The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Our Readers Speak

March 4, 2010

Our Readers Speak — Friday, March 5, 2010

Register-Herald Reporter

Cheers to proposed DUI offenders bill



I for one am cheering Judiciary Chairman Jeffrey Kessler, D-Marshall, for introducing a bill to offer first-time DUI offenders the opportunity in having it expunged. It took the overcrowding of our prisons and the financial burden on our counties to bring this bill to light.

I know this has been a sore spot for the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

The act is a crime, indeed, but what level of punishment fits a level of crime? I as well as most of the state do not condone aggravated drunk driving. It’s the low level amounts that are treated harshly by our laws. Just like anything else, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” in this case Mothers … to the point that federal money as well as awards are thrown to states, counties and officers for denting the crime. The question is, has the crime or offense gotten worse over the years or has the wheel been over-greased?  

The worse the problem is or appears to be the more federal help is received to fight the problem.

Thus, creating jobs and income, not only to our states, counties and officers but lawyers as well.

Back to our low level crime: We have developed a point system to determine the level at which a person is intoxicated and prohibited to drive. This level is now and constantly stated as 0.08 BAC.

How many times is an individual taken to jail and court, lost their license, dealt with raised insurance and cannot get a job due to levels below this amount? And for how long does this punishment last; as stated by Kessler, “What happens so many times, particularly with the non-aggravated DUI, it gets on the record and the person can never get a job as a salesman.

Certainly you can never get a job as a truck driver of any kind.” Oh, and also, these people have to go through treatment programs and Interlocks. What about the percentage of people who drink in bars and restaurants? Just as stated by Delegate Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, “It does not discriminate: You can be rich, poor, middle class, educated, school dropout, gainfully employed or standing in the unemployment line.” Boy, lot of abusers out there. And they’re all walkin’? 



R.G. Keiling

Beckley

 

Text Only
Our Readers Speak