I just wanted to respond to Corey's story. That statement sums it up pretty well Corey. That is a problem in all walks of today's electronic age because the human element of judgement has been removed when it comes to things like credit scores, credit card rates and fees and motor vehicle operations. It will probably only get worse before it gets better. Otherwise the treatment of your friend is abhorrent and inexcusable and now she apparently has no recourse except maybe a good lawyer which will ultimately cost her even more money I assume. Many times in many places it is a police state when it comes to drinking and driving. Sometimes that is a great public service and other times it borders on being oppressive.
My son gets to scrape up body parts all the time off of New Jersey roads as a trooper. Most of thes accidents involve alcohol. Just the other day, a guy and his girlfriend on a motorcycle leaving a Six Flags park decided they did not want to wait in traffic so they zoomed down the highway between two stopped lanes of traffic. I used to see that stunt in California on the freeways. Well one car decided to change lanes and the MC hit it broadside. He said the biggest chunks of these two people would have fit in a breadbox. Blood tests revealed alcohol. He also got to watch a truck driver burn to death when a drunk in a minivan cut him off and sent him into an abutment. So if you think cops don't give a sh*t about how many martinis you had in a prescribed period of time... you're right. If you blow above .08 or can't pass a sobriety test, you're busted. You're just a number to these guys. Something about the girls in Corey's story just adoesn't add up... like some details have been omitted. They had better justice in 12 century England.
George, I think that having the experiences your son had would probably harden a persons attitude toward someone who couldn't pass the sobriety test. And rightfully so.
That's the other side George and it certainly merits consideration but there is another side also. Many issues in today's world are autocratically governed by stark numbers and electronic cut-off points. These rigid parameters make our world black and white and there isn't much room for the mental talents of cognitive and subjective decision making that abound out there.
I noticed something here with this topic, MCG. Are you for "cognitive and subjective decision making" or "stark numbers and electronic cut-off points"? Just a few years ago, you were spewing forth venom against the referees in several plays when they used cognitive and subjective decision making. Yet here, it appears that you would reject the .08 cut off point in favor of cognitive and subjective decision making. ... or could it be that you are for whatever process benefits you the most at any certain point in time? :idea:
Cops aren't on fishing expeditions... most DUI stops are triggered by 911 calls by motorists who have witnessed erratic driving that frightened them to the point of reprting it. Many cops actually witness this driving firsthand and make the subsequent stop. Lastly they'll stop you for speeding or driving at night with lights out etc. and when they approach the car they smell the booze. It's that simple.
I don't get that feeling in my community George that you have to do something wrong in the first place to be in trouble while driving. If that was the case I would be more relaxed about it. Tom....don't get me started on that one again...... :evil: :twisted: :wink: ....One thought though is that the ref later said he was wrong and made a bad decision. How can a cop do that and reverse the damage? ....A reversal is not likely in the DUI case and even though it was admitted in the Tenn/Fla case the damage done was irreversible as well.
All Normally I'm a lurker. But, I have one comment. What if the police are wrong when making a judgement call? Do you want to be the one that gets a call that your loved one is dead? All because of a wrong judgement call. I know a DUI is expensive, but, not as expensive as the loss of a life. Best practice shows that most fatalities happen at above 0.08. Yes, some people may drive fine above 0.08. But, what if you're wrong? Just my opinion.
I wasn't just making reference to one game MCG. You went on a rampage accusing every ref of cheating against Florida in every game where Florida had more penalties called against them than what was called against the opposition. Now insert that into my comments and justify it.
I sure don't get that comment MCG, sounds like you think the police might be after you? My experience with Police lead me to believe George, Tom and the others here. They have my support and it's pretty easy to not get a DUI. Don't drive after drinking if it's a borderline situation or more.
I'm confused Sid. The comment was to MCG and his feeling about his community and my advice was to him to not drive if he's had drinks. That's about it, I'm on the same page with you Cindy, Tom and George. If you have doubts about your blood alcohol level then don't drive! I am actually grateful for all the attention this has received in recent years and it has changed my attitude, first perhaps out of fear of getting caught, then that has moved to fear of what damage I might do, so I follow my advice above.
I have to keep coming back to one point that debunks this conspiracy theory..... most law enforcement agencies are severly UNDERSTAFFED. Given the incredible amount of serious crime that these officers have to deal with, I just can't imagine a Monday morning squad meeting where they brainstorm about how they can entrap MCG or anyone else for that matter. Maybe Detroit has an excess of cops......
oh jeez i need to check the back room more often <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> By all means George, if you know someone who can help her. I can give you her contact information. Not a detail has been left out. I've read the police report. Where she is 'at' in the process is this..<br/> <br/> Tennessee set her court date to get her license back as July 31 2008. Lauderdale County in AL has set her court date for July 18, 2008. Neither side will move the court date. I went with her on the last court date to assist her in explaining that she <B><s></s>will be getting her license back on the 31st of July<e></e></B> but the judge in Alabama stated that 'Tennessee matters are not the concern of Alabamians.'<br/> <br/> <br/> I notice you are taking the defensive stance in favor of the police. Your position is understandable. There are bad cops. I could share with you countless stories of police abuse I've witnessed personally. (including being tossed around and harrased after I called into report a crime-they thought I was 'the suspect).<br/> <br/> My problem here isn't the police. My problem is that we have laws that we don't enforce. So we create more laws which eventually create a tangled system of arbitrary laws that seemingly over-punish some people while still creating loopholes for others.<br/> <br/> Its all prohibitionist sham. Those drunk driving deaths are all tragedies. Tell me, how much did our strict laws help the bread box couple?<br/> <br/> People will do what they are going to do..</r>
I don't know if "Southern" justice still applies or not. The old $30.00 or 30 days roadside court judgements. Sounds like it might in some areas.