Posted on 12/31/2005 5:18:21 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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.
I'm with you on that one. We have to show as a society that we are fair dinkum about cracking down on crime.
Could involve one of these.
I'm waiting for the Law of Unintended Consequences to kick in on this bright idea.
We're doing it in Pennsylvania, at least in Delaware County, and the highways are now clear of litter. It's a good 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).
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
All or none buddy boy!
YOu forgot I'M A SMOKER.....that's even worse than being a drunk driver in the minds of many (including here on FR)
You're both happy people get a skinful, get into their cars and kill people?
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!
"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.
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 .........
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.
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