Seattle's top DUI cop: Not enough resources for existing laws

[The Straight Story]

...

The story is, unfortunately, not new. Seattle Police DUI Squad member Eric Michl recalled a mother, driving drunk, with her toddler improperly buckled in a passenger seat. The woman was so intoxicated she couldn't complete field sobriety tests – or even stand up.

Her case, like the Wedgwood fatality investigation that Michl also investigated, share a common problem: Drivers who failed to get a court-ordered, ignition-interlock device to prevent them from driving drunk.

The Wedgwood case has shocked the public into demanding tougher DUI penalties and lawmakers have promised action. On Sunday, state lawmakers reached a tentative agreement to overhaul DUI laws. Gov. Jay Inslee praised bipartisan support for the steps against drunken driving.

But new laws might not be the right answer, Michl said.

"We've got the laws," he said. "We just need the resources to enforce them."

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-s-top-DUI-cop-Not-enough-resources-for-4484798.php

[Turbineguy]

1. It seems to me

auto insurance companies would be happy to pay for them.

[The Straight Story]

2. By raising the rates of drivers, ie a tax no one could vote on

[Turbineguy]

3. I was more thinking

of the money thay save in claims.

[The Straight Story]

5. Interesting. I am wondering though

Let's say we (tax payers) pay for more resources and claims go down. What are the chances are that premiums will follow suit? If our actions and money result in a savings for the insurance company should we get rebates?

[Turbineguy]

6. In the end

rates are adjusted to local claims experience. Some years ago there were stories of insurance companies donating radar guns to police departments because speeding tickets allows for premium hikes. My insurance company told me their research showed a corelation between speeding tickets and claims.

In the case of a DUI rates go up dramatically. But still, a portion of claims are spread across all policy holders. Taking a few impaired people off the roads should make a difference.

[zipplewrath]

7. About 30%

The research was old, but the effect of reducing alcohol related accidents is about 30%. For every three drunks you get off the road, you get 1 less accident.

The real problem, it turns out is bad drivers. The only thing worse than a driver is a DRUNK bad driver. The strongest correlation between fatalities and prior detectable factors is certain classes of tickets (excessive speed, prior accidents, reckless driving, etc.). Ad to that a DUI and you have a fatality practically waiting to happen.

[maxsolomon]

4. If only we had elected representatives who could fund enforcement of the interlocks

But that is just a fantasy in the Evergreen State. They're too busy cutting essentials and refusing to address reality on our regressive tax structure.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

8. Not enough resources?

They have enough resources to bash the heads of Occupy Seattle protesters.

Maybe if they adjusted their use of resources from suppressing speech, they would have more resources to focus on drunk drivers and texting drivers.

[former9thward]

9. This problem will be solved shortly.

Driverless cars are being tested in several areas. Once they became common the DUIs and the need of enforcement will disappear -- along with the jobs of hundreds of thousands of police officers.