DWI Crackdown: Tough Enough?
After his first DWI crash, Brian D. Davis spent one day in jail and was fined $750.
His second DWI crash could result in a far harsher punishment.
Lawmakers have toughened the state's DWI law in recent years, targeting "the baddest of the bad" offenders.
And Davis appears to fit that description, an anti-DWI advocate said.
The Rogers Avenue man was convicted of DWI five years ago -- stemming from a personal injury crash.
And Davis, a 25-year-old parolee, was driving with a revoked driver's license when police charged him with driving drunk on July 5 and causing a crash that killed his friend, a passenger in his vehicle.
Davis is just one of dramatically increased number of accused drunken drivers to be prosecuted this year by the Erie County District Attorney's Office for killing or injuring others.
"People who have gone through the system before know how serious it is," said John F. Sullivan, project coordinator for Erie County's STOP-DWI program. "There's no way they can walk into the courtroom and say, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do this.'
"They've already been through the wringer," Sullivan added. "And despite all of that, they disregarded the risks and continued to do it.
"That's getting to the crux of the problem," Sullivan said of the toughened laws targeting chronic offenders.
Will it be enough?
-- Patrick Lakamp
The toughening of this penalty is long overdue. As a law enforcement officer, however, I can say with near certainty that judges will still entertain pleas that result in penalties that aren't even close to the statutory. I'm still waiting for across the board enforcement of the law from ten years ago that mandated five years imprisonment for any DWI/Drug injury accident.
Posted by: Jeff | July 25, 2008 at 10:08 AM
First-time DUI and DWI offenders should have their licenses revoked for a year. Then there may not be a second time. But if there is, revoke the license permanently. There is no excuse for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Posted by: Achai Kamau | July 25, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Thank you for this perspective.
Posted by: Lynn | July 25, 2008 at 02:39 PM
It is about time people who drink and drive and kill serve time> In 1989 My boyfriend at the time was killed on Amherst street and the guy who hit him did about 6 months
Posted by: maryann landers | July 25, 2008 at 06:28 PM
I agree with Jeff, another law that won't be enforced. Drinking and driving is an equal oppurtunity destroyer, therefore we can't enforce current laws because DWI is committed by people of all races and more importantly power and income.
Posted by: BrutalHonesty | July 26, 2008 at 05:49 AM
There is no laws.
Only, "I know this cop...", "I know this judge...". "I know this lawyer...", "I know this politician...", "I'm a ______" (fill in the blank)
"My daddy is a ________"
What? You don't know somebody?
Your not a _______?
Your daddy works at Wal-mart?
Then their is LAWS!
Posted by: sam | July 26, 2008 at 06:43 PM