DUI/Drug, felony and trucking facts.

Joe, I don't necessarily agree with your standpoint on these issues in entirety. I do agree with the notion that driving is a privilege and driving commercially is more so. I don't think that any demonization needs to happen on account of people's personal decisions but, it's pretty clear that the expectations for CDL holders are a little higher. If you want to run the big road in a big truck it would be beneficial for you (generalization... not Joe...obviously...) to lose the functional alcoholic lifestyle choice. I love beer... but only one night a week, at the most. Excellent comments and perspectives being thrown out on this one.

 

I don't agree that one should loose anything in life due to a bad decision. People can change, as I have. I was given plenty of chances, plenty of "man that was close" deals and I didn't change as fast as I should have but, I did. Anyone is capable of change, locking them up or taking away a privilege just for a first offense is senseless, in my opinion. This makes me think of the young "boy's" that are tried and locked up as adults for crimes committed as a teenager. That to me is ridiculous.

 

I am an American. I have no foreign blood in me at all. By that I mean that each and everyone of my ancestors arrived on this continent before 1776. Lots of Choctaw and Chickasaw blood. The phrase Driving is a privilege has always grated on me. Who is it that grants us "Privileges". Our constitution starts with "We the People". Anytime we allow ourselves to be ruled over by a government that does not understand that We the People are the supreme law, we cheapen all those who built this nation.

A lot of what drives the anti drunk driving laws is revenge. Someone has to pay for the lost of someones love ones. But some people can drive safely after a beer or two. No one in my family drinks alcohol. My father served on a jury once. You don't want my father on your jury. The case involve a man who had too much to drink and drove away from the bar. He realized that he was too drunk to drive so he pull over and turned the car off and got into the back and went to sleep. He was arrested for DUI because he still had the keys on him. I would have given the guy a medal but dad and the other 11 folks sent him to prison.

CDL holders are legally drunk at .04. Why does that make any sense? I fly a plane and alcohol at altitude has a greater effect but most trucks never leave the ground. The laws are not meant to stop drinking and driving. If they were, the law would be if you are caught driving drunk you would lose your car. You would still have to make payments if you owned anything but your car goes to the state. That would stop it over night.

But again, I don't drink so this is JMHO. +

 

See, this is where I like to have great discussion. Lets say I went to a bar last night and just stayed longer than I should have. Drank a few shots and got to bed later than I had planned. Definitely my fault, no doubt about it. But, lets say I had planned to leave today at 18:00 That's plenty of time to sober up, and be legal to drive. But, the broker calls and says the pickup time is at 16:00 instead of 18:00. I feel fine and plenty of time has passed, 12 hrs lets say. In route I get pulled into the scale and called inside for paperwork check. The DOT like to get close to you when talking to you so they can smell ya..lol They happen to catch a hint of alcohol and call for a breath test. I fail, .02,,,,should I loose my license for life on that account?

Another exacmple; I go to the same bar for the same amount of time and drink the same drinks. Than drive home and get into an accident, no fatality's but an accident none the less. Should I loose my license in this situation, for life?

 

Don't get me wrong here.... I agree that CDL holders, Military, LEO's, EMT's and Politicians should get held to a higher standard.. School teachers as well...

 

Here Here,,,wooly Rhino.... I always have felt the same in regards to "privilege to drive" but, I stand by the States right to make their own laws. I guess since the Fed. Gov. is in charge o Post Roads and such, they can say what can and can't go on them... oh well.

As for the guy that got sent to prison, I did the same thing he did, a little different. I used to love grabbing a 12 pack and going somewhere like the beach and drink while listening to the radio. I remember one time in particular, I was at a lake and just jumped in the back seat of my car and went to sleep. I used to always go to sleep with the radio on during those years so, the keys were in the ignition. I woke up to a LEO knocking on my window. Long story short, he drove me home and told me not to come back for the car. He didn't have to give me a ride, I could have been in the same shoes as the guy you mentioned. Just amazing how two similar situations can end soooooo differently..

 

I respect your opinion and I will leave it at that.