DUI License Plates

[Alec]

http://www.marionstar.com/news/stories/20040104/localnews/163244.html

Ohio is now requiring special license plates for people convicted of DUI.If they are convicted of the crime, three drivers arrested for driving under the influence by the Marion Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol on New Year's Day will be required to don distinctive new license plates on their vehicles.

A new law went into effect Jan. 1 and stipulates drivers convicted of DUI will be required to have these special license plates for the duration of their driving suspension in order to have driving privileges.

These plates, which are yellow with red letters and numbers, are markedly different from Ohio's regular white and blue license plates. Although the punishment has been available to Ohio judges since 1967, very few of them have chosen to use it.

Municipal Court Judge William Finnegan is one of the judges who has declined in the past to issue the restricted driving plates. "Although I don't have a problem punishing the offender, I do have an issue with stigmatizing the other people who drive the car," said Finnegan.

Many law enforcement and court officials needed to be brought up to speed on the new requirement, and Finnegan has been leading sessions to explain the new legislation for months. "I've been teaching judges all around the state since September," Finnegan said. In December Finnegan explained the law to the local bar association.

This regulation currently applies to both first-time and multiple offenders. However, legislation passed by the Ohio House and awaiting Senate hearings could revise the law, giving judges discretion for cases involving first-time offenders. I kinda like it. Do you think cops will be more likely to pull them over for minor offenses?

[theyeti]

Cool.

Do you think cops will be more likely to pull them over for minor offenses?
Doesn't matter to me.

Suppose a cop sees someone with one of these plates swerving a bit. The cop now knows that the person has a tendency to consume alcohol and not use good judgement. If the cop now is more likely to pull over the person, because the license plate has made him/her aware, that's a good thing.

Judge Finnegan's argument doesn't make sense. If someone else uses your car to commit a crime, you are held partially responsible. Whoever uses the car doesn't matter; in the eyes of the law, the car is the person.

[Alec]

Isn't that profiling?

[theyeti]

I 'spose to a certain extent it is, yeah. But if you make the mistake of drinking and driving, you should lose some rights. As long the punishment is revoked after a reasonable length of time, (I don't really want to go back to the Puritan times either) after the offender has done their dues, I think it's great.

[Pamella]

How about they just brand their foreheads, so people know not to sell them alcohol ever again?

If you drink and drive, you are not responsible enough to drink or drive. (imho)

[Grimey]

Originally posted by Pamella
If you drink and drive, you are not responsible enough to drink or drive. (imho) Good point.

[jamesglewisf]

I agree with theyeti. I think it is OK to lose some rights. It's better than just going straight to jail.

I don't understand all this malarkey about people who commit felonies wanting to be able to vote again after they serve their jail time. To me, if part of the punishment for committing a felony is that you never get to vote again, then just because you served your jail time, you shouldn't get voting rights back. If you cared so much about it, don't commit a felony.

[Alec]

So if you make a mistake, you get to pay for the rest of your life?

[dreuby]

So do criminals lose the vote forever in the US?

[dreuby]

I've been looking at the UK - the Prison Reform Trust is campaigning for serving prisoners to get the vote!

[theyeti]

I don't think it should be for the rest of your life (something like DUI that is). A felony on the other hand, which is more serious, (and is when you lose your right to vote) necessitates that part of your punishment is going to be that label sticking with you in some form.

I don't want serial murderers and rapists helping to decide who leads my country. Then again there are a lot of people I don't want helping to decide who leads my country ;)

[Stormwind]

But it isn't just serial murderers and rapists who lose their right to vote- felonies cover a lot of crimes. And once a person has paid their entire punishment, in time, fines, etc- why shouldn't they be allowed their former rights in society. We don't lock them up forever, why should they lose their rights forever?

As to the DUI and special plates, I am all for it for the duration of the probation, however, I also am concerned about other people who drive the vehicle. I don't think they should be stigmatized for something someone else did... Perhaps something that requires them to use the special plates when they are driving but revert to the regular plates for someone else?????

[theyeti]

Perhaps the other people who drive the vehicle shouldn't be associating themselves with the person who doesn't know that drinking and driving shouldn't mix.

[jamesglewisf]

Originally posted by Stormwind
And once a person has paid their entire punishment, in time, fines, etc- why shouldn't they be allowed their former rights in society. We don't lock them up forever, why should they lose their rights forever? Because they haven't paid their entire punishment. The entire punishment is that you never get to vote again.

[jamesglewisf]

Originally posted by dreuby
I've been looking at the UK - the Prison Reform Trust is campaigning for serving prisoners to get the vote! Look it up. They are probably tied to a liberal party. More votes.

[jamesglewisf]

What do you think of special license plates for people who vote? Do you think it would make a difference in turnout at the polls?