Stricter Penalties on First-Time Drunk Driving Offenders Essay Example for Free

Stricter Penalties on premiere-Time Drunk Driving Off demolitioners EssayAccording to a study done by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, one in leash Ameri stubs will be in an accident involving a rummy driver during their bread and buttertime (Phong). Something needs to be done to address this subject field considering the frequency of these accidents, the opprobriousity of many of these accidents, and the accessibility of alcohol in todays culture. An increase in penalties for prototypic time offenders could significantly lower this statistic by encouraging drivers to not remainderate their offense. Understandably, some muckle make mistakes and can correct them after their starting offense. However, a larger take of people repeat this offense and be found impetuous below the influence or intoxicated after their first offense. Stricter penalties and punishments should be established for first time offenders because most drivers are inclined to repeat their offense, i nebriated drivers bushel other people, and the current laws are ineffective. Stricter penalties need to be established to show drivers the importance of drive force sober. First time offenders are incredibly likely to drive inebriated again simply because they think they can experience away with it.According to various studies, first-time wino driving offenders are on the road anyplace from 88 to 500 times before they are caught in the act of driving rum (Mejeur). To drunk drivers, it is worth driving drunk and running the risk of nonplusting caught because they believe the chances of them getting arrested are slopped to none. This mindset needs to be changed completely. Intoxicated drivers need to understand that it is not worth the risk of driving under the influence. When deciding whether or not to hit the road under the influence, the punishments need to out weigh the benefits of driving intoxicated in the drivers mind.Mejeur reveals in another article that 5% of alcoh ol related fatal crashes refer drivers with more that 5 previous DWI (driving while intoxicated) arrests (9). This means their first five arrests for driving under the influence did not deter them. Stricter penalties will encourage drivers to make not to repeat their accomplishments. Finally, 39% of the rurals drunk driving cases involved second time offenders, and 11% involved third and fourthly time offenders (Phong). Even after being convicted of a drunk driving charge, 50% of these drivers chose to drive on the roads drunk, endangering thousands of people.Clearly the legal system is not efficient in discouraging drunk driving after a drivers first offense. This just shows that most first-time drunk driving offenders rent to drive under the influence of alcohol multiple times before getting caught, and even after, they choose to continue this incredibly dangerous behavior. Stricter penalties will deter drivers from getting behind the wheel under the influence. Since the ac tions of drunk drivers not only affect themselves, but they also affect others, there need to be more severe punishments for drunk drivers.In just 2004, 320 people were killed by drunk drivers every week, which is roughly the uniform of a weekly plane crash killing everyone on board. If that were the case, no one would fly and the earth would demand change (Savage). Many people are killed by drunk drivers, but the public has make so accustomed to hearing about drunk driving accidents, that no ones seeks to change this, because it has become the norm. The legality is that the number of people killed by drunk drivers has increased since then, yet there has been undersized change.When a drunk driver takes a persons life, that persons family must live with that decision the drunk driver made to get behind the wheel, for the rest of their life. When drivers drink and drive, they put thousands and thousands of people in danger. Their actions rag much father than they even realize. O f children ages 14 and under who died in a automobile accident coating year, in 16% of these accidents had alcohol as a factor (Messenger 2). These are innocent children who find themselves all in the car with a drunk driver, or the victim of an accident with another drunk driver.If penalties were stronger for first time offenders, the number of innocent children whose lives are taken would drop. There are so many good-for-naught stories of people loosing loved ones to the poor choices of drunk drivers. In a story published by The majuscule Post, Michael Pangle was arrested in 2002 for drunk driving and was released to the custody of a friend that same night. His friend drove him to his car where he went to another bar, got behind the wheel, and got into an accident killing himself and another driver a father of three on his way home (Phong 3).Not only did Pangle lose his life, but he also took the life of a father of three a husband to their mother. The family will have to liv e with this loss the rest of their life. The actions of drunk drivers can affect innocent people for the rest of their life. Laws need to be made to deform and prevent this irresponsible behavior. The final reason to enforce stricter penalties is that the penalties in place now have little to no affect on the drivers and often fail to do any justice. Pam Louwagie found that ? of drivers pulled over by a police officer decline to take a breath test which results in a suspended license.Failing the test means losing your license, facing a drunk driving conviction, fines, and potentially cast out time. Drivers auto insurance jumps, jobs can be in jeopardy because they now have a front offense on their record (3). The choice is clear for a driver pulled over that has been accused of drunk driving. The penalties for refusing the test are a lot less severe than taking the test and failing. According to findings by Joe Mahr, When drivers refuse to take a breathalyzer test, the law allows them to appeal the one-year suspension in cultured court.But most prosecutors bargain away the suspensions as part of plea deals in criminal DWI cases. The end result Defendants admit to drunk driving and dont miss one day of driving (2). It is evident that drunk drivers have found a way around the legal system. It should not be that easy for drunk drivers to get off a charge and be allowed to continue driving on the roads. Even after putting so many people in danger, including themselves. Stricter penalties are a necessity. some other weakness of the legal system is at the trial and sentencing phase. If offenders do not show up for a trial, a warrant is issued.However, people on warrants are rarely tracked down unless they are involved in another crime (Mahr 2). They can potentially avoid prosecution indefinitely. Many offenders know how to lend the system to their advantage. The legal projection and punishments of drunk drivers needs to be reevaluated. Too many drunk drivers g et out of being convicted of DWIs or DUIs and can continue to drive drunk, endangering many people. Since most drunk drivers are inclined to repeat their offense, the actions of drunk drivers affect on others, and current laws are ineffective, stricter punishments need to be established.The number of fatalities as a result of drunk driving is only going to increase if no action is taken, causing pain to thousands and thousands of people. This irresponsible act needs to be addressed because drunk drivers continue to get behind the wheel everyday with no regard for the law or those they put in danger. By demanding change and encouraging stricter punishments for first time drunk driving offenders, the number of fatalities will decrease and drunk driving will become less of a problem all across the nation.