Posted on 02/15/2011 6:56:54 AM PST by Ken H
And therein lies the willingness to embrace totalitarianism. Let us take your affability to extreme measures, to ensure no rolling stops, to their extremes: You have no problem with a 2000+ dollar fine, I see. So how about a 10,000 dollar fine? How about forfeiture of a car? How about a mandatory year in jail? Ten years in prison okay with you? Cutting off a leg cool? How about the death penalty for a rolling stop? How about the killing of the entire immediate family for a rolling stop?
Excessive punishments are unconstitutional, for a reason. It is to prevent, in some small measure, tyranny.
I submit that a fine that would be the entire months earning power for an average man, for a single rolling stop, is excessive punishment.
You stop, make sure the path is clear, the turn right with caution.
I don't know if the law in Texas is the same as it was back in the mid 80s, but then it was illegal to enter an intersection on green, if the intersection still had traffic in it from a light change for other traffic.
I was shocked to hear that coming from a DPS trooper, but he explained it very well to the class. I still go to defensive driving every three years for the 10% insurance deduction.
I would hardly call that totalitarianism...LOL. Tell me, do you support the death penalty?
Pesky guidelines? Let’s stick to the topic at hand: Rolling stops at right on red or at stop signs.
Let’s try again...
My question was: if I have slowed to a crawl at an intersection, and am taking, oh, let’s say a four count by some observer’s viewpoint, but never actually fully ceased motion, is that worse than the other guy at the same intersection who’s brought his car to a full stop, but immediately jumps back on the accelerator within a second, or a one-count? That guy, according to a strict application of the rules has obeyed the letter of the law. However, common sense tells you that the roll-thru offered no worse (and really, superior) chance to assess traffic.
No one, especially me, would advocate that all I should have to do is slow down at intersections. But to simply state ‘if your car didn’t come to a complete stop, you’re in violation’ only equips traffic enforcement officials with a tool to dole out fines.
I don't follow your logic here. To me it always makes sense to slow down a bit at an intersection, knowing there's a good chance someone will pull out in front of me. Defensive driving.
So you support having the death penalty on the table for a crime where it's mostly her word against his? That's insane.
I am only in support of the death penalty for a CONVICTION of rape, which requires evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. I don’t think he said/she said alone gets a rape conviction in these days of DNA and all. Many states had the death penalty for rape until the US Supreme Court canned it back in the 70s, I believe.
Innocent people get convicted for all sorts of things including rape.
****
You’re right. Let’s just toss the criminal law. Everyone fend for yourself.
For the record, Virginia HB1993:
Although the bill was passed by the House, in a Senate committee on February 16 the bill was “Passed By Indefinitely” (i.e. if the committee takes no further action, the bill is dead). The current legislative session ends on February 26.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=HB1993
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