Posted on 02/23/2006 5:12:43 AM PST by Cagey
Baltimore television station WBAL reported that one bill would have convicted drunken drivers wear a Scarlet Letter of sorts.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 45 percent of Maryland's traffic fatalities are related to alcohol. The House Judiciary Committee heard about 18 driving under the influence bills Tuesday, but none as controversial as the so-called Scarlet Letter approach.
Montgomery County Delegate Herman Taylor, D-District 14, introduced House Bill 1315, which would require the state's Motor Vehicle Administration to issue special license plates to people convicted on at least two DUI offenses.
WBAL reported critics have called the measure a bumper sticker solution to crash prevention.
"It's intended to track people who have had two or more offenses dealing with drunken driving," Taylor said.
The license plates would contain the letters "DUI" in bold. Taylor said a drunken driver struck him last May, and at the time of the crash, police had no idea that person was a multiple offender.
Taylor considers the DUI plate an ounce of prevention because it gives police a license to stop the driver at any time.
"(The bill) will allow (police) to, without probable cause, pull them over and check" their driving records, Taylor said.
Defense attorneys have raised questions as to the specter of possible civil rights and other violations.
"I don't think the answer is a license plate, I think the answer is certainly more treatment and rehabilitation, which the governor has supported (and) the House Judiciary Committee has supported, tougher penalties for subsequent offenders," said Montgomery County Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-District 17, a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Other states have already instituted similar measures. WBAL reported Ohio issues to habitual drunken drivers a yellow license plate that has red numbers.
Last year, Florida's Legislature considered requiring those with multiple DUI convictions to use a bright pink license plate. WBAL reported a similar issue also came up some 10 years ago in California.
Michigan currently uses paper tags to identify repeat offenders, while Oregon and Washington state put a zebra sticker over the plate of habitual offenders.
This clearly demonstrates the stupidity of the current attempts to solve the DUI problem. People with two or more DUI's should not be an issue. They should be rotting in jail for 20 years. Problem solved!
See you all later!
Tell me, are you always so inclined to Do Good? How about people that forget to use their turn signals or that don't use Ethanol, or that drive gas-hogging SUVs?
We could have special plates for them too!
SARGE!
::HUGS::
If so, hang 'em. Good luck!
In my little town the people are mad because the new Police Chief has his officers arresting the drunks when the bars close instead of driving them home!!
I would do that if I had ever took the time to load my graphics software.
;)
Tatoo on forehead: "Smoker."
I personally know of people in the great Communistwealth of Virginia who just get their girlfriends, buddys, etc. to register the non-licensed person's vehicle in their name and have been driving with no license for years.
Don't even get me started on what the illegals around here are doing behind the wheel of all those cars with NC tags.
I remember when these first came out. Arizona plates had the same color scheme, so the cops always gave a closer look at the occasional Arizona car too. However, they are very rarely required by a judge. Most seem to believe that it is unfair.
I think this will soon be a moot point. I expect that soon the traffic cameras and cameras in police cars will soon have real time character recognition. From there is is a minor jump to having a continual check on those plates so any police officer driving by someone with a DUI on his record will be alterted to that fact.
Why don't we just put in a transmitter in the drunk's car.
That way, the LEO doesn't even have to look to see if the person is drunk at the time his car is in the vincinity of the cop's.
That sounds like a Good Idea. Especially to Those that Like to Do Good at the expense of everyone else! /s
There is a raging sinus infection over here, called the Ramadi Crud.
Half my kids are making melodious sounds with their noses and throats. Myself included.
Claritin's very popular nowadays...
{{{ CALLIE! }}}
"Uh... it's a vanity plate. My name is Dewey."
"I thought your name was Hector."
How can anyone have the temerity to indulge in a dimwitted analogy dealing with license plates? How can anyone be so thoughtless as to defend this foolish analogy? And you dare call me obtuse?
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