Ending the problem of drinking and driving.

Each year, thousands of Americans (and others) are killed/maimed by drunk drivers. And yet, as a country, we do nothing about it that actually works.

Most recently here locally, this is one of the results of this nation's obvious indifference to our plight.

In this instance, according to the accompanying the article from the Vancouver, WA Police Department, one pedestrian died at the scene and another died a few days later.

The DUI driver was charged with DUI, Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Assault, and Reckless Driving'

He'll get a few years and a fine, if that. Run someone over/hit another car and kill someone with your car? It's "vehicular manslaughter."

Pull up next to them and use a gun? It's murder.

The outcomes are the same.

To me, there's no difference. Also, to me, I support making it illegal to drive after you've drank ANY alcohol... and you should be tried for attempted murder if you do.

We message everyone: "Do not drink and drive," and then we make it legal to do the very thing we tell people NOT to do. And thousands die every year as victims of DUI drivers while we continue to do nothing about it.

Obviously the sentences are not nearly enough to provide a deterrent.

Make the BAC 0.00. ANYTHING over that level would be considered DUI.

1. ONE DUI without accident? Lose your driver's license for life. Confiscate and sell the driver's vehicle. Take proceeds and put them into a DUI victims fund. 364 days in jail.

2. DUI WITH accident? See above. Five years in prison, DUI driver must pay ALL costs, reimbursing insurance as well, even if that requires seizure and sale of all assets.

3. DUI WITH injury? Both 1 and 2, increase sentence to 20 years.

4. DUI WITH death(s)? Both 1 and 2 and life in prison.

As a country, we either want to END DUI or we don't.

At this point?

It's pretty clear we don't.

Another innocent child dead. When are we going to fix this issue once and for all?

Every day, this happens. We tsk, tsk. We decry another DUI with another innocent life taken, another shattered family, another set of destroyed dreams for the future.

What's missing?

We don't really do anything about it.

And tomorrow, it will happen again. On average? 37 per day killed by a drunk driver. And the next day, and the next.

And we STILL won't do anything about it.

We have the ability. What we lack is the will.

(Link HERE) 1. Treat death or injury by motor vehicle the same way we're supposed to treat those who murder or injure using a gun or other weapon.

Make death by DUI the exact, same thing as 1st Degree murder. Hold the driver/murderer accountable.

2. Punish DUI without an accident the same way as attempted murder.

Too many people drive believing they're NOT drunk... Or in the alternative, knowing they're drunk and not caring. It's long past time to actually hold people responsible in a way they'll never forget.

3. Make it illegal to drink ANY amount or take ANY kind of drug/substance that can reduce your reflexes/judgment.

4. Permanently suspend anyone's license convicted of DUI. Including so-called "work" licenses.

The catch phrase today is to "drink responsibly." Last year, (2024) over 13,000 innocent people were slaughtered as a result of "drinking responsibly."

In many states, the prison time can be as little as... nothing. Here in Washington State, you can kill someone with your car while drunk and get a minimum sentence of 31 months.

When it comes to actual Murder 1 in most states, the minimum is some version of a "life sentence."

For me, the mystery is "why?"

While I get the legal concept of malice aforethought and intent, the result is the same.

In your car, pull up next to someone and shoot them with a gun, and you get a life sentence (more or less).

But the victim is just as dead, either way.

Like most every problem confronting the people of this country, we know about the issue. We've known about it since the advent of the automobile. We talk about it, beg and plead about it, advertise about it.

We lecture, we whine, we snivel, we show pixelated images because God Forbid we MUST "protect" the sensibilities of the casual observer and keep them from witnessing reality.

And like every other issue confronting us, we either want to solve it, or we don't.

With 13,000 dead last year as a result of idiots getting behind the wheel?

It's clear solving this issue isn't on the table.

We know what has to be done. But we refuse to do it. And this year, 13,000 more will die because as a people, we refuse to do what must be done.

And all *I* can do is hope that you.... the reader... are not one of them.