Power corrupts-You'd better pay your tax bills in Ohio or else-this is crazy!

Mcdoniel

I find it amazing that anyone could make such a stupid argument among this learned crowd"

I don't find it amazing that you appear to the the arrogant know it all type. Whatever - you are wrong and I can see that your knowledge of law is as well. Reckless is different that DUI - and the law is pretty simple. I suspect that Florida is similiar to CA law. Arrogance can also impare ones ability to formulate an argument as well..

later...

 

mdoneil: And exactly where did I advocate drunk driving?

 

You didn't Ted. His argument is that any drinking impares your ability. While this might be true to a very small degree - quite a few other things impare your ability. A distraction is in fact an imparement. (just as smoking is suicide just as surely as if you held a gun to your head)

 

I haven't read this entire thread, I just skipped to the end and found this sentence jumping out at me. I only wanted to point out that for a person with diabetes, blood-sugar level is without question related to impairment. Too high or too low and a diabetic person simply should not drive.

As for alcohol, I've long felt that if cities/towns were reallyreally interested in stopping drunk driving they would post a Police Officer outside every bar in town and administer a breathalizer test to every patron who attempts to drive away. Why doesn't this happen now? The bars and restaurant would all go out of business.
Jack

 

As a novelty item, I bought one of those cheap breathalyzer testers for $10 from Surplus Computers. It works fairly well for what it is -- (I drank 4 beers and it did in fact show that my BA was 0.08 or greater). I bought about 10 of them as novelty gifts (along with a farting GW doll) to give out as xmas presents.

 

Of course I agree with that, but in nondiabetics I don't see how the comsumption of sugar to the point dyspepsia would possibly affect driving, but if others do then I will concede the point.

But that would be an illegal search. The search must be based on probable cause or a reasonable suspiscion. If they wanted to solve the problem they could offer free cab rides to everyone who has had too much to drink. I know this is done in some communities, but if it were done in more fewer people would drive after drinking.

 

I've often wondered whether there exist small inexpensive breathalizers that private individuals could carry with them in their pockets to the saloons ... so they can check out if they've become inebriated from too much Diet Pepsi after a long night of karaoke. Another possibility might be to have a big, induistrial strength breathalizer machine that bar owners would purchase ... and advertise a buck a blow.

 

But the entire jist of your argument is that drinking anything, regardless of how little, impares your driving ability, and that you should be arrested for DUI. So, again, using your previous argument coupled with this one, should we line up cabs in front of every eating establishment for free rides home?

Not to sound sarcastic, but I take it in addition to being and RN and Librarian, do you have a LE or law background? (besides academic training)

 

Yep - have one right in front of me. I was going to run a side by side test with the residual gas analyzer at work to verify how accurate it is. (I am guessing it is one step up from a toy, although the technology used by police on their hand-helds is pretty rudimentary)

 

Anyone that's interested in an excellent series on how pathetic the drunk-driving laws are in Massachusetts;

http://www.southofboston.net/specialreports/drunkendriving/index.shtml

 

Let me ask you Bruce, since you have probably made more DUI arrests than any other person on the board:

Do you think that police ought to arrest for having merely one drink? (BA <0.02) or do you support the 0.08 level as being legally drunk? What has been your experience - have you found a signficant amount of drivers impared by merely a glass of wine during dinner?

I am not trying to suck you into a bad argument or to take sides. I was just wondering what your experiences have been in dealing with the type of thing?

 

Absolutely not. I don't see any benefit whatsoever of arresting someone who wanted to have a glass of wine with their dinner.

As a matter of procedure, yes, only because *most* people are impaired with a .08 BAC. I take things on a case-by-case basis. I know of many, many people that could probably operate a motor vehicle safely if their BAC is above .08, since they're professional drunks, but I also know that most people could not. I base my judgement on my observations, their actions, etc.

As an aside, the highest BAC I've ever seen was .556, and that was a hospital blood test, which is as reliable as they come. That guy is a professional drunk, homeless, and I've lost count of how many times I've dragged him out of doorways. His drink of choice is Listerine. Yes, the mouthwash.

If I think someone is *possibly* impaired, borderline drunk, I tow their vehicle, and put them into a taxi to get home. I always err on the side of caution, but if someone is obviously drunk, they get arrested.

No, not at all.

As I've mentioned many times here, I'm not a huge traffic enforcement person, simply because I usually don't have the time. When I do make a traffic stop of someone who's had one glass of wine, I'm usually happy that's all they've done!

 

Impaired driving...

I think the original question here was does failing to pay your taxes impair your driving....

 

I have made many DUI arrests...

While build, sex and consumption habits have an effect on ones ability to process alcohol I have never seen anyone too impaired after a single glass of wine.....

 

The gist of my argument is that you should drink nothing and drive in DC where any BAC may result in prosecution for DUI.

Yes drinking at all impairs your ability to drive a motor vehicle. If you a with a group and one person has not been drinking that is often the best person to drive.

I never said everyone with any measurable quantity of alcohol in their blood should be arrested for DUI. I don't drink and drive, the woman in the article did. The fact that she was an attorney only makes it more absurd as she should know the law in DC allows an arrest for DUI with any BAC. I am not a lawyer in Florida and I know that a BAC of .05 mg/dl is not impairment by Statute.

I was a police officer for the City of Tampa, Florida. I am no longer a police officer. My entire cohort was let go due to budget cuts under Mayor Freeman. 19 became police officers elsewhere, 2 of us did not. It was not as personally rewarding as I felt it would be so I went to a local community college and became a paramedic and went to work for the county.

If cabs lined up to provide a free ride home from every restaurant and bar I would certainly have more wine with dinner and perhaps enjoy an extra Margarita or two. I am not a prohibitionist, I just don't want to kill someone with my car, nor do I want to be hit by a car again. I was struck by a car while standing on the Howard Frankland Bridge and the driver had been drinking, but he did not have a BAV > .08 so he was not charged with DUI. A newspaper column was written about that.

Similarly, I stopped on the way to a bar when a drunk driver crossed the median on a very busy highway and struck a woman head on. The passenger in the drunk's car was ejected and died immediatly. The woman victim was partially ejected and was unconscious upon my arrival seconds after the crash. In this photo you can see me just to the right of the fire fighter holding the IV -my bald head shines in the light - attempting to intubate the victim as the paramedics on the scene were not able to establish an airway (they knew me from the ER). The victim was flown to the hospital where she died later in that day. The drunk was convicted of vehicular homicide and remains in prison, he was 22 when the accident happened.

I don't care if you find my position harsh, but I feel no one should drink and drive. There are alternatives in this country.

 

Maybe he's looking for one of them smart girls. And maybe that's why he also hangs at degreeinfo.

 

Most smart women I know wouldn't be impressed (and would probably think the guy is too arrogant) Just my two...

 

I ignored the comment to which your quote refers the first time I saw it because I felt it was juvenile. I'm sorry you can't understand the humor in my sig line. I have since changed it, I hope you will be much happier.