Teen gets 10 years probation for killing 4 while drunk

[NAB]

[eynon81]

[NAB]

[Dylan]

[Leviathan]

[Darkhorse]

[Hyperion]

I have no issue with harsh sentences for these type of cases, but I'm opposed to proposals to decrease the BAC limit even more. Frankly it's already gotten to that place since many states allow for someone to be prosecuted as drunk even if they blow under a 0.08. Yes almost all of these cases are reduced, but that's just because we have an overbearing plea bargain system that scares the crap out of the average Joe. The BAC should be scaled back to 0.10 because the statistical significant changes in collisions don't even occur until around 0.07. Some aspects of motor performance and creativity slightly increase in the 0.02 - 0.04 range, in fact. Please keep in mind these numbers are based on aggregates and statistically significant is not synonymous with purely statistical.

Really I can't stand the entire stigmatization against non-collision DWIs because cell phones and children in the backseat provide larger distractions. I don't think someone's entire life should be screwed up for a decade because she drank 3 glasses of wine in an hour. I tend to err on the side of caution against harsh punishments because I've rarely seen a benefit from turning someone into a criminal for one mistake.

[uebermann]

This case is pretty messed up. The kid isn't being taught any culpability here and will end up having the same problems as before. I think somewhere it was mentioned he was driving (illegally) at 13 and he as also been charged with a DUI before. Now he's killed people and he's still getting off scott-free, with a paid vacation to what equates to a resort.

I'm not saying he needs 50 lashes but he should have had to spend some time in jail/juvy at the very least.

[Darkhorse]

[Professor]