Ugh, she was drunk (520 crash)

uwhuskygirl · February 2012

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Woman-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-on-SR-520-139975133.html

I'm just going to say it, I'm a jackhole and I don't have any sympathy for the woman who died. I feel horrible for her family and the dump truck driver that hit her, but it was her choice to drink and drive. It's unfortunate that so many other innocent people had to suffer as a result of her bad judgment.

SoundersChick · February 2012

I completely agree with you. If that makes you a jackhole, it makes me one too.

jennlin · February 2012

i, too, have no sympathy for people who pay for their dumb decisions. what does suck is the two people that hit her are probably traumatized, the diesel that spilled into the environment, her family, people who were late for work because of her-- i think the US needs stricter driving while impaired laws.

mgoss228 · February 2012

I was wondering about this, since my commute got all kinds of messed up this morning. My late start at work is nothing compared to a fatality. But I have no sympathy for that woman, for her loved ones yes, but not her, not by a long shot.

merrileekate · February 2012

jennlin:
i, too, have no sympathy for people who pay for their dumb decisions. what does suck is the two people that hit her are probably traumatized, the diesel that spilled into the environment, her family, people who were late for work because of her-- i think the US needs stricter driving while impaired laws.

This, exactly. What a mess.

amandasw · February 2012

yeah, it boggles my mind why we can't get stricter laws like, I don't know, if you ever drive drunk you loose your license for 10 years. What's the argument against that? (besides that they may continue to drive without a license, which people do when it gets taken away for other things) I don't know, I guess I realize it sounds extreme and sure people make mistakes, but I also know people brag about being able to drive drunk and maybe if there was a really harsh penalty people would actually think twice about it.

SoundersChick · February 2012

amandasw:
yeah, it boggles my mind why we can't get stricter laws like, I don't know, if you ever drive drunk you loose your license for 10 years. What's the argument against that? (besides that they may continue to drive without a license, which people do when it gets taken away for other things) I don't know, I guess I realize it sounds extreme and sure people make mistakes, but I also know people brag about being able to drive drunk and maybe if there was a really harsh penalty people would actually think twice about it.

In Canada drunk driving is a felony. My FIL's ex-BF had a DUI and he couldn't go to Canada for 10 years after it because of it.

Nutrguru · February 2012

I completely agree with you!

I also saw an article today about some Mom suing Four Loco for killing her 13 year old son.... Seriously?Why did you let your 13 yr drink, get a hold of alcohol, or hang out with someone who is old enough to buy it for him...

larzhope · February 2012

ugh, no sympathy from me! I've been hit by 2 drunk drivers. Luckily I wasn't hurt either time (though the total damage in both accidentals totalled over $12k)

KimberlyS530 · February 2012

jennlin:
i, too, have no sympathy for people who pay for their dumb decisions. what does suck is the two people that hit her are probably traumatized, the diesel that spilled into the environment, her family, people who were late for work because of her-- i think the US needs stricter driving while impaired laws.

This. Times about one million. I could be wrong, but I think the UAE has *super* strict laws regarding drinking and driving (makes sense, given that drinking is only allowed in some of the seven emirates, anyways); but our friends who live in Dubai say you never, ever, ever even *think* of risking it. It's basically a zero tolerance policy, and it works.

Even when I lived in Phoenix, there was this tent-city-prison that you had to do time in if you got arrested for DUI, and it sounded miserable (out in the middle of the desert, so you were either sweating your balls off or freezing your ass off), crappy food, no showers, etc. - it really made people (at least the ones I hung out with) more cognizant of drinking and driving.

It seems that, too often, the people who get injured in drunk driving accidents *aren't* the driver, but rather people who were doing the right thing and just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't wish death on anyone, obviously, but I agree with you girls who feel that it's hard to feel sorry for someone who made a stupid decision and had to deal with the consequences, even if they are as tragic as dying.

jennuinne · February 2012

I'll add my 2 cents. While repeated drunk driving or driving with a very high BAC is clearly inappropriate (and the penalties are harsher if you have priros and/or a high BAC), many people make a mistake and drive when they thought they were fine and get a DUI. Most of those people get stopped for speeding or something completely unrelated (not swerving, not accident). The penalties for DUI are already pretty severe. I imagine that if you get stopped after driving home from a bar or happy hour when you thought you were fine (or your husband or mom or brother), you'd have a much different opinion.

If someone is injuried, they are charged with felony Vehicular Assault or Vehicular Homicide and those penalties are much more severe.

From a criminal defense attorney.

amandasw · February 2012

jennuinne:
I'll add my 2 cents. While repeated drunk driving or driving with a very high BAC is clearly inappropriate (and the penalties are harsher if you have priros and/or a high BAC), many people make a mistake and drive when they thought they were fine and get a DUI. Most of those people get stopped for speeding or something completely unrelated (not swerving, not accident). The penalties for DUI are already pretty severe. I imagine that if you get stopped after driving home from a bar or happy hour when you thought you were fine (or your husband or mom or brother), you'd have a much different opinion.

If someone is injuried, they are charged with felony Vehicular Assault or Vehicular Homicide and those penalties are much more severe.

From a criminal defense attorney.

yeah, but isn't the point that it's too late (ie they killed someone) by that point? I get that people may not realize they are still being influenced by alcohol, but shouldn't the punishment be so bad that people wouldn't even think about driving after drinking? Obviously there should also be a lot more eduction about everything you described too because the average person probably doesn't realize how impaired they are. Also, if they are stupid enough to speed after drinking maybe they deserve it (half joking. if I had been drinking I sure as hell wouldn't be doing anything at all suspicious!)

jennuinne · February 2012

amandasw:
jennuinne:

I'll add my 2 cents. While repeated drunk driving or driving with a very high BAC is clearly inappropriate (and the penalties are harsher if you have priros and/or a high BAC), many people make a mistake and drive when they thought they were fine and get a DUI. Most of those people get stopped for speeding or something completely unrelated (not swerving, not accident). The penalties for DUI are already pretty severe. I imagine that if you get stopped after driving home from a bar or happy hour when you thought you were fine (or your husband or mom or brother), you'd have a much different opinion.

If someone is injuried, they are charged with felony Vehicular Assault or Vehicular Homicide and those penalties are much more severe.

From a criminal defense attorney.

yeah, but isn't the point that it's too late (ie they killed someone) by that point? I get that people may not realize they are still being influenced by alcohol, but shouldn't the punishment be so bad that people wouldn't even think about driving after drinking? Obviously there should also be a lot more eduction about everything you described too because the average person probably doesn't realize how impaired they are. Also, if they are stupid enough to speed after drinking maybe they deserve it (half joking. if I had been drinking I sure as hell wouldn't be doing anything at all suspicious!)

The other option is to say it is illegal to drink anything and drive. That would be simpler, no gray area.

amandasw · February 2012

jennuinne:
The other option is to say it is illegal to drink anything and drive. That would be simpler, no gray area.

yeah, that's kind of what I'm saying I guess. Some number that no one IRL understands isn't really very helpful unless you know exactly what 0.08 feels like to you (which is clearly not even easy to figure out even if you have tried it!). I personally do not drive if I have had any alcohol, keeps it simple.

ETA: I'm also a lightweight :P

Johlise · February 2012

I have no sympathy for people who drink and drive either.

jennlin · February 2012

okay so my take on the harsher rules is that when people get arrested for DUI's
(that don't injure anybody)--- they go to jail for a night, get their license suspended..pay high fees...but i think it's too "easy"...

under .08 (or whatever 1 or 2 drinks within reason)..should still be okay..but violating that it should be much more..instead of one night in jail, should be at least several days. and definitely make it something like a felony where it follows you forever, it's public, jobs can ask about it....etc etc...

Ugh, she was drunk (520 crash)

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