If the arrested had there names published on the net (or) in print
I bet there would be a lot less incidents. Forget there confidentiality.
The public has a right to know who are drunk, impaired, driving the
same streets we do with our family and precious children.

Although I think K. thompson's idea of publishing the names of those arrested for DUIs is a little over the top and I'm not sure about the legality of publishing the names? I'm also thinking Why Not? If public employees' salaries are published under the guise that it's public information and we, the taxpayers, pay their salaries so it's our right to know. Why isn't it also our right to know which citizens are using good taxpayer monies & the time of police officers arresting them? Law enforcement time & money could be better spent or even saved if not for people driving intoxicated.

Maybe a happy medium could be established by publishing the names of those arrests with prior DUI arrests?? The system is too easy on DUIs. 1st offenses should be dealt with more harshly than just a slap on the wrist; alcohol counseling, lose your license for a year, lose your ability to own a car.....Just a thought....

Maja....I can tell you a first time offense is no walk in the park, my cousin got a dui while in college a few years ago. His attorney fees were around $5,000, his fine to Butte County was $1,800, his auto insurance went from $1,000 per year (good student discount, good driving record) to $3,000 and I believe it stays on his record for 7 years (even though his charge was a misdemeanor). I'm not condoning his actions but the laws have been toughened up significantly. It is a major hit financially, which has been a good deterrent.

Perhaps it would also be appropriate to affix a scarlet letter to their clothing and display them in a stockade during the farmers' market. Citizens could then conveniently purchase fruits and vegetables with which to pummel them.

jrm... Thank you for your helpful info; good to know. Sometimes it takes a hit to the wallet to wake us up to a problem/situation. I hope that your cousin "learned the lesson" and is doing better because of it.
Thank you for sharing and moving the conversation forward; unlike Rob, who is obviously being sarcastic.

My worry about publishing dui convictions is where does it stop? Next someone will want to publish names of those who get tickets for distracted driving (talking on cell phone), speeding, no turn signal, etc. - Which also impact other drivers on the roads. I much prefer the "breathalizer" test to start the car.

I am enlightened by the many responses...If I am correct once you break the law 'certain personal rights' are lost....Perhaps with all the emotion aside, the loss of lives (perhaps it has touched your family or someone you know) and/or the physical disabilities and severe financial cost of being a VICTIM of an impaired driver (financially and/or physically)lives are changed !! We do not need a scarlet letter,
we need some common sense re: this. Alcohol, meth, pills, crack etc.
is epidemic. I am coming from a sincerely compassionate view for the
impaired driver(for whatever reason) perhaps names published could be
the wake up call to seek help...what is so wrong with that ? What is wrong with wanting to correctly assume the car driving towards you has
a sober operator, Hello, DESIGNATED DRIVER has been successful,
teens driving other teens home, grass roots program, very successful.
Political correctness ie:ultra liberal, ACLU, who want to erode law
abiding citizens THEIR RIGHTS, mentality/legally needs to be challenged...
God does not want us to see through each other (but) rather to see
each other through.... And for all you God haters I do not apologize
for using HIS name.

Maja7-

Perhaps I was being sarcastic, perhaps not. The point is that folks need to be careful what they ask for, as it can lead to an erosion of personal privacy well beyond the original good intent. Of course, "Mom" was more eloquent in the expression of the concern.

Rob

Driving while impaired is dangerous and should be punished, but the punishment should also include an understanding of the cause of the DUI.

A kid driving home from a frat party because he is not thinking needs to be handled differently from the housewife or stockbroker making bad stress-coping choices.

The kid needs to learn that his behavior is unacceptable, and the negative reinforcement of heavy financial penalties and a little time with the county are, I feel, more effective than dragging him through the streets.

The housewife or stockbroker making bad choices is less likely to be affected by fines and jail time, or public humiliation. The better approach would be helping them learn more effective coping strategies.

Punishment should be directed at preventing recurrence rather than extracting revenge.

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Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?