MADD plans to go on patrol for DUIs

St. Petersburg Times (tampabay.com) ^ | September 29, 2007 | ABBIE VANSICKLE

[elkfersupper]

It worried me when these kooks were allowed to write the legislation.

It worried me more when they kept dialing down what constitutes DUI.

It began to bother me a whole bunch when they succeeded in getting these infernal roadblocks going and getting the primary seatbelt laws passed.

When they started showing up to "observe" roadblocks, hearings and trials, I became outraged.

Now, they're being sanctioned by law enforcement to go on patrol.

What could possibly go wrong?

[elkfersupper]

Ping.

[Loud Mime]

I’ve had more trouble with cell phone users than drinkers....especially the gabby girlz and their parent provided vehicles.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Molly is back. Prohibition 2.0

[4yearlurker]

Ve vill report you to the authorities for the common good!

[Starwolf]

You forget the potential humor value. There is a neighborhood activist in the DFW area that filmed the drunks that were leaveing clubs and going into the neighborhoods. The videos are Internet Classics.

www.barkingdogs.org

[meyer]

Time to have fun with these dummies....

Unleash the designated decoys, and let the games begin. :)

[Minn]

Wouldn’t it be ironic if one of these observers causes a deadly accident? Is the road really any safer with these extra vehicles on it? What about fuel consumption?

[CaptRon]

They will do more harm than good.

[relictele]

Agreed.

Once upon a time they were worthy of some sympathy but their emotion driven legislation and constant harangues has taken sympathy out of the equation.

[OCC]

They'll be told ahead of time of the sometimes-subtle clues for drunk drivers, such as driving under the speed limit or lingering too long at a green light, Murray said.

"We certainly don't want our observers to be calling erroneous reports in," he said.

Drunk driving can cause many tragedies, but this could get a lot of innocent people in trouble for no reason.

[IronJack]

I salute their grassroots activism. But they need to know that they are dealing with drunks. And drunks are notoriously unpredictable and easily angered. I can see this turning out badly about the time some biker wino gets tired of Safety Sandy tailing him, pulls the car over, and drags Sandy out for a boozy come-ta-Jezuz. For cripes’ sake, these guys will often fight armed, trained cops. They aren’t going to have much trouble drawing down on some plump hausfrau who’s playing Gladys Kravitz.

[CaptRon]

He praised the idea, but he cautioned that it's vital that volunteers don't try to do the work of law enforcement in apprehending and accusing suspects.

They will,and in their zeal they will poison any possible prosecution.

[rabscuttle385]

"This isn't like a vigilante program," he said. "They won't be attempting to stop or in any way interacting with these vehicles. They're basically just observers."

It's funny how the Minutemen were vigilantes yet these folks are not.

[AF_Blue]

They'll be told ahead of time of the sometimes-subtle clues for drunk drivers, such as driving under the speed limit or lingering too long at a green light, Murray said.

ATTENTION HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS: As you drive around your community not exceeding the posted speed limits and ensuring an intersection is clear before entering it, please report any suspicious vehicles that follow you to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office. Thank you for your cooperation.

[elkfersupper]

I salute their grassroots activism.

Better not cut one of them off in traffic, or "steal" "their" parking place at the mall or grocery store.

You and yours will be in for a world of hurt.

[Gabz]

Nanny State Ping.........

I enjoy my beer as much as the next gal, and I want to keep drunk drivers off the road as much as anyone, but I’m sorry -— this is over the top in my opinion.

[longtermmemmory]

last time I read about a group doing this, there were incidents of “revenge reports”. Observers were getting back at someone for a personal vendetta.

MADD has outlived its usefulness.

Apparently there (paid) promotional effort for breath interlock devices has failed.

The founding mother of MADD quit long ago due to the organizations excessive focus of money over cause.

[calex59]

Isn’t this vigilantism? Sure sounds like it to me.

[Myrddin]

Don't drink and drive. They won't have any means of bothering you.