Quote:
Originally Posted by sincalirider
Has the crack down lead to a drop of DUI's in the state? Just wondering if everyone is paranoid enough to the point that they don't risk it. Central CA has a bad DUI problem but all they do is stings every once in a while. A while back Fresno PD got in trouble because they sent in plain clothes officers to bars and clubs and follow possible drunk drivers to their cars to see if they would drive. They would radio them in to near by patrol cars. I though that was bad enough.
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<rant>
I know im paranoid now. and I know it definitely curved my drinking habits... to zero. haha. im 28 now. I actually started drinking when i was 26. and by no means was i college kid status ever. i drank socially - wines. beer. never to get trashed. so im back to being a non-drinker. i wasnt missing out on much in my first 26yrs... and after dealing with this dui, i coulda missed out on this! and i wouldnt have minded one bit. but peep it.... a HUGE majority of the state is unaware of what the laws are. I will say its everyone's responsibility to know the law and respect it - but c'mon now... nobody ever reads the fine print. so i do blame people, i do blame myself. but i also blame the state for not doing better to educate everyone... they are more about punishment than prevention. If they really cared, they'd put that money they are making from DUI arrests into prevention.... for example:
Many arizonans dont know that its a zero tolerance state... meaning - even if you are below the legal limit of .08, if law enforcement feels that you are in any way impaired, they can pop you. I served my 24hrs in jail (tent city, look it up. it was like stayin at the hilton..... not!) - and alot of people there were like, homemakers - moms - smart people... who decided to only have like, one drink. one glass of wine. and they paid their fees (for me, total for the DUI was about $3800, not counting increased insurance costs which i still pay) and have interlock for 1yr or more depending on the severity of the dui (2012 they changed the law to interlock only being 6months for first time offenders - i got grandfathered and have to do 12months) - plus jail time. Plus substance abuse classes. plus license suspension. plus MADD panels. plus the stigma of now being a dui offender.
Many arizonans also dont know that the day they got their AZ driver's license, they consented to giving blood/urine samples to any cop that suspected them of driving under the influence. Refusing to provide one will mean higher penalties if you are convicted. I didn't refuse my blood test so I got the minimums. Most people refuse, thinking they have a right to - DONT REFUSE!
Many arizonans dont know that DUI doesnt mean just alcohol. Meaning - there are alot of people that have DUIs and had ZERO BAC - but they were under pain killers or other drugs that impaired their judgement. AZ law still does not differentiate - and those people still serve same penalties as alcohol offenders (YES. They still need to have interlock and go to MADD, etc etc).
What I do think AZ is bad for though, is REPEAT offenders. There's LOTS of those. I heard about a kid that was drunk driving - plowed into a car of college kids going home from school - killed them both - he survived. Turns out, he was some rich kid that had gotten a DUI before but had his lawyers and his money bail him - he didnt care about the fees. He could afford them. Turns out also that he had crashed his camaro before - while drunk driving (didnt hurt anyone then) - He got another camaro of course. Neither of the cars had interlock - it was required... but what did he care if he didnt fulfill his punishment? He had $$ to get him out of whatever crunch he got into.
So - do the laws work? Does the punishment? For those with enough sense, yes. but there are some people out there that are on that drink like a crack fiend. Alcohol is their friend and they drink it like they drink water - they will do anything to keep drinking, but carry on a normal life. Those people need to be institutionalized and barred from ever having a license or any kind of vehicle/machinery - they drink and drive - they are brandishing a weapon. You put away people that threaten the lives of others with guns or violence... how is this any different?
..... i think i am getting beside the point. and getting emotional. i need to chill. hahaha. anyways! as motorcycle riders - we deal with enough **** on the roads and enough stupid drivers. We of all people need to be more cognizant because more people than you think drive drunk...
and if you ever thought "it will never happen to me" ... i pray for you the most.
</rant>
