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Originally posted by Blueracer
I can see the point you are making. I do not think that your views should bring the threats of violence and ill will toward you that people have mentioned in this thread. One thing that I want to mention, though, is that driving is not considered a right. Driving is considered a privilege.
Originally posted by mnemeth1
Originally posted by InvisibleAlbatross
reply to post by mnemeth1
Did those economics journals survey every American to see if they have driven after drinking? There is no possible way to know what you claim to know.
While statistics may be open to some interpretation, there is no doubt about the costs incurred.
Given my back of the envelope calculations, even if we say the marginal reduction in fatalities from DUI laws is TEN THOUSAND - that is still TWO MILLION DOLLARS in cost for every live saved.
Is that worth it?
No.
Originally posted by stirling
I think the concept of a crime really needs re defining.
Originally posted by kalisdad
Originally posted by InvisibleAlbatross
reply to post by kalisdad
No offense to you, but drunk drivers often feel they are in complete control. That's the thing about alcohol: you lose control and don't always realize it.edit on 18-12-2010 by InvisibleAlbatross because: (no reason given)
that may be the differance between you and I...
I've been drinking hard liquor for over 20 years(14 of which I have been driving) and I know my own tolerance
I know long before I have had TO MUCH to drink and I stop drinking alcohol
this is what allows me to go out and have a few long island iced teas and a beer in a 2 hour period and still know I am in complete control of my faculties to drive the 3-4 miles it is from the bar to get home
I agree wholeheartedly that not everyone knows their limits and that people will and do drink more than their bodies are capable of processing in a given period of time.
however, by instituing a blanket law, saying that anyone that has 'x' amount of alochol in their bloodstream will be arrested is not solving the problem... we can see this by the continued statistics showing that DUI is still an issue
the cost of the taxpayer for the arrests of people that are causing no harm to person or property out weights the risk of letting those same people just go home
DUI laws are entirely about making money for the state and less about protecting the public
if you really think that LEO are there to protect the public, then you have been missing out on alot of threads that would say otherwise...
LEO are there to make money for the state... thats as simple as it gets... and DUI laws are just one peg in that wheel of injustice
Originally posted by mnemeth1
reply to post by westcoast
The governments data says the actual cost is 30.5 million per live saved, not 2 million.
And no, your kid is not worth 30 million dollars.
Originally posted by westcoast
Originally posted by mnemeth1
reply to post by westcoast
The governments data says the actual cost is 30.5 million per live saved, not 2 million.
And no, your kid is not worth 30 million dollars.
And that my friend is why we have the laws to protect us from people like you.
Originally posted by westcoast
You crack me up. Maybe you've already had those three long-island ice teas and a bear so you don't realize that everything you have said here and in other posts does just the OPPOSITE of supporting the OP.
I sure hope to God that I never travel those same three to four miles of road at the same time as you.
Originally posted by mnemeth1
The costs incurred for a single DUI are enormous, no matter if you hurt someone by your actions or not. This article places the number of annual DUIs in the US around 1,396,888. If we assume an average cost of 15,000 per DUI, that would mean the public is forking over 20,953,320,000 dollars a year to lawyers, insurance companies and the State.
Is the public made more safe? Obviously the law does next to nothing to deter drunk driving. Just like drug laws and gun laws, DUI laws are another form of “pre-crime.” They are laws that attempt to prevent actual crime (hurting someone) from occurring.
The public must be treated as adults and be given the adult responsibility to decide on their own if they are capable of driving without hurting themselves or anyone else. The State should not play the role of the nanny looter.
BS. My DUI cost me $5,000. Where do they get $50,000?
Originally posted by kalisdad
Originally posted by westcoast
You crack me up. Maybe you've already had those three long-island ice teas and a bear so you don't realize that everything you have said here and in other posts does just the OPPOSITE of supporting the OP.
I sure hope to God that I never travel those same three to four miles of road at the same time as you.
despite the few drinks I have had, am I not coherent enough to have been arguing the past 4 pages?
and even with said drinks, I can at least spell BEER correctly