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.

[Independentamerican]

Excellent post !!

[TEXASPROUD]

Looks like New Mexico drivers are screwed if they go there to visit, don't they still have yellow plates with red lettering?

[wireman]

From what I've read, the Founding Fathers were HUGE boozers.
If Ben Franlikn, George Washington, and company were to return from the dead and see this type of nonsense taking place, there'd be BIG trouble!

[LibWhacker]

. . . a car used for work . . .

I suppose this means an employer would have to have the red letter plates on any company vehicle the person drove. This provision is clearly intended to deprive a person who has a DUI conviction of gainful employment. Is this really what we want? And is it deserved? No, of course not! It's petty and vindictive.

[FlJoePa]

Here's an idea....let's just punish bad driving, huh?

You drive poorly (drunk, sober, drugged up, kids in tow, need lunch, can't pry the cell phone from your ear, etc.), you go sit in the penalty box for awhile.

Living in South FL, I can tell you that I'll take my chances with the guy hovering around .12 before the 88 year old woman sitting on the yellow pages, looking through the steering wheel as she maneuvers the Olds through the masses.

The issue shouldn't be about drinking, but about driving. But that wouldn't be as easy to tackle now, would it?

[Sloth]

Now that is an AWESOME idea.

[LisaMalia]

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

--- Benjamin Franklin

[WackyKat]

Living in South FL, I can tell you that I'll take my chances with the guy hovering around .12 before the 88 year old woman sitting on the yellow pages, looking through the steering wheel as she maneuvers the Olds through the masses. The issue shouldn't be about drinking, but about driving. But that wouldn't be as easy to tackle now, would it?

Most of the people i see weaving on the road are yakking on their cell phones, not drunk.They are just as dangerous or more as someone at .08, yet they get a pass because they are "sober" and "hard-working"

[WackyKat]

From what I've read, the Founding Fathers were HUGE boozers

Quite right, Thomas Jefferson played a major role in introducing viniculture and wine drinking to this country.

Ben Franklin loved to drink

George Washington grew hemp at Mount Vernon

[nkycincinnatikid]

A funny and true local story. Cincinnati's overwhelmingly German population naturally liked their beer halls. While crusadeing in the city against the demon brew,Carrie Nation was asked by the press if she intended to weild her ax on the local kegs as she was notorious for doing elsewhere around the country. She was quoted as admitting that here she would drop dead from exhaustion before she could travel one city block.

[Lucky Lyn]

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


Maybe we should start up DAMM (Drunks Againest Mad Mothers)?

[Squantos]

Theres a twofold reason for making em look like NM plates IMO........:o)

Merry New Year and Stay safe !

[Conspiracy Guy]

My sister and her hubby own 4 McDonalds in the suburbs of Cincinnati.

[kever]

If you're going to take away someone's freedom - put them in jail. Making them a public spectacle isn't the answer. This is dangerous and encourages the "mob justice" mentality.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Not as potent as flashing, yellow warning lights, but I suppose it will do for now. Any chance I can get one of those plates on MY car? I need to be treated with more consideration while on the road.

[Geritol]

One drunk driving "solution" I heard once was to issue a motorcycle only license to offenders for 5 years. This would both reduce the damage done by the average mishap, and discourage driving during poor weather when accidents are even more likely to occur. If the offender survived the 5 years they could then have car privileges reinstated because the drinking is obviously not impacting their driving much.

[who knows what evil?]

Notice how you rarely hear anyone use the expression "It's a free country!" anymore?

Because it isn't.

Amen. Those 'Southwest Airline' commercials drive me nuts. "You are now free to move about the country". What a bunch of bold-faced bullsh*t.

[Conspiracy Guy]

But did you know that the average first offense DUI arrest involves no other traffic offense or accident?

Road blocks and bar watching. That is profiling.

[rmh47]

From what I've read, the Founding Fathers were HUGE boozers.

But never forget: They owned slaves!

[sawyer]

I think it is a bad thing because most of these people have done their 'time' so to speak. If the do it over and over they are not to be in a car driving any how. So if my husband has a plate do I get to remove it if I drive the car?