DUI Driver Arrested Again
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ogopogo's shoreline
Posts: 4,082
Bikes: LHT, Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
DUI Driver Arrested Again
Source
SEATTLE -- Susan Lynn West was arrested again Sunday on suspicion of DUI and driving without a license.
West was charged in 1999 for the 1997 hit-and-run death of 38-year-old Mary Johnsen from Issaquah.
Johnsen was walking with her husband when West, driving a Dodge Caravan, veered onto the shoulder striking Johnsen from behind and throwing her 140 feet into the air.
West fled the scene of the accident where Johnsen died.
West was arrested later that day for driving under the influence. West’s blood alcohol level was .34, nearly three times the legal limit.
West was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Eight months after Johnsen’s death, Gov. Gary Locke signed into law the “Mary Johnsen Bill” requiring repeat offenders to use an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. At the same time, Gov. Locke, also signed the law lowering the legal blood-alcohol level from .10 to .08.
“I must say, I was shocked when you came and told me this news," Johnsen’s husband, Keith, told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, “I actually thought that part of her post prison sentence was to include an ignition interlock. I guess it's a perfect example of why the Mary Johnsen Act should have fully applied here.”
“I think we at least have to make sure we look very carefully at whether there are loopholes and shortcuts, and things that we missed the first time through, and tighten those up so things like this can be prevented, because it could have been another person," Johnsen said.
West’s bail is currently set at $150,000.
SEATTLE -- Susan Lynn West was arrested again Sunday on suspicion of DUI and driving without a license.
West was charged in 1999 for the 1997 hit-and-run death of 38-year-old Mary Johnsen from Issaquah.
Johnsen was walking with her husband when West, driving a Dodge Caravan, veered onto the shoulder striking Johnsen from behind and throwing her 140 feet into the air.
West fled the scene of the accident where Johnsen died.
West was arrested later that day for driving under the influence. West’s blood alcohol level was .34, nearly three times the legal limit.
West was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
Eight months after Johnsen’s death, Gov. Gary Locke signed into law the “Mary Johnsen Bill” requiring repeat offenders to use an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. At the same time, Gov. Locke, also signed the law lowering the legal blood-alcohol level from .10 to .08.
“I must say, I was shocked when you came and told me this news," Johnsen’s husband, Keith, told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, “I actually thought that part of her post prison sentence was to include an ignition interlock. I guess it's a perfect example of why the Mary Johnsen Act should have fully applied here.”
“I think we at least have to make sure we look very carefully at whether there are loopholes and shortcuts, and things that we missed the first time through, and tighten those up so things like this can be prevented, because it could have been another person," Johnsen said.
West’s bail is currently set at $150,000.
#2
♋ ☮♂ ☭ ☯
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 40205 'ViLLeBiLLie
Posts: 7,902
Bikes: Sngl Spd's, 70's- 80's vintage, D-tube Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
But, just as we have come to expect someone had to die before
this issue was dealt with with a modicum of urgency. The outrage
will die and more cyclists will too. Alcohol abuse is tacitly approved
of in our society simply for the reason that the people who are entrusted
with laws and enforcement know that stringent enforcement might come back
to bite them or thier own family. It would be not only easy, but very profitable
to punish drunk drivers it is not done because lots of 'good' people would have to
pay the price, too.
this issue was dealt with with a modicum of urgency. The outrage
will die and more cyclists will too. Alcohol abuse is tacitly approved
of in our society simply for the reason that the people who are entrusted
with laws and enforcement know that stringent enforcement might come back
to bite them or thier own family. It would be not only easy, but very profitable
to punish drunk drivers it is not done because lots of 'good' people would have to
pay the price, too.
__________________
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Watching all of you on O.B.I.T.
Posts: 2,023
Bikes: Bridgestone RB-1. Nicely restored
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
6 Posts
Not that this matters, but have you ever picked up the yellow pages for any large American city, and been a little surprised at the number of ads for lawyers who handle drunk driver cases? In Boston, it goes on for pages and pages. Some of the biggest, most attention-grabbing ads are for drunk-driver lawyers. Many have lines such as "No fee if you don't keep your license!", or "I guarantee you'll get your license back!"
I can't explain it, but I find it disturbing that an entire industry has been built on this.
I can't explain it, but I find it disturbing that an entire industry has been built on this.
#4
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Originally Posted by trackhub
I can't explain it, but I find it disturbing that an entire industry has been built on this.
Aaron
#5
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Originally Posted by wahoonc
If they couldn't make money at it we would have so many. Watch the late night ads for the ones trolling for Worker's Comp, Social Security/Disability, Product Liability, ad nauseum. If more people and corporations would take responsibilty for themselves...but then again you always have few looking for something for nothing.
Aaron
Aaron
What about the ads for dealing with some industrial disease or the side effects of some medicine... Yikes... talk about strange industry. The US seems to be full of lawyers living off of situations like this.
#6
Team Katana
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, Fl
Posts: 426
Bikes: None /cry
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No fee if you don't keep your license!
or any other slogan for any job... it would be bad only a lawyer could get away with it as an advertisement.
#7
Banned.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: western Washington
Posts: 293
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Why don't we outsource the prosecution and punishment of "career" DUI's to a country that has a more effective judicial system for modifying their behavior? Perhaps this babe's case should be exported to Saudi Arabia. Hmmm, a woman drunk driver in their fascist Wahhabi-Moslem judicial system..........
#8
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
Originally Posted by oscaregg
Why don't we outsource the prosecution and punishment of "career" DUI's to a country that has a more effective judicial system for modifying their behavior? Perhaps this babe's case should be exported to Saudi Arabia. Hmmm, a woman drunk driver in their fascist Wahhabi-Moslem judicial system..........
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#9
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ogopogo's shoreline
Posts: 4,082
Bikes: LHT, Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I think it's really simple...
1st time, suspend licence for 1 year.
2nd time, suspend licence for 10 years
3rd time, revoke licence for life.
If at any time you are caught driving while liscence is either suspended/revoked the vehicle is immedietely forfeited, and the scofflaw spends 1 year in jail.
Caught DUI-ing with suspended/revoked licence, 10 years in jail.
1st time, suspend licence for 1 year.
2nd time, suspend licence for 10 years
3rd time, revoke licence for life.
If at any time you are caught driving while liscence is either suspended/revoked the vehicle is immedietely forfeited, and the scofflaw spends 1 year in jail.
Caught DUI-ing with suspended/revoked licence, 10 years in jail.
#10
Señor Wences
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,035
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Why not:
1st offense, lose license for life?
I don't see why there is a need to give anyone any slack when it comes to drinking and driving.
If there are extenuating circumstances let the judge decide.
If you are going drinking, make other arrangements for your transportation needs.
1st offense, lose license for life?
I don't see why there is a need to give anyone any slack when it comes to drinking and driving.
If there are extenuating circumstances let the judge decide.
If you are going drinking, make other arrangements for your transportation needs.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 976
Bikes: Marin Pt. Reyes, Gary Fisher HiFi Pro, Easy Racers Gold Rush recumbent, Cannondale F600
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I live less than a mile from the site of the fatal 1997 hit and run committed by West, which was well publicized in the community. It occurred in broad daylight, the road is straight as an arrow there, visibility is excellent, and the shoulder is nearly as wide as a lane there. I cycle and run along that road regularly. It still reminds me today that I can never "zone out" while riding, but need to be vigilant at all times- no matter how good the road is.