Is There an Unfair Bias Against Drunk Drivers?

I just want to start this thread by saying, I know that drunk drivers have killed many people all over the world, and injured people, themselves, and perhaps even your loved ones and done major property damage over the years, so before you get angry about this thread hear me out please, thanks!

I am seeing yellow plates with red lettering now more and more here in my area and it got me thinking....

This thread is about the first time DUI offenders, not the habitual 15 DUI seriel drunken driving idiots out there.

I am in Ohio, and there was a law passed here in January 2004 that first time offenders convicted or pleading guilty have to have special DUI plates on their cars.



A DUI first time offense is a driving misdemeanor. Yet these people are on display for all to see, as they drive to work and run their errands.

The DUI remains on their record forever, same as a child molester, rapist etc.

How come the child molesters, the rapists, and all sex offenders do not have to put such plates on their cars also?? A lot of child molesting charges are misdemeanors as well...but certainly the felony convictions would warrant such an extreme reaction as special plates on the car driven by a one time DUI offender of a misdemeanor traffic offense??

Would it not help out, at least a little, for mothers with their children at parks, zoos, playgrounds and schools to be able to see a special plate like this, indicating that the person is a convicted pedophile, driving around where they shouldn't be?

I know people are going to say, well a predator could own two or more cars, or could drive his relative's car etc....true but look how far this DUI law goes here in Ohio about the special plates:

Added to the law beginning January 1, 2004 is the requirement that "family" plates be placed on all vehicles owned by the offender during the period of their suspension if the offender is given limited driving privileges.

www.ohio-dui.com...

Ok so that's fixed, ALL plates have to be replaced for the DUI first timer, if they own multiple cars etc...

I have heard story after story about first time DUI offenders being turned down for medical insurance, heard all about the high price of car insurance afterwards, and about court ordered "outpatient" treatment, fines, urine tests they have to pay for weekly, some of them, depending on the circumstances...and the rub here is, DUI's are a cash cow to most cities and states....you can't walk out of a DUI court here in Ohio without dropping at least 2-5K on fines, lawyers, programs, plates, reinstatement fees etc.

Brand them with a big letter D, for drunken driver, make them have special plates that's all well and good...but it's gotten out of control in my opinion.

If the police everywhere, and MADD and other agencies hell bent on putting the poor first time DUI offender through Dante's 7 circles of hell spent the same amount of energy and money, with the same amount of lobbying etc against pedophiles and sex offenders...instead of a guy on a softball team that had a few beers and is now branded for life, this would be a better country.

I seriously think there's a conspiracy somewhere here...that's why I posted it in this forum...feel free to move it but I didn't know where I should start it.

Why ISN'T there special plates for pedophiles and sex offenders? Why this huge conspiracy over the DUI offenders?

Well, I think the harsh penalty for first timers is to encourage people not to drink and drive. I'm sure that sounds obvious, but a harsh punishment is meant to keep people from doing the crime to begin with, hopefully slaying any mindset of "well, I got away with a penalty- better not do that again." Rather, encourage the mindset, "Look at that poor jerk with the DUI license plate. I don't want my mom/grandma/boss to see me with one of those, it can't be worth it. Guess I'll call a cab."

Good for Ohio, I say.

Driving under the influence is a crime that is not taken seriously enough.

The measures you cite are extreme, but the crime is equally extreme.

A person who drives under the influence is putting everyone in his path in danger.

There is a conspiracy here and it is a justifiable conspiracy.

As a class, drunk or otherwise chemically impaired drivers kill tens of thousands of people each year in America.

What other class of individuals this deathly dangerous would we tolerate?



[edit on 2008/6/21 by GradyPhilpott]

reply to post by Alora


Yes I agree, like I said, brand them with the special plate, I have no objection to that except I don't see why it has to be on their first offense, trust me they jump through enough hoops at least here in Ohio after their convictions

I am just aggravated at the "Zero Tolerance" campaign on commercials, on billboards, DUI checkpoints on the holidays, most states have lowered their DUI limits to .08. Heck, Ohio who, like I said has a Zero Tolerance policy. If you get pulled over, they smell alcohol, test you, and you're under the legal limit of .08, they can STILL charge you with a DUI if you fail any sobriety tests....

Where's the Zero Tolerance on other crimes? Why are they singling out this specific crime when there are equally far-reaching crimes that damage whole families, kill people, literally and spiritually, with the convicted having an even worse recidivism?

Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior. The term is most frequently used in conjunction with substance abuse and criminal behavior. For example, scientific literature may refer to the recidivism of sexual offenders, meaning the frequency with which they are detected or apprehended committing additional sexual crimes after being released from prison for similar crimes. (If to be counted as recidivism the re-offending requires voluntary disclosure or arrest and conviction, the real recidivism rate may differ substantially from reported rates.) As another example, alcoholic recidivism might refer to the proportion of people who, after successful treatment, report having, or are determined to have, returned to the abuse of alcohol.

en.wikipedia.org...

A prime example of the two being linked, so where's the outrage that goes along with other crimes, why is the target so heavy on DUI first time offenders?

reply to post by GradyPhilpott


Grady, that's my point, we tolerate pedophiles and sex offenders, giving them not even the amount of fines and/or restrictions of that of the misdemeanor DUI people. Why don't the pedophiles and sex offenders bear a plate like this as well? They are just as dangerous as the DUI offenders, if not more so in my opinion.

People on their cell phones while driving cause as many accidents as people under the influence and do they have to get special plates? It's not even against the law in most states and when it is? It's a ticket.

Many studies have shown that using hand-held cellphones while driving can constitute a hazardous distraction. However, the theory that hands-free sets are safer has been challenged by the findings of several studies. A study from researchers at the University of Utah, published in the summer 2006 issue of Human Factors, the quarterly journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, concludes that talking on a cellphone while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk, even if the phone is a hands-free model. An earlier study by researchers at the university found that motorists who talked on hands-free cellphones were 18 percent slower in braking and took 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked.

www.iii.org...

[edit on 21-6-2008 by LateApexer313]

Wow LA, I had no idea they were for first offenders too. I just figured it was second or third.
It would seem to be kind of a double jeopardy to me. Just put squads out in front every swank resteraunt. At .08 two glasses of wine with dinner will do ya'.
I think it's over the top.

reply to post by jpm1602



That's right jpm you're in the buckeye state with me aren't you? Yes it's first offenders. The kids call them "party plates" here actually, sad but true.

I think it's way over the top as well, but since it went through, I think it would be of way more benefit for other crimes that are just as serious, if not more.

What do you bet the heavy hitters in the mercedes and lexus's get plead down with outrageously expensive lawyers.
Seriously, all they have to do is stake out Mortons downtown, wait for them to stick the key in the ignition, and blammo.
I honestly have to believe revenue is also a factor here.

Are you seriously trying to make an argument for two wrong's making a right?

Driving while impaired not only endangers your life, but that of other innocent people on the road. If you want to commit slow suicide, do it at home where you won't harm anyone but yourself..

Lloyd you are assuming. First, drunk driving is like firing a loaded weapon indiscrimately. I don't agree with it nor do it. But I am hoping you see some of the incosistency.
With current laws ethel and herman out for a saturday nite din din with couple glasses of merlot would be equally out of compliance.

I would much rather have someone else drive me than make my wife drive a car that makes people think she's a drunk driver just because she makes an error while driving. How many people will report anyone with this type of plate just because they had a bad experience with one? I think it sucks. It says: please pull me over and test me every few miles. Doesn't that other system work that tests them for alcohol? Iguess getting pulled over often would be cheaper and less humilaiting.

There are many, many people who are impaired or distracted drivers for one reason or another. Teens with friends and cell phones text messaging etc. Many states don't have available public transportation. I was under the impression that pedophiles have GPS on them or their vehicles anyway.

Older retired folk don't live in Mayberry either.

When I lived in Virginia in 76 they had mandatory safety inspections. I've seen many vehicles that shouldn't be on the road. Many hauling scrap metal or pallets.The list goes on.

When you work on a mother of three little kids, badly injured in a 'first time' drink and drive 'accident', watch her family disintergrate as the Dr tells them she has died, watch her husband fall into a heap clutching his children and stood next to that Dr with no words ever able to wipe away the pain....

Then, and only then come back and argue why drink drivers should not get yellow plates.

Drink driving ? me if I ever catch friends drink driving they get a damn good seeing to. I've lobbed keys into rivers over 'a few beers i'm OK to drive' BS.

A few drinks / two drinks is NOT ok.

They are selfish, horrible people who have no care or concern for any other human on the road / near the road.

Explain to a 6 year old that mummy is dead because a man got in a car after drinking.

Then tell me drink driving is OK and they should be treated with respect.

BS. Throw the book at them.

This is not a rant at you, its a rant against drink drivers.

reply to post by Dan Tanna


I knew this would get heated And yes I understand your feelings on this subject but so far every single person posting has ignored the main point of my post including you Dan Tanna!

When you work on a mother of three little kids, badly injured in a 'first time' drink and drive 'accident', watch her family disintergrate as the Dr tells them she has died, watch her husband fall into a heap clutching his children and stood next to that Dr with no words ever able to wipe away the pain....

Say this SAME mother of 3 little kids, hires a babysitter, a male, and he viciously rapes all 3 of her little kids, and continues to do so for a few months until she sees the signs...

He gets gross sexual imposition charges brought against him, he plea bargains...and only serves 9 months in prison. He gets out. Where are HIS special plates Dan Tanna??

Meanwhile, the same mother of 3 little kids, is devastated completely, her 3 kids are never going to be the same, years of therapy for all 4 of them and how only months later....this guy is off probation, served his time in prison, where's his special plate signaling to everyone at the water park, at the school event, at the soccer games, at the zoo, at the parks, at the day camps and in his neighborhood....that he raped 3 children???

Do you see my point here?

A drunk driver that kills someone is a horrible thing indeed, as we all know, and they usually get 6-15 YEARS for it, as they should...

Meanwhile the pedophile gets off with a lesser sentence, and NO special plates, where's the justice in plating first time DUI offenders and NOT the biggest scourge out there? The pedophile?

That's my point folks, regardless of the DUI offenders...I am not saying they are not to be held accountable at ALL...I am saying ....

Where's the OUTRAGE for the pedophile and sex offender in comparison?? Why this blind rage for the DUI MISDEMEANOR and NOT these other crimes that warrant way more regulation, fines, penalties etc?

reply to post by LateApexer313



They shouldn't have special plates. They should have the electric chair - first time offenders included.

and believe me... if I could say what I thought about scum like that and not get banned, I would.






[edit on 21-6-2008 by Dan Tanna]

Hey LA. Gee, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I've been on both sides.....well, I've haven't had a DUI but someone close to me has, two actually. And on the other side, someone else that I was close to long ago was killed by a drunk driver. So I take it very serious. I'm not against drinking, just the driving part. I went out a few weeks ago and had to drop about $100 just for the taxi to get around and get home safely. I wish people would take responsibility.

However, I don't really know what purpose this serves, especially for first offenders. After that though, throw the book at them. If they are going to drink and be stupid enough to get in a car, they are not going to care what plate is on it, they're going to drive anyway.

Rush

reply to post by Dan Tanna


I hear you on that one

But alas, we can't give them the chair, or turn them over to the parents for a water-boarding session, so why not make them have special plates as well?

I saw a wreck the other day, at rush hour in the morning...a man on a motorcycle was rear ended by a woman in a mini van, on her cell phone and no not stopped at a light, she just plowed right into the back of him going about 55 mph, sent him flying over the bike right...she then braked, and the man behind her on a cell phone, rear ended her...luckily the motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet and leathers over his business suit...traffic was blocked though so I was sitting right there, watching it all...it had JUST happened...

The woman in the mini van gets out, doesn't even end her call, still phone to her ear, jabbering away, to check on the guy on the bike laying in the street...and she's saying into her cell phone "OMG I hit a guy on a motorcycle, what should I do?"

Where are THEIR plates as well?

Originally posted by jpm1602
Lloyd you are assuming. First, drunk driving is like firing a loaded weapon indiscrimately. I don't agree with it nor do it. But I am hoping you see some of the incosistency.
With current laws ethel and herman out for a saturday nite din din with couple glasses of merlot would be equally out of compliance.

If Ethel and Herman get pulled over and busted for DUI, they deserve a bright yellow license plate too.

As for pedophiles, they should be locked up in the deepest, darkest, bowels of the prison, and the cell door key thrown away. A custom plate and a GPS unit is too good for them.

I can already see the politicians, high school teachers, professional athletes and off-duty cops trying to weasle their way out of having to have one of these plates when they get caught with a dui, which in Indiana is way too often. Now that would be interesting...how many Ohio politicians who got a dui and don't have to use one of these plates. Who do they payoff to get out of it?

Rush

reply to post by LLoyd45


No I said once AGAIN, plate them fine them, screw up their medical insurance and their chances of getting a good job in most cases.... did you not read my thread and my opinion?

I am saying...as loud and as with as much conviction as I can muster...

Where are the special plates for ANY other crimes out there? Murderers? No special plates once they get out. Rapists? Nope, pedophiles? Not at all, we can't even keep track of where they live so why not plate their cars?

I am against drunk driving, I understand the ramifications from driving under the influence...I am not saying ANYTHING about changing the DUI laws...I am saying...where's the lobbyists, the organizations like MADD out there, for the rights of women and children not to get raped and molested??

Where are the molestation plates for these freaks?

....taps.....is this thing on???

[edit on 21-6-2008 by LateApexer313]

reply to post by LateApexer313


When someone commits rape they get labeled as a sex offender. The are required to inform them, there are watch sites, and signs on the lawn. Sure, they serve a bit of time, always less than they deserve.
The thing is, some people get the label for statuatory rape, wether or not they actually knew the person wasn't legal age. Weeks or days from the eighteenth bday, actually. Or whenever in whatever state or country.
So is it right? No, but it makes people think a lot more carefully,
Let's see... make a mistake and be branded.... or not... and live as I am. Let's not.