In large departments we tend to be far too busy on calls to catch DUI drivers ... but we DID get a lot of them at the scenes of collisions. Unfortunately, those DUI arrests don't count for a pin or I would have had one almost every year I was a road dog down south.
This is America -- innocent until proven guilty.
What you are forgetting is that the "innocent until proven guilty" concept is a legal one regarding the process, not one that anyone has to adhere to regarding belief or opinion.
Well, one group you lose credibility with is the DWI offenders themselves.
To be completely frank, I doubt that the politicians or the supporters of DUI laws really care what the offenders think. I hjave people that don't like the domestic violence laws and think I am a complete Adam Henry for arresting them or their spouse for thumping on them. Well, it's not something that bothers me.
How can someone truly admit to being impaired after just 1 beer? Let's just get real here.
I never said they were. And someone MIGHT admit to it - I don't know. Medically, meaurable impairment begins at as low as .02. And being impaired and being drunk are two different issues. One can be too impaired to drive a car but still not be drunk in public for purposes of public intoxication laws.
Many DWI offenders will never believe they were drunk at .08. So let's just stop calling it drunk.
Fine ... have I used the word "drunk" to refer to every DUI driver? I think not. As I said, there is a difference. You can label them anything you want - it still does not change the impairment or the law.
Some people after their fourth, fifth, sixth and on and on and on. That's why I think change is needed in the way we communicate with these people.
What can be done beyond what is already being done? We educate people on alcohol and drug laws far more than any other law ... there are tons of laws out there, and may effect more people than DUI - so why just focus on these laws?
It does not take a rocket scientist to know that alcohol causes impairment ... logic should then dictate that one should not drink alcohol and then drive. Unfortunately, one of the first things to go when drinking alcohol is common sense.
- Carl
