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Tuesday
February 2010
9
Community Blogs
A homeowner in Waukesha for 20 years, Steve is president of the Waukesha Dog Parks Organization and enjoys motorcycling, fishing and staying on top of politics.
End The Maddness
The news that Donte' Stallworth, a football player for the Cleveland Browns, who was drunk and killed a pedestrian, at 7:15AM, after an all night drinking binge at a hotel should serve as validation for my comments on shutting down the serving of alcohol after a certain hour.
Two things come from the Stallworth story. He has and will spend only 25 days in jail! He has paid off the surviving family members to avoid a trail and civil lawsuit. Justice has been usurped by money. He remains under a house arrest term and has lost his driver's license for life. However, I personally know that criminals that are free and ordered not to drive or conduct other behavior do not always do as they are ordered. Deadly results happen all too often. Unfortunately for those people who cannot avoid alcohol and drugs or be trusted to not drive, incarceration is the only way to protect the public.
Fellow Blogger Curt Otto recently reported on an early AM situation at a local pub of ill reputation. My comment was that if we can ban the sale of alcohol at stores after 9PM, should it not follow that it cannot be bought at lounges and restaurants either? Follow the money they say. Apparently the tavern lobby has bought off more politicians than the grocery lobby.
Steve,
First, i need to say that I am sorry for the loss in your family. I am disappointed that the he pleaded no contest in a cowardly way. I hope this brings some sort of closure.
Second, I do not think that stopping the sale of alchol after 9 at bars is the solution. In fact many accidents happen in broad daylight as well.
I feel the best thing to do is hold people accountable for their actions. If someone decides to drink and drive and gets pulled over, throw them in the clink for the night, min $5,000 fine, loss of license for 1 year, and 1000 hours community service. That is just a starting point.
Those who get in an accident and kill someone, should be locked up and prosecuted with a charge of voluntary manslaughter. That person made the consious decision to drink and the decision to drive.
I don't agree with punishing the majority because a few can't be responsible.
A federal policy needs to be implemented to avoid situations like Dante Stallworth. If he didn't have money and wasn't an NFL player he would be imprisoned. I don't think that is right.
Luke
Tags: Drunk Driving : Hot Topics
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