06-04-2003 03:06									#1
	Drunk Driving Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Last night I saw the craziest thing when I was driving down the highway around 3am.

A blue pickup truck travelling in front of me drove into the median at about 60 miles per hour. I slammed on the brakes and stopped on the highway immediately behind him. I dialed 911 on my cellphone, and was almost ready to jump out of my truck and see if the guy needed any assistance, which I'm sure he probably did. I could see him moving around in the cab.

Then he backed up, drove into the median again, then veered out into the highway and started driving slowly but erratically down the road again. I followed him at a distance, waiting for someone to answer at 911. All I got was a recording telling me all circuits were busy, please wait.

After almost hitting a few cars that came up behind him and tried to pass, the guy suddenly turned off down an off-ramp. I was over too far to use the exit myself, and missed the ramp. The area was such that I never would have found him if I took the next exit and tried to double back. I said **** it, and began driving down the highway again. I hung up on 911 and redialed, finally getting through after about a minute. I informed the police about the driver and then went home.

This person was obviously drunk, and attempting to flee the scene of his own accident so as not to be arrested. Surely he needed medical attention of some kind. His driving and the condition of his vehicles hopefully would have attracted the attention of any police who saw him, if my call was not enough. But I wonder if he was actually caught and didn't somehow find a way to sneak to safety.

This situation got me thinking about all the times I drove under the influence when I was younger. I'd like to think I never driven when I was this drunk, but how can I be sure? I know I shouldn't have done it, but I did it anyway.

Being more mature now, I think drunk driving is one of the lowest things you can do. It's one of the most selfish acts there is.

How do you feel about drunk drivers?

	06-04-2003 03:08									#2
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Drunk drivers are complete scumbags

	06-04-2003 03:10									#3
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I've never driven while drunk. THe most I've had is one pint - I fancied another so I drove home, drove back to the pub with my dad, and he took the car home.

I think it's abysmal.

	06-04-2003 03:10									#4
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Ted Striker and I are in agreement on the subject of drunk drivers.

	06-04-2003 03:15									#5
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When i was a teenager, i've done some risky a** things.....driving under the influence one of them. I've grown older and realized that, quite frankly, it isn't worth the risk either to myself or innocents.

Talking with other Apolytoner's shook me up and realized that what I did when I was a teenager is just dumb. Drunk Drivers should have their license revoked, permanently.

	06-04-2003 03:15									#6
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This morning, I had a terrible hangover. My daughter wanted to go to the bath house, and there we went. That meant I had to ride my bicycle instead of taking my car, despite having a fever and despite there was a storm outside. Yuk, but rather that than driving drunk!

	06-04-2003 03:17									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Frankychan Drunk Drivers should have their license revoked, permanently.

yes

	06-04-2003 03:23									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Frankychan Drunk Drivers should have their license revoked, permanently.

Won't help, they'll just drive without a license, as so many now do. I'd rather have the license available as a carrot to get people to try and protect it by acting correctly.

	06-04-2003 03:25									#9
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And I'm really p.o.'ed it took me almost five minutes to get through to 911, too. If I hadn't been dealing with the cellphone I probably could have put up a more effective chase.

I hope the guy got caught and didn't kill anybody.

	06-04-2003 03:30									#10
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How much time does it take for a dose of alcohol ( glass'o'wine, 33oz beer, a shot of hard liquer ) to get out? an hour?

	06-04-2003 03:37									#11
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I've read a couple of news reports that have stated that some states here in America are implementing new safety features on cars.

It's a sort of breathalizer installed in the car and you have to breathe in it when you start the car up. If you register over a certain amount, the car won't start no matter what you do.

	06-04-2003 03:38									#12
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That's stupid. I imagine it would break a lot.

	06-04-2003 03:40									#13
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How they have it installed and what-no is pretty impressive. Granted, it's new so it'll have some bugs...but I believe that this is the first step in finally solving D.D.

	06-04-2003 03:41									#14
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A real solution to drunk driving would be auto-pilot.

	06-04-2003 03:44									#15
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never thought of that....but some cars are getting those road sensor things that'll kick the car in the right direction in order to avoid collision.

But when people drive 85 in a 25 zone, that's asking for it. I think TRUE auto-pilot is a loooong way from development. But your idea sounds better.

	06-04-2003 03:46									#16
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It's simple. You take the "Drunk" out of DD. I take "Driving".

	06-04-2003 03:58									#17
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel How much time does it take for a dose of alcohol ( glass'o'wine, 33oz beer, a shot of hard liquer ) to get out? an hour?

Roughly half an hour or so I seem to remember. We were told in high school that the legel limit is about to beverages an hour, depending on your body weight, tolerance, and other factors.

	06-04-2003 04:07									#18
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I hate drunk drivers. They willingly risk other peoples lives, making their cars deadly weapons. I think they should lose their cars when they get caught. Revoking license isn't helping most of the times anyway. Take the cars away, permanently. Let them buy another car, it's serious crime!

	06-04-2003 04:14									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Pekka I hate drunk drivers. They willingly risk other peoples lives, making their cars deadly weapons. I think they should lose their cars when they get caught. Revoking license isn't helping most of the times anyway. Take the cars away, permanently. Let them buy another car, it's serious crime!

Yes, they should seize your car the way they do with drug dealers. This is a good idea.

	06-04-2003 04:17									#20
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Playing Devil's Advocate for a second, most people would say they do not know what they are doing when they are drunk. So how could someone intend to drive when drunk, when you are in such a state that you couldn't intend to do anything?

	06-04-2003 04:18									#21
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In early December two of my childhood friends went out to celebrate their birthdays (one was 12/8, the other 12/11). The driver had already had 2 DUIs.

At just after 2 AM, they left the bar they were at, quite drunk. They ended up flipping the pick up they were driving onto the center island of the street.

The driver suffered massive skull fractures, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a ruptured spleen. His nose was smashed horribly, his olfactory nerve was destroyed (leaving him with no sense of smell), and his left eye had popped out of his skull and been smashed. When paramedics arrived, they said his brain was visible from the compound skull fractures. He has had two all day surgeries to pin the fragments of his skull back together.

The passenger was not wearing his seatbelt. He was ejected from the vehicle, and apparently died instantly.

The driver now faces third strike DUI, manslaughter, and parole violation charges. I love this guy like a brother (I have known him since I was 4), and I would defend him with my life if someone were to unfairly attack him. But I hope they throw the book at him. He has had this problem for four years now, and nothing his family and friends could say would deter him.

I don't beleive in third stikes for people who are substantially over the legal limit. 1 strike should give you a permanent revocation of your license and 1 year prison - add five years for each previous incident.

	06-04-2003 04:22									#22
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quote: I don't beleive in third stikes for people who are substantially over the legal limit. 1 strike should give you a permanent revocation of your license and 1 year prison - add five years for each previous incident.

What if you didn't kill anyone? Why should you license be PERMANENTLY revoked if you are just a little above the limit?

	06-04-2003 04:22									#23
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quote: Originally posted by Frankychan I've read a couple of news reports that have stated that some states here in America are implementing new safety features on cars. It's a sort of breathalizer installed in the car and you have to breathe in it when you start the car up. If you register over a certain amount, the car won't start no matter what you do.

They are using it now for repeat DUI offenders who (for whatever reason) have not had their license revoked. It actually turns off the car every 10 minutes and the driver has to breathe into in order to start the car. It is expensive as hell to buy and install, and the offender must pay for it if they wish to drive.

	06-04-2003 04:25									#24
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui quote: I don't beleive in third stikes for people who are substantially over the legal limit. 1 strike should give you a permanent revocation of your license and 1 year prison - add five years for each previous incident. What if you didn't kill anyone? Why should you license be PERMANENTLY revoked if you are just a little above the limit?

That is why I said SUBSTANTIALLY over the limit. If you are just barely over the limit I agree the law should looser so long as no one has been hurt. But the guy mentioned in the first post should have it revoked regardless of any damage he has caused. He is just a threat to all around him, and it is just a matter of time before he does kill someone or kill himself.

	06-04-2003 04:27									#25
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In all honesty, why even ask the question here? Isn't it kinda like asking, "what do you think of child molesters?" Who really has any sympathy for guys who get behind the wheel shnockered nowadays? I sure don't...

	06-04-2003 04:28									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Elok In all honesty, why even ask the question here? Isn't it kinda like asking, "what do you think of child molesters?" Who really has any sympathy for guys who get behind the wheel shnockered nowadays? I sure don't...

Good point.

	06-04-2003 04:41									#27
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Ames, how much is substantially? That is the crux of the argument.

	06-04-2003 04:47									#28
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Lets say double the legal limit.

Basically if you have a hard time walking, speaking, saying the alphabet, you **REALLY** should not be driving.

If you are like 5% over the limit, then a revocation is not necessary (unless they pull you over for it every day or something)

The driver in the accident I mentioned was 11 times over the limit on the second DUI. His license should have been revoked then.

	06-04-2003 04:50									#29
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I agree, but permanently is a bit much... it may violate the Constitution (excessive punishment for the crime).

And, of course, my Devil's Advocate argument that if you are THAT drunk, then how can you be held to the standard of a sober person? A drunk person probably doesn't know what he is doing.

	06-04-2003 04:53									#30
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui I agree, but permanently is a bit much... it may violate the Constitution (excessive punishment for the crime).

I would say that driving isn't a right. It's a privilege.

If they can take away your right to vote for being convicted of a felony, then surely they can take away your drivers license if you are convicted of drunk driving.