New License Plate for Drunk Driving Offenders (Ohio)

WMOA News ^ | Andrew Rex

[Rays_Dad]

Drunk driving offenders will soon have a hard time keeping their past a secret under a new law next year, because they'll have a special license plate on their cars. Julie Hinds with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles describes the new plate saying, "It's bright yellow and red numbers. It's very hard to miss."

The new plates will be issued to all drunk driving offenders in the state of Ohio, whether it's their first offense or their fifth. And, the plates will go on any vehicle that person drives...a personal car, a car used for work, or a car their spouse drives. That's something that attorney Dennis Evans says may go too far. "I can't imagine too many spouses who would want to drop the children off at school in a car with red and yellow plates."

And, Evans says the effects of this new law will be enormous, leading to fewer guilty pleas and more offenders fighting the charge. He adds, "Their neighbors who live down the street from them, who see them drive their car through the neighborhood, will now realize they are a convicted drunk driver."

Even the bill's sponsor, Representative Scott Oelslager, a Canton Republican, says he believes these plates are very strict for first time offenders. He's introduced a "clean-up" bill which would limit the plates only to second time offenders or worse.

[Tacis]

It will backfire! Repeat offenders will claim that damage/death/injury done by a driver in a car with the plates could have been avoided/mitigated had the victims been paying attention and done everything they could have to get out of the drunk's way.

[SamAdams76]

The Scarlet Letter treatment. What a dumb idea.

The drivers of these cars don't have to feel embarrassed. Because how would everybody else know that the driver of this car is the drunk driver? For all they know, the driver might be the drunk driver's wife (or husband). Or the driver might be borrowing the car. Or they might think that the driver is the designated driver and that the guy in the passenger seat is the real drunk driver.

Also, these plates will become sort of a status symbol for kids. Especially high school kids. Imagine them tooling into the high school parking lot with one of these plates. "Yo man, I'm so cool, wit' my big-ass yellow drunk-driving plate...check it out!" Well, maybe not those exact words but you get the picture. Your average baseball-cap-backwards teenager who is only concerned about projecting a rebel image will covet one of these plates, trust me.

[drlevy88]

How about requiring the plate (or a magnet or clamp-on tag) to be there only when the drunk is driving the vehicle. There is no reason to shame an innocent spouse.

[LibWhacker]

Too lenient. They should execute anyone who has a drivers license and who has even thought about booze. /sarcasm

[glock rocks]

MA alredy has a plate for drunk drivers: US Senate 1

LMAO

[FlJoePa]

What color plates do the cell phone using/Big Mac eating/child disciplining/oops, I fell asleep drivers that kill innocent victims get on THEIR car? Or are THOSE lives not as precious?

If MADD isn't the perfect example of a great idea gone awry, I don't know what is.

[IncPen]

In Illinois the highway authority has signs over the roadways to alert motorists to delays, etc. It's nothing that you couldn't get by tuning in your radio, if interested. It fattened the pockets of some pol to put the stupid things in, no doubt.

For the last month they've had a message on them that said

YOU DRINK YOU DRIVE YOU LOSE

It angers me that we have elected people who feel comfortable talking to us this way.

[Teacher317]

The Scarlet Letter treatment. What a dumb idea. The drivers of these cars don't have to feel embarrassed. Because how would everybody else know that the driver of this car is the drunk driver? For all they know, the driver might be the drunk driver's wife (or husband). Or the driver might be borrowing the car. Or they might think that the driver is the designated driver and that the guy in the passenger seat is the real drunk driver.

This is 21st Century America, Sam. That tiny doubt will do NOTHING to stop appreciable numbers of drivers from performing some very rude and/or dangerous maneuvers and/or gestures towards the occupants of any vehicle with that tag. Hard passing, hard braking right in front of them, and rolling down the windows to revel in a good 3-Minute Hate will be common.

Of course, the opposite will also be true, where many drivers, especially the more timid ones, will veer far away, slow down unexpectedly, etc, and endanger other drivers in an attempt to avoid the "dangerous vehicle" because that driver MIGHT be drunk (never mind the fact that the odds are probably better that the car just ahead of the tagged car has a drunk driver).

Fringe "benefit": drivers can sue the state for any and all of these accidents "caused" by the plates (and not by the behaviors of drivers reacting to them).

A bad idea all around... which is why it will catch on. Bank on it.

[ChefKeith]

This is profiling and discrimination and will be challenged in court IMHO.

[clamper1797]

The Scarlet Letter treatment. What a dumb idea.

Absolutely ... besides that ... shamimg one member of a family shames all the INNOCENT members of that family too

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It used to be said that if you failed your driver's license test three times in Wisconsin, you got a yellow license plate...

[Old Professer]

Why don't they just brand them with a red S on their butts?

[shiva]

It will never make it to Massachusetts. Sen.Ted Kennedy won't allow it.

[Old Professer]

The sun shines in Arizona.

[AdamSelene235]

Why can't the state just be honest and try to outlaw alcohol?

Here you go.

2004 PROHIBITION PARTY PLATFORM

[Old Professer]

Do you seriously think shame still has a place in this society?

[LibWhacker]

Absolutely not. Sorry . . . My post was very badly worded. I'm on your side on this one, OP!

[Prodigal Son]

Hmmm. Interesting case. From several different aspects. One, obviously, is the societal aspect where drivers would immediately identify you as a drunk driver and avoid you like that plague or honk their horns, flip you the bird, tail-gate you or any number of odd reactions. The second one though is it just hangs a big sign on you that tells the police "Stop this guy" every time they see you.

This should make for interesting discussion.

[csvset]

[LisaMalia]

Seems like our fair state is trying to use the "bandaid on a gaping wound" solution.
Why not use our tax $$$$s and energy on getting the repeat offenders off of our roads for good!