Special license plate for DUI offenders?
California is considering a law that would force DUI offenders to put a special license plate on their car for two years following a repeat conviction.
State Assemblyman Ray Haynes is pushing for the new law. Says Haynes, “I think it’s fair because the biggest problem of driving while drunk is that you are a lethal weapon inside a car, and people need to take steps to protect themselves.”
Statistics show that 36% of fatal accidents in California involve alcohol, up 30% from 10 years ago.
Dee Pettaway, who lost her daughter Sharmy to a drunk driver, supports the special plates. “We do this for child molesters. We mark them. We want to know where they live. Why wouldn’t we want to do it?”
Opponents say that it is unfair to publically humiliate someone for this offense. It is also unfair to other family members who may have to drive the same car. Says Victoria Phipps, a first-time offender, “I wouldn’t want it on my car marked. It’s just the same as stereotyping someone. If someone sees the license, they might automatically assume things about the person that might not be true. “
She’s right. If I see Virginia driving around with her license plate marking her as a repeat drunk driver I’m going to assume that it’s not safe to be driving near her. Wait a second… that’s the idea. I’d like to know the idiots driving drunk near me so I can stay away. And it’s not the same as stereotyping. The assumption of danger wouldn’t be based on her being female, it would be based on a history of driving under the influence. But she’s arguing a moot point anyway unless she is convicted again; the law would be enforced on repeat offenders.
But here’s my problem. Why let them keep their license? The government obviously thinks these people will be dangerous enough to mark so that everybody knows they’re there and can stay away from them on the road. Why not just deny them the right to drive? Yes, people will still drive without licenses, and those that are likely to be convicted of multiple DUIs are stupid enough to drive without a license. But it’s a first step.
I also think the devices that require a negative breathalizer test before the car will start are a potentially better solution. Of course that one is easy to trick by having someone else blow into the device.
Technorati Tags: California, DUI, Ray Haynes, Dee Pettaway, drunk driver, Victoria Phipps