> the defendant had gone out drinking in several bars and clubs throughout Orange County...where “she consumed an unfathomable amount of alcohol.” <
It’s good to hear that the woman is being severely punished for killing three people. But someone served her drink after drink after drink.
I believe in personal responsibility. She made the decision to drink and drive. But whoever served her should be charged as an accessory.
“”But whoever served her should be charged as an accessory.””
Having lived in CA for years, I thought that was true. It’s not or is no longer?
To be so drunk that you don’t know if you’re traveling to San Clemente or away from San Clemente is pretty darned drunk!! Must be no landmarks along the way rang any bells with her. I guess that could be considered “blind drunk.”
Horrible story.....
This sound righteous in principle, but would be terrible in practice. Can you imagine the tort law suit bonanza from this? Suddenly every sharing of a drink - even in your own home - become a threat. Someone drinks a beer at your house and has a wreck on the way home. You prepared to be sued out the wazoo...? because you can bet your life every ambulance chasing lawyer will be on this as a cash cow especially if you have deep pockets of a homeowners policy or life savings for retirement. Add to this every establishment serving alcohol become a prime target. It’s a never ending nightmare.
Next on the agenda? Suits against gun manufacturers for producing a gun used in a crime. This is all a terrible idea.
And the bartender knew she was driving because . . . ?
I've spent a fair amount of time in bars and by and large, bartenders try to do the right thing. No bartender wants to play a hand in a tragedy like this. I have seen people shut off at the bar, including people I was with. I've seen a bartender, when she knew her intoxicated patron was planning to drive home, call a taxi and tell the patron the police will be the next call if they still insist on driving home. But you can't catch them all. Experienced drinkers can hide signs of intoxication pretty well. Further, especially with the ladies, the men are usually buying the drinks for them and taking the drinks back to a table. How can bartenders be expected to police that?
Also, this opens the door for criminalizing a lot of other nonsense. For instance, if a house guest had too much to drink and got into a fatal DUI on the way home, you could go to jail and lose your house. I still remember a party at my brother's house where some teenagers liberated booze from the liquor cabinet and got smashed down in the basement. One of them had driven to the party in his parent's car and had already headed out with a carload of kids before we realized what was going on. Fortunately there was no accident but doesn't seem right that my brother should be charged as an accessory for that.
I prefer to stick with personal responsibility for one's own actions.