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I've got a massive 7 inch scar across my face from when a drunk driver plowed into our car when I was 8 years old. I had over 100 stitches in my head and my fac

I've got a massive 7 inch scar across my face from when a drunk driver plowed into our car when I was 8 years old. I had over 100 stitches in my head and my face was a criss cross of zipper scars for years. The only thing that saved my life was that I was reading a book when we were struck - the book literally saved my life by blocking the glass from slashing my throat. So, yea, murder. That's how serious DUI (or texting behind the fucking wheel) is.

fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
This guy makes some good points about the unfairness of how DUI suspects are treated: (full disclosure, he is a criminal defense atty) http://www.duicentral.com/dui/the-dui-exception/ http://www.duicentral.com/dui/the-dui-exception/ TL;DR Breathalyzers are based on dubious science, system is unfairly tilted in favor of conviction. Guilt is presumed & punishment issued even before trial.
- silverbax88 13y ago
  Fantastic. I wish they were put behind bars even longer. I have no sympathy for people who drink and drive, and no sympathy for people who text and drive. I cannot tolerate anyone who would plow around our roads in a 2,000 pound bullet and either be drunk or looking at their phone.
  - fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
    Stiffer penalties before conviction? Easier convictions? How about roadside hangings? You can use the tow truck!
  - trefk 13y ago
    Are you aware that people can be convicted of DUI for such things as sleeping in your car while drunk, or standing 10 feet from your car with keys in your pocket while drunk?
mgkimsal 13y ago
But... murder implies intent. The driver did not get in the car to say "I'm going to try to kill silverbax88", or even "I'm going to try to kill someone".
- silverbax88 13y ago
  If you get drunk and get behind the wheel of a car, it's the same to me as walking around with a loaded gun and firing randomly. Does it matter that you didn't set out to shoot someone?
  - drewcrawford 13y ago
    Of course! One is murder and the other is criminally negligent manslaughter.
  - toomuchtodo 13y ago
    Unfortunately, this is not the case. You still are conscious of your decisions when you walk into a bar and fire randomly. There is a reason its considered rape if you have sex with someone who is intoxicated; they can no longer provide consent. The no longer have the ability to reason for themselves. Are we going to argue that you're a murder if you drink to excess while your keys are still in your pocket? Because that's when the decision was made, not when you get in your car drunk. At that point, its not you making the decision.
    - randallsquared 13y ago
      "At that point, it's not you making the decision." Well, no. Turns out that alcohol's effect on behavior is strongly dependent on culture and/or expectations: http://www.sirc.org/publik/drinking3.html#_VPID_5 http://www.sirc.org/publik/drinking3.html#_VPID_5
- EpicEng 13y ago
  And why the hell should intent matter? It's the outcome that is relevant. My grandfather was killed by a perpetual drunk driver. I don't give a shit what his intent was, he obviously had no regard for the safety of the innocents he was putting at risk. He deserves to rot in prison.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
speeder 13y ago
Here on Brazil DUI is just DUI... Unless you cause a accident, then you can get attempted murder, or murder (depending on the outcome). Then people will say: "Oh, but the driver had no intention to murder someone." here the most common argument from the judge is: "someone that knows that driving under influence is dangerous and do it anyway, is taking full responsability for the fact that it might accidentally kill someone, thus it is not accidental, since the person is on purpose gambling away with other people lives."

fnordfnordfnord 13y ago

This guy makes some good points about the unfairness of how DUI suspects are treated: (full disclosure, he is a criminal defense atty) http://www.duicentral.com/dui/the-dui-exception/ http://www.duicentral.com/dui/the-dui-exception/ TL;DR Breathalyzers are based on dubious science, system is unfairly tilted in favor of conviction. Guilt is presumed & punishment issued even before trial.

silverbax88 13y ago
Fantastic. I wish they were put behind bars even longer. I have no sympathy for people who drink and drive, and no sympathy for people who text and drive. I cannot tolerate anyone who would plow around our roads in a 2,000 pound bullet and either be drunk or looking at their phone.
- fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
  Stiffer penalties before conviction? Easier convictions? How about roadside hangings? You can use the tow truck!
- trefk 13y ago
  Are you aware that people can be convicted of DUI for such things as sleeping in your car while drunk, or standing 10 feet from your car with keys in your pocket while drunk?

mgkimsal 13y ago

But... murder implies intent. The driver did not get in the car to say "I'm going to try to kill silverbax88", or even "I'm going to try to kill someone".

silverbax88 13y ago
If you get drunk and get behind the wheel of a car, it's the same to me as walking around with a loaded gun and firing randomly. Does it matter that you didn't set out to shoot someone?
- drewcrawford 13y ago
  Of course! One is murder and the other is criminally negligent manslaughter.
- toomuchtodo 13y ago
  Unfortunately, this is not the case. You still are conscious of your decisions when you walk into a bar and fire randomly. There is a reason its considered rape if you have sex with someone who is intoxicated; they can no longer provide consent. The no longer have the ability to reason for themselves. Are we going to argue that you're a murder if you drink to excess while your keys are still in your pocket? Because that's when the decision was made, not when you get in your car drunk. At that point, its not you making the decision.
  - randallsquared 13y ago
    "At that point, it's not you making the decision." Well, no. Turns out that alcohol's effect on behavior is strongly dependent on culture and/or expectations: http://www.sirc.org/publik/drinking3.html#_VPID_5 http://www.sirc.org/publik/drinking3.html#_VPID_5
EpicEng 13y ago
And why the hell should intent matter? It's the outcome that is relevant. My grandfather was killed by a perpetual drunk driver. I don't give a shit what his intent was, he obviously had no regard for the safety of the innocents he was putting at risk. He deserves to rot in prison.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

speeder 13y ago

Here on Brazil DUI is just DUI... Unless you cause a accident, then you can get attempted murder, or murder (depending on the outcome). Then people will say: "Oh, but the driver had no intention to murder someone." here the most common argument from the judge is: "someone that knows that driving under influence is dangerous and do it anyway, is taking full responsability for the fact that it might accidentally kill someone, thus it is not accidental, since the person is on purpose gambling away with other people lives."