Tennessee Hopes Shame Will Help Combat Drunk Driving

FOXNews.com ^ | 1 January 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new Tennessee law is enlisting the power of shame to discourage drunken driving — even though law enforcement, the governor and various experts are calling it an expensive and bad idea.

Starting Jan. 1, convicted drunken drivers are required to do 24 hours of roadside cleanup while wearing orange vests emblazoned with the phrase "I am a Drunk Driver."

The new law is aimed at first-time offenders, says one of its sponsors, state Rep. Charles Curtiss.

"You cause them to go out and pick up trash in front of their friends and neighbors, the embarrassment is going to be such that they're never going to want to go through that again," Curtiss said. "Hopefully you can turn them around to never become a second-time offender."

But shaming offenders without more meaningful treatment programs could have the opposite effect, said Jacqueline Helfgott, chairwoman of the criminal justice department at Seattle University.

"If I'm forced to wear a sign saying that I'm a drunk driver, then I'm going to feel worse and worse about myself and I may drink more and more because I feel shunned," she said.

[Aussie Dasher]

Despite what the so-called "experts" say, I reckon this might be worth a try!

[xcamel]

I'll send them my 20 year old bumpers sticker that says

Screw Guilt

[GSlob]

"I reckon this might be worth a try!"
I doubt it: the intended readers of the sign [aka "friends and neighbors"] are in all probability themselves too soaked to read and comprehend anything.

[nfldgirl]

I think it's a terrific idea and I would also welcome flogging in the public square for a lot of crimes committed throughout our communities, including vandalism, burgleries, assault, etc.

[Aussie Dasher]

I'm with you on that one. We have to show as a society that we are fair dinkum about cracking down on crime.

[stylin19a]

What exactly IS Combat Drunk Driving ?

[ChefKeith]

Could involve one of these.

[elli1]

I'm waiting for the Law of Unintended Consequences to kick in on this bright idea.

[RichInOC]

That might be where you're actually trying to hit people.

[Temple Owl]

We're doing it in Pennsylvania, at least in Delaware County, and the highways are now clear of litter. It's a good idea.

[Sonny M]

I'm waiting for the Law of Unintended Consequences to kick in on this bright idea.

You mean like it becoming a fashion statement (see the prison like wardrobe that become fashionable for awhile) or that if its to many people, it looks like government is over-reacting?

NYCs solution was to confiscate the car for 6 months and try and sell it.

Not exactly the success it was thought that it was going to be (nor was it the revenue raiser everyone expected).

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Lets just shame everyone and make them wear signs:

DRUNK DRIVER
SPEEDER
CHILD ABUSER
DIDN'T PAY ALL MY TAXES
RAN STOP SIGN
LOW SAT SCORES
CHEATED ON MY WIFE
DON'T MOW MY LAW ENOUGH
TEXAS AGGIE
JEW oh wait we tried that one in 39
IQ UNDER 120
ONE OF HALF OF ALL DOCTORS WHO GRADUATED IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THEIR CLASS

[100%FEDUP]

As long as they include others that say:
"I beat my wife"
"I molest children"
"I solicit prostitutes"
"I deal drugs"
etc., etc.

All or none buddy boy!

[bennowens]

This is idiotic. Don't you know there is no "shame" anymore?

[Gabz]

YOu forgot I'M A SMOKER.....that's even worse than being a drunk driver in the minds of many (including here on FR)

[Aussie Dasher]

You're both happy people get a skinful, get into their cars and kill people?

[100%FEDUP]

And you need to get a clue. Drunk driving is a problem but not the ONLY problem, yet it seems all these scarlet letter tactics are aimed at drunk driving and NOTHING ELSE!

[BadAndy]

"You cause them to go out and pick up trash in front of their friends and neighbors, the embarrassment is going to be such that they're never going to want to go through that again,"

Isn't humiliation now considered torture? This program might be considered a war crime.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

There's a giant leap in logic. Throw them in jail but give up on the feel good cute attempts to control behavior.

BTW have I ever told you about crossing the English Channel with 15 drunk aussies in 73 who were drinking, eating, puking in bags and singing "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Boys" for six hours .........

[Aussie Dasher]

Hey, I love a few grogs as much as the next bloke (probably more than some...) but drink driving turns a car from a vehicle into a weapon.