http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/08/24/article/eden_woman_sentenced_in_cyclists_death
I don't think the judge even gave her the maximum amount of prison time that was allowed. The thing that frustrates me the most is that this judge is basically saying being on medication is a viable excuse to get behind a wheel, hit someone, leave them dying on the side of the road, and go on with your business as if nothing happend.
Driving is a PRIVILEGE, not a right--and her PRIVILEGE to drive had already been suspended!! A car is just as deadly as a gun if abused or treated nonchalantly. People and decisions like this make me feel scared and angry.
What are your thoughts?
Re: Outraged by court decision
Terp--you are such a smarty. As a matter of fact, for the charges that they had against her, the judge ALMOST gave her the maximum sentence. Since it was a hit and run, and they didn't "find" her until a few days later, they couldn't charge her with driving under the influence of anything--the drugs were already out of her system. It's one of those unfortunate loop holes in NC law right now--the hit and run laws don't include tougher sentencing if the victim lives or dies (What the #*$#?), if the driver had a suspended license or not, or if the driver had any previous similar vehicular offenses (which she did--she was actually FTA on a previous charge of driving with a suspended license). It's more written to require the judge to answer the simple "Did the person hit something and drive away? Yes or no." Personally, I don't understand why she didn't get the maximum sentence, and even that wouldn't have really put my mind at ease. I'm going to have to write my state representatives to have some teeth added to the hit and run laws of this state. Ridiculous!