4 ms·

So if a state has a limit of .05, are you OK with convicting people who blow a .04?

by learc83 8y ago

thaumaturgy 8y ago
Not so much.
- learc83 8y ago
  So the real problem here is that you want a lower limit. The margin of error has the effect of occasionally lowering that limit, so you're OK with it. You're OK with police incorrectly applying the law as long as the outcome is something that you agree with. There are a few problems with that. 1. You're not always going to agree with the way the police incorrectly apply the law and police culture and procedure is harder to change than statutory limits. 2. The margin of error works both ways. It lets some people who are over a .08 go free. And it punishes some people who are below a .08. We should strive to remove arbitrariness from our justice system. It's not always possible but we should try for it anyway.
  - thaumaturgy 8y ago
    sigh Yes, I think the limit should be lower. No, there's not a chance in hell I personally will be able to do anything about that. Yes, I understand the value of clear, fair, equal treatment under law. Yes, I get that police abuse is a problem in many areas. No, I can't be moved to care about this particular issue, because the people affected are too close to the legal limit to not be a danger to others. I really regret my original comment on this topic, what was supposed to be a straightforward plea to not drive "buzzed", which would bring with it the added benefit of not finding yourself in a situation where a device with a small margin of error might get you into legal trouble. I had no reason to expect that it would ignite a flamefest. I kind of wish ~dang or somebody would just nuke my comment and everything under it, since there's nothing of value here. Anyway, this is my last on the subject, since it's just adding to the noise.
    - learc83 8y ago
      >Yes, I understand the value of clear, fair, equal treatment under law. >No, I can't be moved to care about this particular issue, because the people affected are too close to the legal limit to not be a danger to others. That's the problem. You don't really understand the value of equal treatment under the law. If you only care about equal treatment when you personally think the person deserves it, you don't really care about it.

So if a state has a limit of .05, are you OK with convicting people who blow a .04?

thaumaturgy 8y ago

Not so much.

learc83 8y ago
So the real problem here is that you want a lower limit. The margin of error has the effect of occasionally lowering that limit, so you're OK with it. You're OK with police incorrectly applying the law as long as the outcome is something that you agree with. There are a few problems with that. 1. You're not always going to agree with the way the police incorrectly apply the law and police culture and procedure is harder to change than statutory limits. 2. The margin of error works both ways. It lets some people who are over a .08 go free. And it punishes some people who are below a .08. We should strive to remove arbitrariness from our justice system. It's not always possible but we should try for it anyway.
- thaumaturgy 8y ago
  sigh Yes, I think the limit should be lower. No, there's not a chance in hell I personally will be able to do anything about that. Yes, I understand the value of clear, fair, equal treatment under law. Yes, I get that police abuse is a problem in many areas. No, I can't be moved to care about this particular issue, because the people affected are too close to the legal limit to not be a danger to others. I really regret my original comment on this topic, what was supposed to be a straightforward plea to not drive "buzzed", which would bring with it the added benefit of not finding yourself in a situation where a device with a small margin of error might get you into legal trouble. I had no reason to expect that it would ignite a flamefest. I kind of wish ~dang or somebody would just nuke my comment and everything under it, since there's nothing of value here. Anyway, this is my last on the subject, since it's just adding to the noise.
  - learc83 8y ago
    >Yes, I understand the value of clear, fair, equal treatment under law. >No, I can't be moved to care about this particular issue, because the people affected are too close to the legal limit to not be a danger to others. That's the problem. You don't really understand the value of equal treatment under the law. If you only care about equal treatment when you personally think the person deserves it, you don't really care about it.