Grandma got a slap on the hand

[tmc]

Mitzel was then stopped in early August on a traffic violation and subsequently arrested for driving with a suspended license and not having insurance. Both are misdemeanors.

Good grief.

Someone take her out before she clips another one of us! At this point chalk it up to self-defense!

 

[RsvlFeej]

Yep, absolutely right. I actually had my grandmother's license revoked because she was such a horrible driver. She failed the driving test miserably. It was a hard thing to do, but it needed to be done to protect others on the road.

When my great-aunt was about 90 (more than a decade ago - she's still ticking at 102), she needed to renew her license. Failed miserably 3 or 4 times and the family breathed a sigh of relief. Then she caught a 'nice' DMV person who thought it was, "Just Great" that someone her age wanted to continue driving - and coddled her through the test.

 

[allrider]

Yep, absolutely right. I actually had my grandmother's license revoked because she was such a horrible driver. She failed the driving test miserably. It was a hard thing to do, but it needed to be done to protect others on the road.

When my great-aunt was about 90 (more than a decade ago - she's still ticking at 102), she needed to renew her license. Failed miserably 3 or 4 times and the family breathed a sigh of relief. Then she caught a 'nice' DMV person who thought it was, "Just Great" that someone her age wanted to continue driving - and coddled her through the test.

I had an old woman pull out in front of me one fine Sunday morning and cut me off. I watched her cover her eyes as i went over her hood. She just came from Church.

 

[phroenips]

edit: actually i do have something to add. i have wondered why they dont force people to get special driving competency tests every year after they turn 65?

IMHO, they don't "force" seniors to take driving competency tests because seniors vote enmasse and are the most powerful voting block. What politician, or bureaucrat for that matter, wants to face their wrath? And, man, would they be wrathful! Just ask my 82-year-old father-in-law (who still drives and is scary).

I think EVERYONE should have to re-take a driving test every X number of years. 5 years? 10 years? I dunno.

 

[rickysnickers]

I think I would agree with that! It would make all of us better drivers.

Rick

I think EVERYONE should have to re-take a driving test every X number of years. 5 years? 10 years? I dunno.

 

[FargoFeej]

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — A 93-year-old woman is facing trial for driving without insurance or a license, six months after she hit two motorcycles with her car and killed a woman.

Northeast District Judge Donovan Foughty scheduled Faith Mitzel's trial for Nov. 30. Lonnie Olson, the Ramsey County state's attorney, said he'll request jail time for Mitzel if she is convicted. She could get up to 60 days for the two misdemeanors.

Mitzel hit the motorcycles May 19 on State Highway 57 north of Fort Totten. She paid a $20 ticket for crossing the highway's center line but did not face any criminal charges. She is to go on trial for two separate alleged violations in August, for driving with a suspended license and without insurance.

Kathy Berg, the mother of Sheri Leidholt, 30, of Devils Lake, who was killed in the May accident, said jail time or home confinement would be appropriate for Mitzel.

"She's endangering other people," Berg told KVLY-TV.

Mitzel's attorney, Monty Stensland, of Grand Forks, said a jail sentence would be unusual for a first offender such as his client. It would be an attempt to punish Mitzel for the earlier offense, he said.

 

[FargoFeej]

Published November 30 2010

No jail time for 93-year-old driver whose car killed motorcyclist, injured 2

DEVILS LAKE - A 93-year-old woman known for her involvement in a fatal crash pleaded guilty today to a pair of misdemeanor driving charges in Ramsey County, N.D.

Faith Mitzel of Oberon, N.D., must pay $375 in fines and have no criminal violations for two years, or she'll face the possibility of serving 60 days in jail, state District Judge Donovan Foughty said.

On May 19, Mitzel's car hit two motorcycles on a highway in Benson County, N.D., killing a woman and seriously injuring two men, authorities said.

After an investigation, Mitzel was cited for driving on the wrong side of the road, and her license was suspended.

On Aug. 3, a Ramsey County deputy cited her for driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance. She pleaded guilty to those charges today

 

[James Burleigh]

If you ever get curious what murder feels like, just cross the DY and hit a motorcyclist. I guarantee you won't go to jail. :angry2:

 

[jekirby]

Frankly though, even if there were no accident, I'm shocked crossing the center line is $20 in ND. Here in CA going 5 mph over the speed limit on the interstate is over $200.

No comment on the accident, but here in VA crossing the center line can get you a reckless driving charge.