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Post by thelma on Mar 25, 2008 17:03:12 GMT -5
IMO - Alcohol is alcohol - whether it comes from Liquor, Beer 0r cough syrup - DWI means Driving While Intoxicated. Anyone that consumes too much liquor IN ANY FORM is "intoxicated" by legal standards.
More States should follow the strict laws that Massachusetts has for drunk drivers. They don't allow conditional licenses after being convicted for DWI - regardless of the occupation of the guilty party.
For 23 years working for an Insurance Company, I heard all the "excuses" of why a person we had declined for auto insurance should be reconsidered. Quess what? In the entire 23 years I never heard (but one) any excuse that made me change my mind.
The one that I did change my mind was an Executive of a Comapny who was not a drinker at all. He had attended his Retirement party where everyone kept buying him drinks and telling him "just one more". When he finally left to go home, he realized he had too much to drink and pulled off onto the side of the road to "sleep it off".
Unfortunately, a State Trooper came along; noticed the keys were still in the ignition, and arrested him for DWI.
The insurance agent who submitted the application, the Executive's Minister, and the CEO of his Company all submitted affidavits stating that this Executive was a non drinker except for the night of his Retirement Party. We ended up providing an Auto Ins. Policy for him in our Standard Company that had a surcharge applied to it for 3 years due to the DWI conviction.
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Post by froggy on Mar 25, 2008 19:34:26 GMT -5
See the problem is that a breathalyzer measures alcohol content as related to the lungs. So if someone has been swishing around cough syrup in their mouth, the alcohol is on their breath, not in their blood stream. Its called a false positive. The evidence of which is that he passed all sobriety tests and was not arrested. Also, if you have been eating while consuming alcohol, and there are food particles in your mouth, they will absorb alcohol and increase the reading on a breathalyzer. Breathalyzer tests, just like lie detectors, are not fool proof. The real test for BAC and the accurate one is an actual blood test.
Don't get me wrong, thelma, I know we debated this at the disgrace before. I don't condone people getting tanked up and driving. But there are people who have been charged and/or convicted with faulty evidence.
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Post by frankcor on Mar 25, 2008 20:24:39 GMT -5
LOL, Dave. I'm sure the board calls you the taxpayer from hell when the go into executive session.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 25, 2008 21:54:09 GMT -5
LOL, Dave. I'm sure the board calls you the taxpayer from hell when the go into executive session. I don't think I stand out in the crowd of retiree like-thinking fellow travelers for anyone on the board to remember me in particular. About 3 years ago, the school district very badly handled ... worse than usual... a bond issue around which opponents created an campaign so emotional and so effective that on the day of the vote older citizens turned out in wheel chairs and walkers to vote the proposal down. I actually felt sorry for one board member who I witnessed being vilified by an elderly woman shaking her cane while she accused him of trying to kick her out of her home with increased taxes. It was wonder some voters didn't arrive by ambulance. Big problems here and probably everywhere else is aging physical plants, state mandates and teacher unions. But, as I told one board member (a friend ... I think) it has to stop somewhere. |
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Post by thelma on Mar 26, 2008 6:31:27 GMT -5
.......................................................................................................................................... Breathalyzer tests, just like lie detectors, are not fool proof. The real test for BAC and the accurate one is an actual blood test. Don't get me wrong, thelma, I know we debated this at the disgrace before. I don't condone people getting tanked up and driving. But there are people who have been charged and/or convicted with faulty evidence. ........................................................................................... I didn't know this. If all of this is true, than anyone arrested for DWI and knows they have not consumed any liquor or beer, should demand a blood test. Thanks for letting us all know this fact and if any of us gets pulled over for a DWI roadblock, we will be sure to ask for a blood test! |
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 26, 2008 8:41:27 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong, thelma, I know we debated this at the disgrace before. I don't condone people getting tanked up and driving. But there are people who have been charged and/or convicted with faulty evidence. Froggy, I have no evidence to back up my opinion, but I can't believe very many drivers are mistakenly convicted of DWI because of erroneous breathalyzer results. The exhalation/BAC relationship is well established. Also, in the teacher case, I can't imagine why anyone would be swishing cough medicine around in their mouth when it's supposed to be swallowed. Also, of all people, a Driver Ed teacher would be well aware of medications containing alcohol and, as Thelma said, CnH2n+1OH is CnH2n+1OH and any version of it will get you buzzed. Nytol is a very popular modern equivalent of "momma's little helper." Good wiki at the following: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathalyzer |
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Post by Disgusted-Daily on Mar 26, 2008 23:22:35 GMT -5
I will go on record to say that I do not agree with one getting tanked up and driving either.
I do wonder if there was not so much money involved that benefits the State, County, Attorney's, Police Officer's and Police Departments would it be so strongly enforced?
How many tickets does a Police Officer write for seat belts or cell phone's both have been determined to save lives? Better yet out of the three or any violation which one would a Police Officer prefer to enforce? I would bet a DWI.
I lived next to a man that ran the DWI program and told me how they rewarded Police Departments for writing DWI's with equipment and even gave the Oneida County Sheriffs Department two brand new Police cruisers.
Remember years ago they would sometimes allow you to leave the car and have somebody come get you or even go as far as to drive you home. Just try to get a break like that today, unless you have a badge in your back pocket.
I would also go on record that I have never received a DWI or DWAI.
Here's a funny story for you that I have told often and always get many laughs. I was on my way home in Uniform after completing the 3-11pm shift. I rolled up to a road block and put my window down. The Officer (who I will not identify and never will) comes to my window and states "Good evening sir, have you been drinking tonight"? With a puzzled look on my face which turned quickly into half a grin. I stated "Are you freaken kidding me"? We both laughed and he stated "Oh, there not serving Alcohol at the Prisons yet"? We both wished each other a good night and to be safe and off to home I went.
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Post by thelma on Mar 27, 2008 6:32:34 GMT -5
Todd - you and I both know that prisoners in State Prisons make the "home brew" - you just were not invited to their party for some - LOL!
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Post by Disgusted-Daily on Mar 27, 2008 11:53:09 GMT -5
That is why we just take it.  It teaches them to share next time. haha  |
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It teaches them to share next time. haha 