What are we going to do about Drunk Drivers Killing our Officers?

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

I think Mike Brown is going in the right step, but training officers better is not the complete solution. I think there should be harsher DUI laws. I have known some people who got a DUI and got there car impounded and were put in jail until they were sobered up and got to leave the next day. I think if the laws were tougher people would think twice. I know there will still be people drinking and driving, but if we can stop even 1 then it works.

I recommend impounding the vehicle, minimum 10 days in jail, have to attend rehab clinic, and pay a fine. I know it might sound bad, but people will think twice once they realize how jail is. That is just my 2 cents.

[NorCalN00b]

I think Mike Brown is going in the right step, but training officers better is not the complete solution. I think there should be harsher DUI laws. I have known some people who got a DUI and got there car impounded and were put in jail until they were sobered up and got to leave the next day. I think if the laws were tougher people would think twice. I know there will still be people drinking and driving, but if we can stop even 1 then it works.

I recommend impounding the vehicle, minimum 10 days in jail, have to attend rehab clinic, and pay a fine. I know it might sound bad, but people will think twice once they realize how jail is. That is just my 2 cents.

Officer Bailey didn't have much protection because he didn't have a patrol car to help shield him, he only had a motorcycle.

I do agree with you that lawmakers should make stricter laws. But guess what? This is the People's Republic of California. Lawmakers don't give a shit, they just sit behind the desk and collect a six figure paycheck. Did you hear about the death penatly being "unconstitutional" with Morales' case? Lame eh?

This is what I would do.

D.U.I = One month of jail time, Pay a heavy fine, Have your license suspended for one year, Have to attend rehab, Have to do 500 hours of community service (I.E: pick-up trash on the freeways/highways, etc...)

D.U.I where you killed someone: Jail time for 10 years, License suspended for 5 years after when you get out, Have to attend rehab, 1000 hours of community service

Damn I'd be a good lawmaker :biggrin:

[Chipper]

"This is what I would do.

D.U.I = One month of jail time, Pay a heavy fine, Have your license suspended for one year, Have to attend rehab, Have to do 500 hours of community service (I.E: pick-up trash on the freeways/highways, etc...)

D.U.I where you killed someone: Jail time for 10 years, License suspended for 5 years after when you get out, Have to attend rehab, 1000 hours of community service

Damn I'd be a good lawmaker"

No you wouldn't :razz:

DUI- Your car is now the states to auction off :idea: (unless you stole it)

DUI where you killed someone- How about sitting in prison for the rest of your life :shock: I mean you did KILL someone!!

[jeremyscreek]

I completely agree that we are too easy on people convicted of DUI. It isn't just DUI's though. We are just far too lenient on people for a variety of violation's, in particular those that are habitual offenders. Too many people get away with these violations so much that there attitudes almost become, "What's the problem? This isn't unsafe. I driven 80 mph at a .15 BAC dozens of times before and nothing has happened."

I don't believe it's just the lawmakers at fault, I believe that our judicial system has some culpability in our problems. Why is that if you cite somebody for 12500 (Ulicensed Driver for non-LE) and no insurance they only get a 100-200 dollar fine, at least up here in the North Bay. But that's how it was in the East Bay when I worked there as well. If one of the unlicensed driver's were to crash into you without insurance, you would be out way more money because of their actions that what they would have to pay in court fines, (Life ain't fair, but let's get real here).

Back to the DUI issue, DUI's are just too common of a violation. It's nothing to run somebodys record and see a DUI conviction. Here in Santa Rosa, the penalty for a typical first offense is an $1,800 fine, 2 days of jail (Offered up as work release so they don't usually experience anything more of jail then booking and being cited out 8 hours later), a short class on the effects of alcohol, 4 month suspended driver's license (Usually only a restricted DL for driving to/from/during employment), a 3 years court probation (Not allowed to drive with alcohol in blood). While this punishment may work at teaching some, I don't think it works for most. Not only are those people with a DUI too common, but repeat offender's are almost as common. Too often, I arrest someone for DUI that has a previous conviction. They just don't care. They don't care about themselves, which is extremely dangerous. If they don't care about themselves then they certainly aren't going to care about anybody else.

We recently arrested a Sonoma County Superior Court Judge this summer. She hit a stone/mortar fence then continued for approximately 2 miles and tc'd again into a ditch. She was arrested a was a .19/.21. She never said anything about the fence and we only found it because she had damage on her PORSCHE BOXSTER that was consistent with driving into the ditch. We found the fence approximately 4 hours later with parts of her car around the damaged fence. Like usual, they dismissed the hit and run charge and she only plead to the DUI. This, by the way, is a judge that convicted two people to 10+ years in prison for fatal DUI's tc's.

Not only should penalties be enhanced for DUI's, but penalties for hit and runs should be significantly worse than DUI's. I'm tired of going to hit and runs with victims but unable to locate the driver because they took off. Their thinking, "So what if I get caught later and charged with a hit and run, at least they can't prove the DUI. DUI charges are worse than hit and runs." Enough of my rant, I'm sure we (The System) will continue to hold people's hands and believe that everyone is good at heart.

[NorCalN00b]

"This is what I would do.

D.U.I = One month of jail time, Pay a heavy fine, Have your license suspended for one year, Have to attend rehab, Have to do 500 hours of community service (I.E: pick-up trash on the freeways/highways, etc...)

D.U.I where you killed someone: Jail time for 10 years, License suspended for 5 years after when you get out, Have to attend rehab, 1000 hours of community service

Damn I'd be a good lawmaker"

No you wouldn't :razz:

DUI- Your car is now the states to auction off :idea: (unless you stole it)

DUI where you killed someone- How about sitting in prison for the rest of your life :shock: I mean you did KILL someone!!
I like the death penatly idea but keep in mind, this is a liberal state.

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

Even officers agree, there needs to be a change. I hope Mike Brown reads this!

[makakona]

Even officers agree, there needs to be a change. I hope Mike Brown reads this!

i bet the first thing he did this morning was sign on to this message board...

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

LOL :biggrin:

[NorCalN00b]

Check this out:

http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_058173407.html

(CBS) LOS ANGELES A sheriff's deputy was convicted Monday of civil rights charges forcing two women to have sex with him and fondling another's breasts while patrolling the Compton area.

A federal jury deliberated less than three hours before finding Gabriel Gonzalez, 38, guilty.

The deputy, who was placed on unpaid leave after the allegations against him surfaced, could face up to life in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder later this year.

This Sheriff is getting life in prison just for having sex with two women & fondling the breasts of another woman. This drunk guy just killed a CHP officer and I have a feeling he's going to be let go pretty easily.

Typical bullsh*t system in CA.

[jeremyscreek]

That Sheriff did more than just have sex with two women. Thats essentially rape under color of authority and that guy deserves every second he gets in prison. I don't think you can really compare these two. I don't want either person on our streets.

[SuperTrooper]

DUI- Your car is now the states to auction off :idea: (unless you stole it)

I agree 100%

DUI is a vicious cycle and this state should adopt laws similar to those governing street racing, that would enable law enforcement to seize violator's vehicles indefinitely and auction them off.

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

DUI- Your car is now the states to auction off :idea: (unless you stole it)

I agree 100%

DUI is a vicious cycle and this state should adopt laws similar to those governing street racing, that would enable law enforcement to seize violator's vehicles indefinitely and auction them off.

PREACH IT!

[CHP1]

If someone is caught with an open container (alcoholic beverage) or driving under the influence on the states freeways, they should be given 1 year manditory prison time.
Question: does anyone know where most drunk driving accidents occur? Cities or Freeways?

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

When you call the CHP Office they have a recording saying they arrest about 83,000 DUI's a year. That is way too much.

[SuperTrooper]

I believe it was 87,000 DUI arrests last year from CHP alone.

[rb525]

I agree the laws need to be tougher for dui. The problem I see is not so much with the laws, but making the full extent of the sentence stick. Department of Corrections is a revolving door where prisoners are released to make room for others. So a repeat drunk gets a 1 year prison sentence, how much real time is he going to serve? Probably 1/2. The S.O. in my county will not take warrant arrests unless the warrant amount is over $500,000 due to lack of space. I think our law making "leaders" need to help with some funds to keep these losers in jail for the duration of ther sentence. Then when people will think twice if a 1 year sentence means 1 year.

[jeremyscreek]

Let's not forget about the new impoun authority that just came out this year. 14602.8 VC Anybody arrested for DUI with a BAC .10 or greater that has a prior conviction can have their vehicle impounded for 5 days even if they have a valid DL at the time of the arrest. If they have two prior convictions then it's for 15 days. Convictions have to be within 10 years. Granted this isn't a 30day impound or a siezure of their car, but every little bit does help.