With all the education on drunk driving that our society has received in the past thirty years we feel that not much has changed. All you have to do is turn on your television every night to your local news station and hear about another tragic traffic accident caused by a drunk driver. We feel its time to get extremely tough with drunk drivers. We have set out what we think are appropriate penalties for Drunk Drivers. We also feel that every time a person gets into a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol that its a premeditated crime and should be punished accordingly. Below are our recommendations: First Offense: While our recommendations for first time offenders are tough, it still allows the offender time to improve their lives and re-establish themselves in society. First time offenders should be made to pay a fine of ten percent of their yearly income. This will have an equal effect for rich and poor offenders. If an offender is unemployed then a sentence of one year in prison without parole should be handed out. Every offender must have their name published in a local newspaper at the expense of the offender. Finally, first time offenders must be forced to enter into an alcohol treatment program ( Such as Alcoholics Anonymous). Note: If the drunk driver kills someone while driving drunk, they should receive a penalty of twenty five years to life in prison Second Offense: Now its time to get really tough. For their second offense, drunk drivers should receive a prison sentence of three to five years. Hopefully the time in prison will instill in their minds that they are criminals who are committing serious crimes that have the potential of killing or injuring an innocent person. A lifetime driving ban must also be imposed against the drunk driver. Alcohol treatment must be provided for the drunk driver. This will be the drunk drivers final chance for rehabilitation. The name of the offender must be published in a local paper. Note: If the drunk driver kills someone while driving drunk, they should receive a penalty of twenty five years to life in prison. Third Offense: Since this type of offender has already been given two chances for rehabilitation, we as a society must give up on this person and throw the book at them. A sentence of twenty five years to life must be imposed. We must keep this chronic offender off the road. This criminal has already been punished two times before. In their third offense they would be driving without a license. This type of chronic offender must be punished severely. We have a duty to protect society and its obvious that this type of criminal disregards the life of other people and puts their criminal activity first. We have provided what we think are appropriate penalties for people who drive drunk. While our penalties are tough throughout, the offender still has a the choice and the ability of re-entering society as productive members. It really is the choice of the drunk driver to continue to drive drunk. If these criminals continue to carry out these serious crimes against society, then we must react and punish them accordingly. |
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