What do you think the punishment for DUI should be?

Posted by on . 11 comments.

What do you think the penalty should be for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Do you think that this is a wide-spread problem? Do you think that people should have the right to drive while intoxicated? Do you think that our society is too harsh on intoxicated drivers? Do you think that our society needs to be tougher on intoxicated drivers? Can the problem of intoxicated driving ever be solved?


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  1. firewomen says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Loss of drivers license on first offense. Permanent loss if caught again. Long jail sentence if caught third time.*

  2. Rachel H says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    extreme FLOGGING!

  3. Mutt says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    First time offense: Heavy fines and license taken away for 6 months.

    Second offense: They obviously didn’t learn the first time, so lifetime suspension of license and 1 year in prison.

    Third offense: They are a lost cause. Life in prison.

    All this assuming no accident. If they do have an accident, case by case, but much more severe penalties. The exact penalty would have to be based on what injuries or damage was caused. Death of someone else, lifetime suspension of license and many years in prison, even if it is a first time offense.

  4. Aces says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Well it all depends; there are many categories here. For example, for just driving whilst intoxicated, here in England, it’s a 6 month prison sentence, and 3-11 points or a £5000 fine

    However, if you kill someone whilst behind the wheel drunk, you can get 14 years in prison and a loss of license and a unlimited maximum sentence.

    I think these punishments are fitting, 14 years in jail is enough to make me not do it; not that I would anyway lol.

  5. Golden says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    lot of questions there. we have some of the harshest penalties for DUI here in washington state. you’re looking at ten to twenty thousand dollars and license suspension for DUI here.

    too harsh or not harsh enough? more like the wrong solutions for a terrible problem.

    solve it? sure, get rid of POVs. mass transit is the only answer to the future. stick a bar on the train and let them get trashed on the way home. fine with me. would solve a heck of a lot of other problems too.

  6. Suirita says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    i think the law is way to lenient on some offences and drinking while driving they usually go for a third time if you don’t learn after getting caught the firsr time then you don’t have a clue once may be a mistake but after that taking your license isn’t a solution people drive every day license or not think jail or prison is about the only solution alot of people have the sence to not drink and drive there has to be some way for people to be punished so they’ll think first they have no right to hurt themselves or anyone else or maybe even kill or perm disable someone or themselves

  7. itsme says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    I do think that people that drive drunk should be punished, however I think something should be done about the limits that are allowed. For instance, my sister years ago had a boyfriend who, so intoxicated he couldnt even walk, got into a car and crashed a few blocks away from where he left, swiping another car and severly injuring the people inside. Obviously he deserved more than a year loss of license and the 30 days of jail time he did. Now 2 years ago, my boyfriend, who yes was at a bar and had 4 beers in a 2 hour period, drove home, and as we were parellel parking in front of our house, a cop pulled next to us and pulled us over. Long story short, my boyfriend is currently in jail doing 90 days, he has 90 days house arrest and 5 years probation, plus a shi* load of fines over $4000, not to mention the $3000 we paid a lawyer that did nothing for him. So, I think tougher on some, leinent on others. I couldnt believe that is what they gave my b/f when obviously parellel parking between 2 cars that was a tight squeeze, having not so many beers and being over the limit just a little. (he is small btw only about 5’6 and maybe 130lbs if that.) But yet I know so many that are downright trashed and cant even walk straight yet they are given a slap on the wrist. I dont think there should be so many regulations on these laws, I think that the circumstances of each specific case should come into play.

  8. DR Wiggles says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    This is a very fine line.. Drunk driving is a prob, they kill more people in a year then the entire Vietnam war, can it be solved I dont think so.. look at the last time the "tried " Probation it just went underground Sure there might have been less trying to drive drunk but lets be real Humanity as a whole will always over do any thing it is given

  9. Andrew says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Testicles cut off and fed to a passing Kimono Dragon whilst you watch.

  10. jackson says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    I think the limit should be changed. One could just have a couple of glasses of wine at dinner and still get a DWI. In some cases if close enough it becomes a big whole huge game with trying to get it reduced,agreeing to do this or that and all sorts of time consuming expensive for everyone thing.

    I have lived in a few countries where the limit is higher but if caught the penalties is just a firm what it is. You lose you license all together for a year no ifs and or buts.

    Some have zero (Hungary) to .05 limit which is true for most European countries Though England is .08 if you get caught as another said you are basically done. So on the other hand there is the argument for just making it a don’t do it thing and there will again be no games in regard to what happens.

    Problem is in the US there is really no mass transit and everything is spread out. England has buses and trains that basically go everywhere. In most every village there is a pub so no real need to drive to one.

    As an aside I read something interesting. It said that nationally in areas (US) where smoking has been totally barred smoking in bars DWIs have on average have gone up 500%. They blame it on people who live close enough to an area that allows it just drive there instead. Or instead of being in a bar where they might get cut off before they drive they are drinking at a buddies house instead where there are no limits.

    Last time I was in England I noticed this since there is a total ban on smoking in a bar. People seemed more apt to drive to a freinds house rather than just walk down to the corner pub.

  11. split dog says:
    October 30, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Widespread? Yes
    A right to DUI? No.
    Too harsh? No
    Tougher? Yes
    Problem ever solved completely? No.
    Punishment ? Depends on situation & offence.
    Worked in a Hospital for many years & believe any ER staff , police & EMS will agree that the problem is still widespread .
    In my experience would say that most accidents involving serious injury & fatalities are alcohol related.
    One doctor s/ around 90% of "all" visits to the ER were alcohol related.
    Needless to say drunk drivers are not my favorite people.
    Call it an illness if you want to but anyone so self absorbed to put other people at risk because of their character flaws needs to be punished severely but, in some cases not to the point where the offender’s dependents would be destroyed ( & if they have not destroyed another family)
    Has to be taken on a case by case basis.
    A stiff fine , weekend incarceration, long community service might be effective for people who have a conscience (for any DUI offence).
    Maybe having drunks dig the graves of DUI victims would send a message.?
    The others; rich , poor , young or old …throw away the key.
    I think it is Sweden that has extremely tough penalties & has put a dent in DUI problems , maybe we can adopt their laws ?
    Touched a nerve w/ this Q.
    Some "memories" ( dead kids , entire families etc) still piss me off.
    Best regards

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