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Social Drinkers Beware
Nanny News Headlines ^
| September 27, 2001
Posted on 09/27/2001 1:24:46 PM PDT by sendtoscott
On Sunday, Maryland will become the latest state to criminalize driving after drinking a couple of glasses of wine, as the state's .08% BAC law takes effect. The state's "war against drunken driving" will feature weekend roadblocks, as well as an intensive media campaign.
A new radio spot publicizing the new law ominously informs listeners, "The cost of drinking and driving just went up." Promising violators "a legal, professional, and economic nightmare," the ad's scare rhetoric comes to a crescendo: "If you're still drinking and driving, the new .08 law is aimed right at you. It's not complicated at all. It's simple. Don't blow it in Maryland."
The .08% BAC campaign in Maryland makes it clear that social drinkers -- at any level -- are in the state's crosshairs. Robert Voas, who has worked with MADD and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), has said that drivers just above .08% BAC "often do not exhibit blatant erratic driving of higher BAC offenders, so the evidence of probable cause may not be present for stopping a vehicle." PIRE has called for random roadside breath tests to cover at least half the driving population each year.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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To: sendtoscott
"Your papers, zey are not in order!"...
2
posted on
09/27/2001 1:27:18 PM PDT
by
NativeSon
To: sendtoscott
Dang, next they'll require you have a license.
3
posted on
09/27/2001 1:27:55 PM PDT
by
ofMagog
To: sendtoscott
I'm more concerned about trigger happy transit cops than drunks.
To: sendtoscott
PIRE has called for random roadside breath tests to cover at least half the driving population each year. IOW, someone with a .085% BAC can be pulled over - for no reason - tested and fined.
To: sendtoscott
Oh, yes. Those wonderful new .08% laws. They have done such wonders for every state they are in! The local music scenes dry up and blow away, the local clubs go broke and go out of business, all because everyone becomes too afraid to even have a beer! Slowly, inexorably, the cold clammy hand of the nanny state clamps down upon us all. Remember, its for your own good!
To: sendtoscott
PIRE has called for random roadside breath tests to cover at least half the driving population each year.
Which is the real goal of all this.
Comment #8 Removed by Moderator
Comment #9 Removed by Moderator
To: NittanyLion
That's right, because even if someone *appears* to be operating a motor vehicle in a safe manner, that's no reason to assume they *are* operating in a safe manner. We need random checks. While they're at it, they should be sure to check for drugs, weapons, or obcene materials. You can never be too safe, I always say. </sarcasm>
To: sendtoscott
That's more than a couple.
To: sendtoscott
This is so ridiculous. Why not randomly test elderly for agility and reaction times. I would like to see the numbers of accidents and fatalities of people in the .08 range compared to say, driver inattention or falling asleep at the wheel.
But hey, if it'll save just one child /sarcasm
To: BostonGuy
I wouldn't get to upset if I lived in Maryland. Even if you do get pulled over, you can refuse the breatholizer test. When you get summoned to court, you just ask for the officer to provide evidence that you were drunk. No breatholizer, no evidence, no charge. It's not as bad as you may think.
13
posted on
09/27/2001 1:37:05 PM PDT
by
llama7
To: sendtoscott
PIRE has called for random roadside breath tests to cover at least half the driving population each year.I would much rather piss in there boots.
To: ofMagog
Dang, next they'll require you have a license. No good reason is required to pull motorists over and administer the test. Drivers evidencing no erratic behaviors will be pulled over without probable cause, and forced to prove their innocence by taking a breathalizer test. Something about that bothers me.
To: sendtoscott
never submit to a road side sobriety test. never consent to a search of your vehicle. even if you have "nothing to hide".
To: NittanyLion
IOW, someone with a .085% BAC can be pulled over - for no reason - tested and fined. IOW, someone with a 0.000% BAC can be pulled over - for no reason - and be tested, harassed, detained, and searched.
Actual dangerous behaviour is irrelevand. I'm glad I left that cesspool of a state.
AB
To: llama7
No breatholizer, no evidence, no charge. It's not as bad as you may think. Do this in Pennsylvania and your license will automatically be revoked. Are you sure this is MD law?
To: ArrogantBustard
Good point AB.
To: Billy_bob_bob
The local music scenes dry up and blow away, the local clubs go broke and go out of business, all because everyone becomes too afraid to even have a beer! If you have to get sheetfaced to enjoy the music, it can't be that good.
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