General Discussion

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)

45. A person with any medical condition can be arrested for knowingly driving

Sat Jan 9, 2016, 01:57 PM

Jan 2016

While under the adverse effects of that condition. My ex, for instance, lost her license due to a physical disorder causing her to spasm and pass out; a friend of mine is severely epileptic and can't get s license. So they voluntarily DON'T drive.

When a person with alcoholism knows, or should know, they have a disease and choose to drive anyway -- or even maintain an automobile -- then they need to face the consequences of putting people n danger.

I get what you're saying. We definitely need to treat addiction from a medical standpoint and take the stigma away. "If addiction is a disease, then how come it's the only disease where people get mad at you for having? No one gets mad at someone with cancer; a junkie didn't wake up and say 'I think I'll be a burden on society from now on,'" to paraphrase a comedian.

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If alcoholism is a disease as proclaimed by the AMA, why should the diseased [View all] Photographer Jan 2016 OP

They shouldn't be, elleng Jan 2016 #1

Very true. Photographer Jan 2016 #2

Alcoholics aren't jailed for alcoholism. They are jailed for driving drunk, or aikoaiko Jan 2016 #3

And the reasons for driving that way or commiting that crime? Photographer Jan 2016 #5

Are you saying that the person who drives their car head on into the vehicle of another, killing MADem Jan 2016 #28

I know many an alcoholic that understands that drinking and driving is a bad deal Drahthaardogs Jan 2016 #35

I don't get a pass if I'm a cancer patient on pain medication... cherokeeprogressive Jan 2016 #77

If you think that's bad easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #4

because alcoholics need to obey the law like everyone else. geek tragedy Jan 2016 #6

To a very certain extent, but the alcoholic looses judgement and faculty after even one drink. Photographer Jan 2016 #7

everyone loses judgment and faculty after one drink. that's why people drink nt geek tragedy Jan 2016 #9

Any evidence for this fact? TeddyR Jan 2016 #53

ITA. raccoon Jan 2016 #38

Or why do we arrest kleptomaniacs for theft jberryhill Jan 2016 #8

AFAIK, those are not diseases by the AMA Photographer Jan 2016 #12

Pedophilia is considered a psychiatric disorder under DSM-5. LisaL Jan 2016 #16

DSM-5 criteria for kleptomania include these features: prayin4rain Jan 2016 #37

Exactly FarPoint Jan 2016 #101

Macular degeneration is a disease that causes blindness. Nye Bevan Jan 2016 #10

very well put. nt restorefreedom Jan 2016 #30

Not all people that drink and drive are Texasgal Jan 2016 #11

It's very simple. If you're not an alcoholic. Ever drove back from a dinner Photographer Jan 2016 #13

Exactly. Texasgal Jan 2016 #19

So very sorry for your loss. But those stricken with a disease that Photographer Jan 2016 #22

You are missing my point here. Texasgal Jan 2016 #26

Are you having a personal problem with this issue? Making excuses for yourself? Because you seem... Hekate Jan 2016 #66

I only wish that I could avail myself of a medical intervention that would fix me as it did your son Photographer Jan 2016 #69

Get a bus pass Hekate Jan 2016 #73

To where? Photographer Jan 2016 #75

to TREATMENT Skittles Jan 2016 #89

People don't get life in prison for DWIs. wickerwoman Jan 2016 #91

thank you Skittles Jan 2016 #87

They would be if it was considered a valid excuse loyalsister Jan 2016 #92

Drink all you want. It's not illegal. LisaL Jan 2016 #14

So by partaking in a legally mind altering drug Photographer Jan 2016 #15

Partake all you want in a legal drug. LisaL Jan 2016 #17

And if one does not mentally relialze that as cognition might dictate? Photographer Jan 2016 #20

Presumably, even if you are an alcoholic, at least at some point of time you aren't drunk. LisaL Jan 2016 #21

If you aren't in a large city try to live without one. Photographer Jan 2016 #23

If you know that you drink and drive, figure out a way to live without a car. LisaL Jan 2016 #41

my brother died of alcoholism, and managed to avoid driving while drunk Skittles Jan 2016 #85

I'm too familiar with that kind of family history... hunter Jan 2016 #86

oh it is rampant in my family Skittles Jan 2016 #88

Depends what state you live in CommonSenseDemocrat Jan 2016 #64

Automobiles are a disease. hunter Jan 2016 #18

It enables a level of freedom that people won't give up voluntarily. NutmegYankee Jan 2016 #55

An automobile is an illusory "freedom," a little cage with a number on it... hunter Jan 2016 #61

It was vehicular homicide. I know from your post on another thread Pathwalker Jan 2016 #24

That is the topic that made me think of this OP but not the topic of which I speak. Photographer Jan 2016 #25

You don't go to jail for being an alcoholic, or a diabetic, unless Pathwalker Jan 2016 #27

So that's what triggered this angst on the part of the OP Hekate Jan 2016 #67

My dad was an alcoholic. He drank at home. TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2016 #29

I agree completely. smirkymonkey Jan 2016 #48

I assumed you haven't had anyone you love killed or maimed by a drunk driver CBGLuthier Jan 2016 #31

Well it is a disease, but the disease doesn't make people get into a car and drive Kalidurga Jan 2016 #32

A breathalizer car lock would solve one part of the problem. nt SusanCalvin Jan 2016 #33

Until the alcoholic gets someone else to blow into it Ex Lurker Jan 2016 #36

True, but SusanCalvin Jan 2016 #43

If you have a breathalyzer in your car these days, Go Vols Jan 2016 #49

Good deal - happy to hear it. nt SusanCalvin Jan 2016 #50

Erewhon 1872 Samuel Butler Downwinder Jan 2016 #34

Because being an alcoholic isnt against the law. Getting behind the wheel inebriated, is. Warren DeMontague Jan 2016 #39

Fuck that. So if an alcoholic, while under the influence, picked up a gun cali Jan 2016 #40

My husband was sentenced to probation on charges of assault, communicating threats, Pool Hall Ace Jan 2016 #42

Is there a difference between being an alcoholic and getting drunk? n/t hughee99 Jan 2016 #44

good question. Photographer Jan 2016 #56

A person with any medical condition can be arrested for knowingly driving Nevernose Jan 2016 #45

I believe that vehicles should ALWAYS have a device that prevents a person who is under.. BlueJazz Jan 2016 #46

But people who have diseases or impairments that affect their ability to drive safely should not go LeftishBrit Jan 2016 #47

our american prison-industrial system mooseprime Jan 2016 #51

Anyone that is drinking and driving TeddyR Jan 2016 #52

You CHOOSE to drive when drunk. No sympathy. NYC Liberal Jan 2016 #54

Are you an alcoholic? Photographer Jan 2016 #57

What consequences should there be for someone who NYC Liberal Jan 2016 #58

As in what consequences should be there Photographer Jan 2016 #59

The wine drinker got lucky Photographer Jan 2016 #60

As in someone who gets drunk and then drives. NYC Liberal Jan 2016 #62

sorry, no pass here Skittles Jan 2016 #90

This has already been adjudicated by the Warren Court in Powell v. Texas CommonSenseDemocrat Jan 2016 #63

If your diabetic friend had been driving during an episode and gotten pulled over by a cop... Hekate Jan 2016 #65

do you feel the same about pedophiles ? it's a disease so if they sexually abuse someone they JI7 Jan 2016 #68

Should be okay if you're an alcoholic pedophile. PersonNumber503602 Jan 2016 #71

But that in itself is not against the law. frizzled Jan 2016 #82

and drunk drivers aren't being punished for being alcoholics but for driving while drunk JI7 Jan 2016 #83

But driving while drunk doesn't itself cause harm. frizzled Jan 2016 #97

people who plan to meet with underage kids to have sex with are arrested even if they didn't JI7 Jan 2016 #98

But *planning* to drink drive isn't illegal, is it? frizzled Jan 2016 #99

well in the case of the pedophile it isn't just planning but actually showing up JI7 Jan 2016 #100

It should be legal to drive drunk and legal to kill people while doing it. PersonNumber503602 Jan 2016 #70

There are no easy answers here that I can see. Photographer Jan 2016 #72

There's a difference between having the disease and chosing to drink while driving lunatica Jan 2016 #74

Actually, no. Photographer Jan 2016 #76

It sure sounds to me that you want people to tell you that it's o'key to drink and drive if you are LisaL Jan 2016 #78

why do previous decisions become moot ? were you caught drunk driving ? JI7 Jan 2016 #84

Bull. Warren DeMontague Jan 2016 #94

After you reach a high enough BAC, you do lose that judgment CommonSenseDemocrat Jan 2016 #80

If I drove around with excessively low blood sugar Chemisse Jan 2016 #79

It's not really clear why anyone should be punished for anything. frizzled Jan 2016 #81

You can't change the past but you can prevent future incidents. LisaL Jan 2016 #95

That would be preventative detention, not punishment. frizzled Jan 2016 #96

Because its a disease whose treatment requires external enforcement of consequences Recursion Jan 2016 #93