americans are selfish and can’t think beyond themselves. Make the consequences so severe it’s just not even thinkable by I drive drunk.

[PBC_Democrat]

2. 1000% Agree

I'd start with 1 year loss of license for the first offense with a mandatory 1 year jail term if caught driving on a suspended license. The offender would than have to re-qualify at DMV after the year.

2nd Offense - confiscate the car and sell at auction, no matter who owns it. Mandatory jail term and 5 year loss of license.

3rd & subsequent offenses - Mandatory jail terms of increasing duration.

People aren't going to take it seriously until the penalties hurt.

Unenforced laws become suggestions and suggestions get ignored.

[TheBlackAdder]

3. I was rear-eneded at a traffic light by a Chevy Blazer doing 45MPH, the driver blew an avg. BAC 2.0

.

He ruined the back of my 1987.5 Buick Grand National that was 2 years old, caused lifetime back injury and neck pain. When I picked up the car, the impound lot guy said the driver was an asshole who laughed at the damage he caused to my car.

In court, you were not allowed a tape recorder, and now I know why.


The guy stood next to me and was told he is cited for reckless driving and DUI. If he pleaded to DUI, the reckless driving charge would be dropped. He did and the judge said he lost his license for a year, mandatory insurance surcharges for 3 more years, court costs, and some other fines. I thought the guy got at least some punishment.


Then, my attorney calls and says he received the trial doc. HE PLEAD TO CARELESS DRIVING!


I said, What! We have to fight this. He said to let it go. It would not change the $22K settlement (that's all I got). Then, I call MT. Laurel Township, NJ and ask for the tape transcript. The person comes back 5 minutes later and says there was a 10 minute glitch in the tape and that section was lost!


So, this guy got off on a DUI that caused physical and property damage, and the court covered it up.


.