Local News Comments

Is it really that hard to prosecute a drunk driver that we have to spend an extra $160,000 on a special prosecuter to handle the cases? And isn't it also true that the majority of drunk drivers are 2nd, third, forth and fith offenders that will drive drunk even if they don't have a license ???? I want drunk drivers off the highway as much as anyone else but don't we need tougher penalties rather than special prosecuters ? Oh of course I forgot its a grant and we all know those are free at no cost to the taxpayers LOL

"No man resisted or offered to stand up in his defense, save one only, a centurion, Sempronius Densus, the single man among so many thousands that the sun beheld that day act worthily of the Roman empire, who, though he never received any favor from Galba, yet out of bravery and allegiance endeavored to defend the throne."
- Plutarch, Lives

I do believe though..that those who live in * ...become so through daily use...until they are like most of the govt itself..corrupt and held in contempt.

Wow..special rules..
funny that...
is that to compensate for the insensinate upbringing ladder ..
you know..
public defender....da...judge..etc

WOW! Are we serious right now?! More money wasted by the State of CA just for a title? A job function that should already be being done by the cops and DA's Office working together. Really, if a cop has to ask a "RID Prosecutor" (whoever/whatever that is making over 160K yr) if he/she should take pictures, measurements, write a search warrant, or arrest someone in a "possible" drunk driving case, then he/she needs to go back to the basic academy! Are you kidding me! If our current DA's Office and cops can't work together and handle the responsibility of prosecuting the bad guys, then it's time to re-evaluate our system and not waste money on a useless grant for a job that's already being done!
Thanks
Frank Rizzo!

sometimes u need a warrant to search their house over a dui??? really? this doesnt sound right in my eyes. then when u get there to their house and do your search I can bet you will be writing a lot more tickets for all kinds of things. public saftey or $$$$$. If you really cared about peoples safety then make it no drugs or alcohol in ones system. not .08 not .05 ,, nothing.. but then u would lose way to much money.. blah blah blah..

America is over. But what a great 250 year run.

Our justice system has lost it's respect. We turn lose felons, revenue and recovery people into bondage and use kickbacks to get the system to do the jobs they should already be doing. Judges, DA's, PD's and the police over step their bounds so their hands become tied. We need to start over, not add anything special. Get back to the basics and serve the people.

No DUI laws have ever proven to reduce the amount of impaired drivers on the road. DUI laws are a part of the failed drug war that has filled our prisons with young non-violent poor and colored people. Did we not just release a bunch of criminals because of overcrowding? Does anyone know that we imprison more people than any other industrialized country? If we are concerned about drunk drivers then why allow bars to serve nothing but alcohol until 2am? All this is just a way for bureaucrats to grab money from citizens to pay for their second homes. During a poor economy and record unemployment people are going to drink. This is just a way to cash in on that long known fact. Seems like a DA in a county with so much murder, corruption and hard drugs that he would be busy investigating crime.

give the drunk drivers a flashing green light on there car and give them a 25 mph speed limit (no highway or freeway driving allowed). that way sober people can see them coming and know they are drunk. it would reduce deaths and I am not saying they can get blacked out but then maybe we can have a real limit like the .10 of the past. I got a wet and reckless for a .06 with weed in my system at 25 years of age and believe me, I was not speeding or breaking any laws except I had my doors off of my jeep and no mirror. It is about money and nothing else. I cant wait to finish my probation so I can get out of this county once and for all. remember people there is no money in busting the tweeks and heroine junkies so they want to bust working class citizens that can and will pay there fines.

While I approve, and think it is a great idea to remove drunks and junkies(both prescripted and illicit) from our roads,This begs the question, Where will you put them? The jails are full, and the penalties are too light. Even when they kill someone they usually do less than 1 year. Where is the deterrent?

Let me get this straight. The cops can search YOUR HOME if you get pulled over for DUI? It sounds like unconstitutional police state Orwellianism to me. I believe they can seize and keep your vehicle if you have drugs in it and I'm curious whether or not this is a way for the government to obtain your home too. The above is an assumption, and if true, the people should stop refusing to stand up for others' rights because they are "druggies." His rights today, yours tomorrow!

At .05 you get a pat on the back and sent home. Half a drink more at .08 they take away your license, charge you thousands in fines and fees, and send you to an overcrowded jail. If you won't let them search your vehicle they will have it towed costing you more money. It was bad for me, I deserved it, although I was not drunk and was completely surprised I was over the limit. But it is ruinous for the young people who often lose their jobs and marriages and all of their money, and it does very little to help them with their problems. The system is very good at picking people up and grinding them up already, but not very good at improving the situation of having impared drivers on the road. I don't know what the solution is, but irreversibly screwing up people's lives is not it.

The solution is draconian punishments to fit the idiotic and intentional crime. Second offense should get you a year in prison, and a third should get you 3 years. Bet you would think twice about dui then. Injuring another while dui should get you many years, and life for killing someone.
Habitual drunk drivers are a hazard to society and should be removed from it. Taking away a license and a car does not keep them off the road, like it would with normal people.

Can we get this program in Tuolumne County? A few lives could be saved.

You're missing the point people. It's all about revenue and recidivism.

We'll never be completely safe until we're all in a strait jacket and locked up in pink rubber rooms.