DUI Stats. -

[rogdeb]

This in our local newspaper Sunday:

Quote

"Sacramento Superior Court handles so many misdemeanor DUI cases every week that they are, in effect, processed rather than tried in court.

In one case after another, Commissioner Regan repeats a standard script at a dizzying pace, and hands down punishment in an assembly line of justice.

Lawyers say speedy processing is necessary to avoid court backlogs because DUI arrests never stop.

Week in and week out, Monday through Thursday, there are about 45 new DUI misdemeanor arraignments every day in Regan's Department 2 courtroom.

That's 180 per week, or more than 9,000 new DUI cases every year.

The figures don't include the smaller yet substantial number of cases involving deaths, injuries or more dangerous driving behaviors that are treated as felonies and handled in other courtrooms.

Last weekend alone, at least 86 people were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, accounting for more than one-fifth of all arrests in Sacramento County, according to records".

End quote.

It's apparent that Media education won't work. Is there an answer? Be great if there was one huh? Just seeing the stats in print was scary.

 

[throttlejockeyTJ]

A lot of people with problems do stupid things. I am glad they get them off the road. TJ

 

[Mike-H]

Doesn't that just mean you have a s@#tload of drunks (people with drinking problems) in the Sacramento area?.....maybe a good hit in the pocketbook would get their attention?....(quadruple the fines that are levied?)

 

[frayne]

Don't shoot me but I think the BAC standard is too low and should be raised. That said anyone caught should lose their liscence for one year, no driving priviledges whatsoever. Second offense, life time suspension. If caught driving under suspension, five years in the slammer, no exceptions.

 

[rogdeb]

Don't shoot me but I think the BAC standard is too low and should be raised. That said anyone caught should lose their liscence for one year, no driving priviledges whatsoever. Second offense, life time suspension. If caught driving under suspension, five years in the slammer, no exceptions.

I'll bet that some of these drunks are driving to their court appearances on suspended licenses anyway.

But I agree with you.

Pity we are not able to enact an "older" solution and tattoo "DUI" on their foreheads in big bright red.

 

[ponyfool]

You ever actually tested yourself at a .08%? But, make sure you have it videotaped so you can see it later when you are sober, because while you are drunk, you won't believe anything is wrong with you.

To get to a .08%BAC, for the "average" person, a single drink will raise the BAC to .02%. However, every passing hour dissipates a .015%, thus a drink an hour won't do much to get you drunk. Drink 5 drinks immediately, then after an hour, do your own testing (but not behind the wheel of a car) and see how coordinated you are. I bet you'll be surprised.

With this 5 drink method, after one hour, the average person will be at a .085% BAC, just over the legal limit.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

And if you hold a CDL, it is 0.00% on or off duty... <_<

 

[FJR_pig]

Don't shoot me but I think the BAC standard is too low and should be raised.

Wow, I can't believe I just read that.

 

[escapefjrtist]

The most unfortunate thing about these statistics (and arrests) is imagining how many impaired drivers are still on the roads. When are people going to stop playing roulette with my life and theirs...

--G

 

[evil_henchman]

Don't think for a second that Sacramento is any different than any similar sized city. DUI is big business. :glare:

 

[Windjammer]

When are people going to stop playing roulette with my life and theirs...

When the punishment is sufficient to deter the crime, the crime will decrease. Simple, really.

In one case after another, Commissioner Regan repeats a standard script at a dizzying pace, and hands down punishment in an assembly line of justice.

Gee, I'll just bet that 'ol assembly line is collecting LOTS of hefty fines. Step right up folks, keep movin', pay the bailiff on your way out, don't forget to stop back in a few months or so!

Don't think for a second that Sacramento is any different than any similar sized city. DUI is big business.

Now you're talkin' - too bad it has to be that way. If there were a law that prevented any court from collecting a fine for punishment, and they had to issue jail time and license revocation instead, people would get the message or get locked up.

Drink all ya want, but keep the rollin' iron in the garage while you're doin' it!

 

[blazinSaddle]

Truly, u need to get tested near a .08 so you know what it is and I think you'll agree it's not an artificially low standard for driving a vehicle. As far as jail instead of fine.....i know lots of people think the government is just making money off people, and maybe they are to an extent, but I guarantee you we don't have half enough jails and prisons in the country to handle jail-only sentences for every dwi processed.

Here, it's now a felony for the 4th and subsequent dui's, and most of those folks still don't see even a year in the clink. I dunno what the answer is, but I'm sure if it were snappy easy it would have been implemented already and somebody would be a hero. Until then, fine the hell out of 'em, put 'em in jail, and get/force them into rehab so i can scooter around with less wories of a car parked on my noggin !

 

[Toecutter]

You ever actually tested yourself at a .08%?

No, but I've driven (cars, not bikes, mind you) plenty of times at way above that (.25+), and please don't waste keystrokes assigning luck to the fact I've never crashed. On all those occasions, I never left my lane, exceeded the speed limit, missed a stop signal or sign, or even not signaled a turn or lane change. The luck came into the equation in that no other drunk ever plowed into me the way they do other people, which probably would have gotten me busted, even if it wasn't my fault, just like all their other victims. I didn't enter any road rallies, or tried to showcase my mad skilz, just got myself home without drawing attention.

I can outdrive 85% of the sober general population with half my brain removed, BTDT. I've cleaned up the aftermath of dozens of horrific drunk driving collisions, so I've always known the risks and acted accordingly.

I've also had several opportunities to party with many CHP officers. You talk about a bunch of drunk drivers (how do you think I knew my BAC numbers?). But they didn't get in trouble on the way home either. All it takes is mental focus, maybe at a level most people are incapable of. Don't know. I'm just me. I can't speak for you, and vice versa.

The biggest way these people are getting caught is checkpoints. I say let 'em drive drunk, if they hurt or kill somebody, lock 'em up and throw away the key, then seize all their assets for reparations. How many stories like that do you all think it would take before people took cabs to go out drinking?

Cellphones and driving distracted are probably a bigger danger and cause more damage & injury than drinking, but the penalties for stupid are much less than for drunk. They should start locking people up for stupid, then we could really over-stress prison cell capacities.

Just kidding. I've never taken the wheel even the slightest bit impaired in all my days on earth.

DUI is big business. :glare:

Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner!

That wasn't political, right?

Hey Rad- How many DWI's did you collect in the good ol' days?

 

[skyway]

That's 180 per week, or more than 9,000 new DUI cases every year.The figures don't include the smaller yet substantial number of cases involving deaths, injuries or more dangerous driving behaviors that are treated as felonies and handled in other courtrooms.

Last weekend alone, at least 86 people were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, accounting for more than one-fifth of all arrests in Sacramento County, according to records".

Sadly, that's only the number of people who actually get caught.

+1 It's BIG business for the cash strapped, heading toward bankruptcy state of CA. Recently A friend bringing the kids home from a basketball game were stopped by CHP for no apparent reason. Cop sticks his head inside the car, checks everyone out, looks at the driver and says "gotta go, I have to get a DUI right now"

 

[evilmedic13]

From left to right :coffee, soda, drunk getting coffee. She crossed 5 lanes to cause this @ 0650 and was dumbfounded we didn't put her first due to a swollen finger. <_< <_< She was first in line at the po po station after we cleared her medically. That's her standing there looking stupid in the middle.

 

[Wingman]

And if you hold a CDL, it is 0.00% on or off duty... <_<

Last time I checked the limit for CDL holders was 0.04% in ANY vehicle. If under 0.04%, but detectable amounts of alcohol are present, the driver is put out of service for 24 hours (only if in a commercial vehicle). At least that's how I read it when I checked. That was the info for the CDL test I took in Arkansas, maybe it is different in other states?

This means that, because I hold a valid CDL, I am held to a higher standard than others even when NOT operating a commercial vehicle. I understand the reasoning, but still don't think it is fair. Seems kind of like discrimination to me. I will say that having a CDL and being aware of the discrimination, I am less likely to drive after drinking more than 1 drink. Before getting a CDL I never thought twice about driving home after a case of beer. :drinks: I knew I was not on top of my game in those cases, but drove anyway.

David

 

[Checkswrecks]

Picked up too many dead kids to have any mercy at all for drivers with any BAC.

Checkswrecks

 

[Toecutter]

This means that, because I hold a valid CDL, I am held to a higher standard than others even when NOT operating a commercial vehicle. I understand the reasoning, but still don't think it is fair. Seems kind of like discrimination to me.

Tell me about it. I speed for a living. If I do it off-duty (which actually helps keep my senses sharp for the on-duty part) and get caught, I can't even take traffic school to avoid the point(s) on my driving (and insurance) record. So, I use the 'not getting caught' skills to keep my focus sharp for when at work.

Another reason to justify issuing 'advanced' level licenses. I am above the (speed limit) law!

Picked up too many dead kids to have any mercy at all for drivers with any BAC

And typically, at least in my experience, the drunks get treatment last, after the innocent are cared for.

 

[scubatech]

This is one of my pet peeves as well.Here in Colorado youre dead meat on a holiday weekend with a couple brews on your breath. I agree with you Toe, I spent 30 years driving Big snow plows and graders with wings in blizzards. As long as I eat something I feel that I can handle six or eight beers in an evening. Focus & common sense experience is where it's at. I love to have a few on Friday after work but I always worry about the drive home. No matter what people say very few will take a cab to a barbecue. I heard an excellent debate on a talk show with professionals on both sides including a State Trooper, It's definitely a lot of political pressure and revenue.

Ken.