Life for drink-driving..

KingIsabella

Suppose he wasn't planning on stopping, but good god!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1303298/Repeat-offender-person-life-drink-driving-ninth-conviction.html

djimi

Tough sentence but its hard to have sympathy. The judge has spared at least one family the heartache of losing a loved one when he would have eventually killed someone.

Saruman

The real shocker is that it took 9 times for anything at all to be done.

In the US you do not automatically get banned when you are over the limit like you are here so it is not seen as a big deal to drive to the bar, have a few drinks and drive home. There are no random checks either so unless you are clearly drunk and swerving you will not be caught.

Stevie Dakota

Proper order, if had killed someone the next time out people would be asking why he wasn't in jail already. I see this as no different to him taking a gun out while drunk and firing off pot shots, someone was going to get killed eventually.

Mr. Presentable

Does that set a precedent that alcoholism is not regarded as an illness?

Proper order in any case. How long is life in Texas?

Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield would make an awesome username.

pajo1981

Life sentence for drunk driving is ridiculous...

cadaliac

Proper order - sorry but 9 times..
FFS.
If they put him into rehab, it would just happen again and again. (maybe not by him but by someone else).
The fact that someone is getting Life in prison might make other DUI drivers think again.

pajo1981

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

Does that set a precedent that alcoholism is not regarded as an illness?

Proper order in any case. How long is life in Texas?

Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield would make an awesome username.

life in texas is life. this man will die in prison - ye haw.

mailforkev

Maybe life is a tad harsh, he should have gotten a fairly long stretch after his second or third conviction though.

I would also wager the judge was an older white gent, which did him no favours in Texas.

cadaliac

pajo1981 wrote: »

Life sentence for drunk driving is ridiculous...

Correct - for the first or second or even third, fourth or even fifth, maybe sixth or seventh or even eight time being caught.
But 9 times is just beyond the point of no return.
He was clearly not going to stop.

EPM

pajo1981 wrote: »

Life sentence for drunk driving is ridiculous...

So when he ploughs into some poor fceker some night and kills him that's what exactly?

:rolleyes:

pajo1981

cadaliac wrote: »

Correct - for the first or second or even third, fourth or even fifth, maybe sixth or seventh or even eight time being caught.
But 9 times is just beyond the point of no return.
He was clearly not going to stop.

So lock him up for a few years; let him sober up. Sending a man who has not killed anybody down for life is sadist.

EPM

pajo1981 wrote: »

So lock him up for a few years; let him sober up. Sending a man who has not killed anybody down for life is sadist.

It's blatantly fcukin obvious that will not work...

pajo1981

EPM wrote: »

It's blatantly fcukin obvious that will not work...

You don't know that for sure.

actuallylike

EPM wrote: »

So when he ploughs into some poor fceker some night and kills him that's what exactly?

:rolleyes:

This is isn't Minority Report, you can't know this as fact. From been over in America a few times I can tell you that drink driving happens a lot more than here. It's unfortunately still in their culture like it was in the culture of our parents but they didn't all kill people when they drove home from the pub.

Yes it's dangerous, but locking up individuals isn't going to change anything. Someone with a couple of drinks more than likely won't think about this guy when he/she's about to drive and therefore still do it.

Education like the countless number of adverts we've been subjected to over the years is the way to do it, life in jail is absolutely ludicrous!

Vertakill

Aww but he looks like such a nice guy!

It's ok, he can exchange stories with Lindsay Lohan while he's in there!

EPM

pajo1981 wrote: »

You don't know that for sure.

With his history, the fact that his latest stunt injured passengers in his own car I think it's fair to say that there is a much higher than any other Joe Soap...seriously if he did go out and kills someone you'd have people on here saying why wasn't he jailed the last time:D

Treehouse72

Personally, I would introduce a mandatory jail term for ALL drink-driving offences. Give people a day or two in the Joy to think about where their life is going and the consequences of hitting someone while DUI.

And I'm not being hyperbolic. A couple of days for minor offences, longer sentences for repeat or very egregious ones. Overnight drink driving would no longer be a problem.

pajo1981

EPM wrote: »

With his history, the fact that his latest stunt injured passengers in his own car I think it's fair to say that there is a much higher than any other Joe Soap...seriously if he did go out and kills someone you'd have people on here saying why wasn't he jailed the last time:D

Whether or not jail him is not the question, it's why for so long.

Henry Ford III

I won't miss him much.

Saruman

Treehouse72 wrote: »

Personally, I would introduce a mandatory jail term for ALL drink-driving offences. Give people a day or two in the Joy to think about where their life is going and the consequences of hitting someone while DUI.

Interestingly that is what they do on most US states. Lock you up till you sober up then release you.

In some states a drink driving conviction has gone from a slap on the wrist with fine and a night in jail to a felony which means you have a permanent record which can affect job applications or loans etc.

Other than that though, there is still no real disincentive to not drink and drive

It seems to be seen as drink driving is ok but drunk driving is not.

EPM

pajo1981 wrote: »

Whether or not jail him is not the question, it's why for so long.

It's pretty obvious he doesnt give a sh1te and will not change. He's a menace and a danger

mikemac

Maybe this is a Texas thing, serious on the law and order.

I know this well known case, well publicized as it was a sports star

On the morning of March 14, 2009, a 2005 Bentley coupé driven by Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian in Miami Beach, Florida. Stallworth was headed toward the beach when he hit Mario Reyes, 59. Police initially investigated the accident further to see if charges against Stallworth would be warranted.

Stallworth admitted to drinking the night prior to the accident. According to early reports Stallworth was legally drunk at the time of the accident; news sources reported that his blood alcohol content was 0.12, over the nationwide legal limit of 0.08.

Stallworth claims that he flashed his car's headlights to warn Reyes before striking him. A Miami Beach police report said Reyes was not in a crosswalk on busy MacArthur Causeway when he was struck by the black 2005 Bentley Continental GT driven by Stallworth. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone.The construction crane operator was trying to catch a bus home after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m.

Stallworth was charged with DUI and second degree manslaughter on April 1, 2009; he surrendered to police on April 2, 2009 and was released on $200,000 bail. He pled guilty, and received a sentence of 30 days in jail, plus 1,000 hours of community service, 2 years of house arrest, and 8 years probation. He has also received a life-time suspension of his Florida state driver's license.

On July 10, 2009, Stallworth was released from jail after serving 24 days of a 30-day sentence.

Now the pedestrian was at fault too, even without drink this accident may have happened but the driver was legally drunk. All the same, 24 days

From friends who worked over in the states, drinking driving in the States is what Ireland was 20 years ago. It's rife

MunsterCycling

This is the state that gave the world the idiot that was President Bush so its not likely they'll care much about jailing an African American much, below is the judge in question

Pkiernan

Race is not an issue here, so you shouldnt try to make it one.

He was sent to life, not for drunk driving, but based on the fact that he is a repeat felony offender.

He had 8 chances, shoulda learned.

Thats the rules in Texas - as the saying goes - "Dont mess with Texas".

Absurdum

I guess forced rehab, a couple of years in jail, and a simple ignition interlock would be a breach of his civil liberties.

wmpdd3

mailforkev wrote: »

Maybe life is a tad harsh, he should have gotten a fairly long stretch after his second or third conviction though.

I would also wager the judge was an older white gent, which did him no favours in Texas.

I wanted to prove you wrong but:

http://www.courts.state.tx.us/3ajr/3ajr.asp

MunsterCycling

Pkiernan wrote: »

Race is not an issue here, so you shouldnt try to make it one.

He was sent to life, not for drunk driving, but based on the fact that he is a repeat felony offender.

He had 8 chances, shoulda learned.

Thats the rules in Texas - as the saying goes - "Dont mess with Texas".

Tell that to the guy in jail for life due to this numpty, as suggested above a breathalyser interlock would all that would have been required

mathepac

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I won't miss him much.

Nor I. Would that we could have sentences like that used here, but maybe 8 prior chances to clean up his act was overly generous - lets make it 3 and do away with sentencimg guideleines; on your fourth d/d conviction, life in jail with no remission.

actuallylike

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I won't miss him much.

Of course you won't, you don't know him. But what about his family? Completely torn apart because of something that might have have happened. Taxpayers paying a fortune to keep someone in jail for life. Sending someone to jail instead of rehab or drink awareness seminars, absolutely ridiculous.

I wonder if an appeal will work? I mean if it does, I can't imagine him ever even driving again let alone drink driving. But after all it is Texas, absolute evil c*nts when it comes to harsh punishment.

kennethk

actuallylike wrote: »

Of course you won't, you don't know him. But what about his family? Completely torn apart because of something that might have have happened. Taxpayers paying a fortune to keep someone in jail for life. Sending someone to jail instead of rehab or drink awareness seminars, absolutely ridiculous.

I wonder if an appeal will work? I mean if it does, I can't imagine him ever even driving again let alone drink driving. But after all it is Texas, absolute evil c*nts when it comes to harsh punishment.

You can't imagine him ever driving again let alone drink driving??:eek: MADNESS!

This was his ninth offense!! I'm sure he would stop:rolleyes:, the ninth would really make the difference:eek:

ArphaRima

Jesus. A life sentence for a DUI?

You wont even get that for calculated, premeditated murder/rape/manslaughter in Ireland.

If he had a decent lawyer this wouldnt have happened.

Let's say for example he was given a 5 year sentence. It's rough but about right I'd say. He wont be leaving jail as an alcoholic. A junkie maybe but not an alco..

actuallylike

kennethk wrote: »

You can't imagine him ever driving again let alone drink driving??:eek: MADNESS!

This was his ninth offense!! I'm sure he would stop:rolleyes:, the ninth would really make the difference:eek:

I meant, it slightly sarcastically meaning that now he's realistically facing life in prison which must have come as the biggest surprise to him, he's probably do anything to reverse it, let me know if you get understand.

cadaliac

actuallylike wrote: »

I meant, it slightly sarcastically meaning that now he's realistically facing life in prison which must have come as the biggest surprise to him, he's probably do anything to reverse it, let me know if you get understand.

??
I don't get it actually.
Sorry, do you actually think that this comes as a suprise to him? What was NOT clear in the article was whether or not he was jailed previously for his previous offences. You can be sure that he was certinaly threatened and warned about jail time.
For anyone to think that this was a suprise after fellony number 9 is utterly rediculus.
This action - (putting a man in jail for life for this offence) while yes - is harsh - will have an affect on others in the State. Yes, it is contriversial, but this is why this action might save some lives in the future..

seamus

pajo1981 wrote: »

So lock him up for a few years; let him sober up. Sending a man who has not killed anybody down for life is sadist.

Alcoholism is not a disease or an illness. It's an addiction. A couple of years without booze won't "cure" you. And besides, there are plenty of ways to get your hands on alcohol in prison if you want it.

Getting caught drink-driving once is stupid, twice is reckless. After that you are clearly incapable of changing your attitude to it, so you need to be prevented from ever being able to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Absurdum wrote: »

I guess forced rehab, a couple of years in jail, and a simple ignition interlock would be a breach of his civil liberties.

You can't force rehab on an addict. If someone doesn't want to change, they won't. You can bring a horse to water, and so forth.

Anan1

cadaliac wrote: »

This action - (putting a man in jail for life for this offence) while yes - is harsh - will have an affect on others in the State. Yes, it is contriversial, but this is why this action might save some lives in the future..

Will it though? Remember how joyriders in the North used to run British army checkpoints in stolen cars, in the full knowledge that they'd likely be fired on, and they still did it.

IMO the solution to DD isn't draconian punishments but dramatically raising the chances of getting caught.

cadaliac

Anan1 wrote: »

Will it though? Remember how joyriders in the North used to run British army checkpoints in stolen cars, in the full knowledge that they'd likely be fired on, and they still did it.

IMO the solution to DD isn't draconian punishments but dramatically raising the chances of getting caught.

Well, good point but I think the circumstances are a little different here. In the joy rider situation there would have been a dare element attached to the high of evading the army bullets. While the danger levels were unbelievably high, this danger element would add to the attraction for the joy rider.
The Drunk Driver (DD) I don't think, will go out get drunk and look for a car chase from the cops. The DD will use his car to get home without detection. (Although, in this case you could agrue that very point!)
Anyway, a DD will prioritize on getting drunk and then deal with getting home afterwards and not care about the consequences.
In this case, even after eight busts, he still didn't care about the consequences so something dramatic (and draconian) had to be done.

actuallylike

cadaliac wrote: »

Sorry, do you actually think that this comes as a suprise to him?

Life in jail? Yes, I guarantee it came as a surprise to him!

cadaliac wrote: »

This action - (putting a man in jail for life for this offence) while yes - is harsh - will have an affect on others in the State. Yes, it is contriversial, but this is why this action might save some lives in the future..

So, using him as an example onto others? I'd say the guy who's life is over would feel pretty hard done by about this. A couple of years yes, but life? Been actually told "you are going to die in prison"? Completely over the top!

Again, like I say, it is in their culture. Every time I've gone out in America in numerous states, I always suggest getting taxis but I'm looked at as if I'm mental. They all drive, the nightclub car parks are full to the brim and then empty after closing time.

This shows that they don't know any better, it's all well and good for us to tell them they're in the wrong, we've been bombarded with a relentless advertising awareness campaign for around twenty years and I feel it's done the world of good (I suppose I can only speak for myself and everyone I know who are completely against drink driving and would never do it nor get into a car where someone has been drinking) but to jail someone for life because he's been caught 9 times when he and hundreds of thousand of others have been doing it for years is just unfair.

Anan1

cadaliac wrote: »

In this case, even after eight busts, he still didn't care about the consequences so something dramatic (and draconian) had to be done.

Does anyone know whether he had a valid license at the time of his last offence? Any article I can find is very light on details.

Gregor Samsa

There's no way this will stand up on appeal. It's easy for a judge to pass a sentence like this to make a name for himself, but not even in the Republic of Texas can you arbitrarily lock someone up forever for something like this.

Personally, I don't feel much sympathy for the guy, but jailing people for life for something like this isn't a justifiable solution to the problem. His crime was DUI, not killing or injuring someone, not even attempting to kill or injure someone - but doing something that could possibly increase his chances of killing someone. The law shouldn't punish people with life in prison for things that didn't happen, but could have. There's better, cheaper ways of dealing with him, including alcohol monitoring, curfews, etc.

seamus wrote: »

You can't force rehab on an addict. If someone doesn't want to change, they won't. You can bring a horse to water, and so forth.

I think the "making him drink" part wasn't the problem

kennethk

actuallylike wrote: »

I meant, it slightly sarcastically meaning that now he's realistically facing life in prison which must have come as the biggest surprise to him, he's probably do anything to reverse it, let me know if you get understand.

looks like i wasn't the only one who didn't understand:rolleyes: