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His actual crime was to increase the public’s risk from his driving. I understand why that is considered a crime, but in fact people do that legally all the time. They drive when they are exhausted, they talk on the phone, they don’t concentrate on the road. The presence of these drivers on the road increases everyone’s risk, yet our legal system rarely touches them. Yet in this guy’s case, the legal system destroyed his life.

A just society shouldn't focus energies on punishing someone who does something a teensy weensy bit bad while ignoring people who do things many times worse.

Compared with all of the other things that may affect a person's driving, the effects from a 0.08 BAC on a typical person are within the realm of statistical noise. Though some effort may be made to measure them, there are so many confounding variables (e.g. someone is more likely to drink after a long day than before one) that meaningful measurements are impossible.

Given that there are many things people do which pose a bigger risk (e.g. thinking about their upcoming date with a boy/girlfriend, or the movie they just saw, or the discussion they just had, or whatever; not to mention putting on makeup, eating a gyro, driving while sleepy, etc.) I see no legitimate basis for prosecuting drivers for a 0.08BAC.

Indeed, I see no basis for prosecuting anyone for DUI unless there was some basis, prior to the police involvement, to suspect them of it (e.g. they were seen to be driving incompetently, or they got into an accident, or something).

Well said supercat.

To the other lovers of liberty and sanity on this thread; Don't let the jackbooters get you down. FreeRepublic has a larger number of government worshippers than you'd think given just the name and stated goals of this site.

It's sad, really, the sheer number of people in this country are just plain scared to death of freedom.

"A just society shouldn't focus energies on punishing someone who does something a teensy weensy bit bad while ignoring people who do things many times worse."

Thanks for considering the loss of my career, my savings, the majority of use in my left hand and arm teeny wenny.

Thanks for considering the addition of titanium to my spine teeny weeny.

Thanks for considering a brain injury causing memory problems teeny weeny.

Thanks for considering 7 herniated discs tenney weeny.

Oh yes, a just society considers such things teeny weeny.