6 ms·

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is just plain stupid. However, I have a problem with the justice system making "examples" out of people, 14 Years is more then s

by kenrikm 13y ago

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is just plain stupid. However, I have a problem with the justice system making "examples" out of people, 14 Years is more then some people get after being convicted of rape or murder. Seems more like a 2-5 year offense, and unless you can point me to even one incident of a person that's been killed by this behavior the argument about it being potential murder etc.. is moot. Driving badly is can also kill people (and does, every day) however when was the last time someone was sentenced to 14 years for (just) driving like an ass?

yeukhon 13y ago
Sure the sentence might be too much. 7-8 years might be suffice. But I totally disagree with Seems more like a 2-5 year offense, and unless you can point me to even one incident of a person that's been killed by this behavior the argument about it being potential murder etc. Here is one for life sentence: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/21/texas-man-sentenced-to-45-years-for-drunk-driving/ http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/21/texas-man-sentenced-to-4... So do a quick search. Why do I disagree? Because that's a reckless behavior. Did you read the article? He did it twice. Twice. Twice. As someone have put it, if you were on the aircraft, how would you feel about your safety? How would feel about people who are important to you on that aircraft? Of course we should punish assholes driving on the roads. If you have problem with your local laws on handling bad drivers, please talk to your local council members/congressmen to do a better job. If they think 14 years is too much, they can appeal and I think there is a high chance of lowering to 7-8 years. But whatever the length might be, he deserves a good hell lengthy sentence. And sometimes, lengthy sentence is to scare people off. This is what I called "establish an example."
650REDHAIR 13y ago
"Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence." That might help add a few years.
fragsworth 13y ago
Tell that to the multi-billion dollar correctional services industry who has a very easy time convincing politicians to increase prison sentences.
- tzs 13y ago
  Do you have any data on how sentences for this or similar crimes have changed over time?
ilyanep 13y ago
This: >Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence. And this: >convicted of using a high-powered laser pointer to strike the cockpits of a Fresno police helicopter and a hospital transport helicopter near the Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the summer of 2012. (In other words, they did it twice).
Avitas 13y ago
Federal law and California law have this crime as a max 5 year and max 1 year respectively. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/247.5.html http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/247.5.html You should have noticed that this individual's sentence was lengthy because of a long history of crime. Not only that, this person was caught doing this particular crime twice. Your example of driving like an ass can encompass things like Reckless Operation, Racing, Impaired Operation, etc. When you get caught doing these things repeatedly over many years, you see prosecutors demanding maximum sentences, multiple "strike" mandates and penalties reactivated from previous paroled offences, etc.
tzs 13y ago
Generally, people who are driving like an ass think that they are not putting people at serious risk. They think they can handle what they are doing. They also are often trying to accomplish something legitimate, such as getting to a destination quicker. I have a hard time believing that someone shining lasers at helicopters thinks he is not putting people at risk, or was attempting to accomplish some legitimate purpose.
- soneil 13y ago
  A better analogue would be dropping bricks onto windscreens from an overpass.
  - kenrikm 13y ago
    Yes indeed that's a good example, I think I remember people Actually being killed from that.

by kenrikm 13y ago

yeukhon 13y ago

Sure the sentence might be too much. 7-8 years might be suffice. But I totally disagree with Seems more like a 2-5 year offense, and unless you can point me to even one incident of a person that's been killed by this behavior the argument about it being potential murder etc. Here is one for life sentence: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/21/texas-man-sentenced-to-45-years-for-drunk-driving/ http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/21/texas-man-sentenced-to-4... So do a quick search. Why do I disagree? Because that's a reckless behavior. Did you read the article? He did it twice. Twice. Twice. As someone have put it, if you were on the aircraft, how would you feel about your safety? How would feel about people who are important to you on that aircraft? Of course we should punish assholes driving on the roads. If you have problem with your local laws on handling bad drivers, please talk to your local council members/congressmen to do a better job. If they think 14 years is too much, they can appeal and I think there is a high chance of lowering to 7-8 years. But whatever the length might be, he deserves a good hell lengthy sentence. And sometimes, lengthy sentence is to scare people off. This is what I called "establish an example."

650REDHAIR 13y ago

"Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence." That might help add a few years.

fragsworth 13y ago

Tell that to the multi-billion dollar correctional services industry who has a very easy time convincing politicians to increase prison sentences.

tzs 13y ago
Do you have any data on how sentences for this or similar crimes have changed over time?

ilyanep 13y ago

This: >Judge O’Neill cited Rodriguez’s criminal past, which includes probation violations and gang affiliation, as additional reasons for the sentence. And this: >convicted of using a high-powered laser pointer to strike the cockpits of a Fresno police helicopter and a hospital transport helicopter near the Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the summer of 2012. (In other words, they did it twice).

Avitas 13y ago

Federal law and California law have this crime as a max 5 year and max 1 year respectively. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/247.5.html http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/247.5.html You should have noticed that this individual's sentence was lengthy because of a long history of crime. Not only that, this person was caught doing this particular crime twice. Your example of driving like an ass can encompass things like Reckless Operation, Racing, Impaired Operation, etc. When you get caught doing these things repeatedly over many years, you see prosecutors demanding maximum sentences, multiple "strike" mandates and penalties reactivated from previous paroled offences, etc.

tzs 13y ago

Generally, people who are driving like an ass think that they are not putting people at serious risk. They think they can handle what they are doing. They also are often trying to accomplish something legitimate, such as getting to a destination quicker. I have a hard time believing that someone shining lasers at helicopters thinks he is not putting people at risk, or was attempting to accomplish some legitimate purpose.

soneil 13y ago
A better analogue would be dropping bricks onto windscreens from an overpass.
- kenrikm 13y ago
  Yes indeed that's a good example, I think I remember people Actually being killed from that.