ark (12/14/82)
Every time I think about what measures are appropriate for the government to deal with drunk driving, I come up with problems. For instance, what is "drunk"? While several states have specific limits for blood alcohol, I refuse to believe that someone with X percent blood alcohol will display an "amount of drunkenness" that is independent of the individual involved. To put it differently, whatever threshold you choose, there will be some people who are incapable of controlling a car with much less alcohol than that, and others who are perfectly competent with considerably more. Unless you believe that people should be prohibited from driving after ingesting any alcohol at all, you have to admit that this approach causes problems. I have another suggestion. Let the free market take care of it, as follows: A driver is responsible for any damage caused by his actions behind the wheel. Being drunk, stoned, or insane is no defense. Now, let (encourage, but do not require) insurance companies base their rates, in part, on the driver's past history of being involved in alcohol-related accidents. I'll bet that the insurance companies will be a lot tougher than any state governments, especially as they are not bound by all this "due process" stuff. If you can't find anyone to take on your risks (insure you), and you aren't willing to post a financial security bond, you can't drive. If you drive without evidence of financial responsibility (insurance card or posting bond), that should be a felony, like fraud.
wagner (12/15/82)
The simple solution to the drinking problem put forward here (if you can't get insurance or post a bond, you have a history of drinking and therefore shouldnt drive) is unworkable, because it gives licence(sp?) to the wealthy to drive when drunk. Michael Wagner, UTCS
hsc (12/15/82)
One bright spot is that a large chunk of moped sales are to people with auto licenses suspended for drunk driving. I think that depriving drunk drivers of 90% of their armor and 90% of theirhorsepower is wonderful. Now if we could just forbid them from wearing helmets ... Harvey S. Cohen 1C314 American Bell, Lincroft, NJ 07748 (201)576-6059 hogpc!hsc