vol

Story link here

I didn't know Taxas had such strict drink driving laws. Is there a statistics of DUI fatalities or accidents in Taxas compared to other states?

DX-MAN

Taxas? You hinting that the Lone Stupid State has a high tax base?

With penalties that high for a FIRST offense, how did she get to 6? And WAS JUST RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER #5 when she got picked up for this one? THAT'S a SPECIAL level of bonehead....

B. Carfree

Pendulum swing. It wasn't until the late '80s or early '90s that Texas finally outlawed "longnecking" (drinking while driving). I guess once they got religion, they got it. In my state they make the first DUII disappear from the perp's record and give wrist slaps for the next two. Needless to say, we have twice the alcohol-related deaths of the nation as a whole.

Chris516

She will be in the right place in prison.

david58

1987 they passed the law outlawing drinking while driving. At least when they did it they did it.

vol

Life sentence is a bit too harsh and unnecessary. She's 44, so 50 years should suffice.

rdtindsm

I lived in Texas for several years in the early 80's and remember letters to the editor because the deer hunters needed a roady after a cold day in the field.

MMACH 5

It takes a lot to lose your license, here in Texas. I work with a guy who finally had his license suspended, after his third DUI. Of course, he's still driving.

About 15 years ago, I got picked up for an unpaid ticket. I was put in a cell across the hall from the drunk tank and the guys in there started chatting me up. They wanted to know what I was in for and if I snuck in any cigarettes. One of the guys in there said he was in for his EIGHTH DUI! He had five convictions and was waiting on a court date for two more, when he got arrested this time. I asked if he still had his license. He said he did, but his lawyer told him he'd probably have to surrender the license to avoid prison time. Pretty crazy.

FenderTL5

I have a curious question about that.
If the first one disappears from the record, wouldn't the second show up as a lone offense (and so forth)?


fwiw, I'm in favor of strict DUI/distracted driving rules, enforcement, and sentencing.

spivonious

We definitely need to treat DUIs more seriously. I'd be okay with forgiving the first one, as long as no one was hurt. But the second should mean a license suspension, the third should mean a car impoundment, and a fourth should mean jail time and/or alcohol rehab.

jfmckenna

They put you in a jail cell for an unpaid ticket? That's pretty F'd.

merlinextraligh

You call that serious? That's incredibly soft. Basically 4 strikes before you get any significant punishment.

merlinextraligh

Get your point that she'd die in prison at 50 years.

That said, this person deserves life imprisonment, when you're just out of jail on your 4th DUI, driving drunk, without a license, you've pretty much proven that the only thing that will stop you from driving drunk is permanent incarceration.

spivonious

I think losing your car is pretty significant.

Current PA law (it's not clear if these are mandatory sentences or maximums):
1st time: $300 fine and up to 6 months probation
2nd time: $300-$2500 fine, 1 year license suspension, 5 days - 6 months in prison
More times: $500-$5000 fine, 1 year license suspension, 10 days - 2 years in prison

So under current law, you could have 10 DUIs, maybe spend a few months in prison, and then start driving again. License suspensions don't work. We need to take away the cars.

merlinextraligh

Most habitual DUI offenders drive peices of crap. Taking away a $500 car is not going to stop or deter them.

merlinextraligh

Florida is more severe. First Offense:

Florida Penalties for DUI First Conviction
Fine - $250 to $500
Community Service - 50 Hours
Probation - Not more than 1 Year
Imprisonment - Not more than 6 Months
Imprisonment with BAL of .08 or higher with a minor in the vehicle, not more than 9 months
License Revocation - Minimum of 180 days
DUI School - 12 Hours

https://www.dmvflorida.org/florida-dui.shtml

The community service , license revocation, and DUI school are mandatory.

MMACH 5

The first time it happened to me, I was 17, had gotten a speeding ticket in a county several hours away. I didn't pay it and had gotten several notices that if I didn't pay it, they would issue a warrant for my arrest. Sure enough, I got pulled over and the officer said, "You have an unpaid ticket out of Wichita County."
I replied, "Okay. What does that mean?"
"It means they want me to send them either the money or you."
A little crackly voice came over his radio, "And it has to be a money order. No cash or checks."
Basically, I was in there long enough for my friends who were riding with me to go get a money order and bring it to the station.

If you don't have the money to pay the fine, you can sit out the time, in jail. I think you get credited $200 a day to sit in a cell. I've done this once.

enigmaT120

That's nothing. Sober drivers can kill people and not even get a ticket (3 in Polk County in 2012). I know I'm weird and out of place, but I think killing people is worse than DUI. I mean, DUI is only illegal because it increases the odds of wrecking and/or killing people.

GuyWood

As a UK citizen, I find it interesting how variable US DUI laws are. In the UK you'll get a fine of £250-£1000 and a driving ban of 9-18 months for your first offense pretty much automatically. I have a small amount of sympathy for first time offenders - it's too easy to have alcohol left in your body the day after a big party for example but I have no sympathy at all for second time offenders.

volosong

It's the old "states rights/federal rights" thing. Each state is like a mini-country that can make their own laws, as long as they don't conflict with federal law. At least that is the way the country started out. As time passes, the federal government has become stronger and stronger, overtaking states rights.

sotramk

BIG difference in "drunk driving" and "drinking and driving"
Lived in the Houston area back in the day when you could enjoy a cold one on the way home from work.
As I remember the penalty for drunk driving was pretty severe.
I guess we are all criminals until proven innocent.

rydabent

There is NO excuse for drunk driving. The penalties need to be extreme to get peoples attention.

In my opinion ANYONE caught driving after they have had their license taken away for DUI automatically goes to jail for 10 years. The full 10---no time off for "good behavior"!!!! Society is too complex to let stuid anti social fools screw things up and maybe kill someone.

vol

Actually I meant at the age of 94 it's unlikely she'll commit DUI. (I didn't say 40 years because there are folks in their 80's still quite active in both drinking and driving.)

Popeyecahn

Except that you can't do that and expect it to stick I would think because it's not a capitol offense. She will appeal and the sentence will be reduced to time served at some point, I'm willing to place bets on that...

CommuteCommando

Getting a DUI in California will set you back thousands of dollars, regardless of anything else they throw your way.