GregKerr.Net

[kristivanblaricum]

In most states, if you are pulled over and arrested for drunk driving, you will go to jail. Some are one night "drunk tank" stays, others are till your court date. You can count on being fined, and you may have your license suspended or revoked. This is the same for people who are under-age as well as for people who are of legal age.

In 2006, 13,470 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the U.S (www.centurycouncil.org). In Oregon, according to www.AlcoholAlert.com, the laws for drunk driving are your first, second, and third offenses are considered class A misdemeanors. For your first offense basically get a slap on the wrist, a night in jail (maybe), a fine, and a court date. Of course your license will be suspended for 90 days but so what, its only 90 days, right?

The laws seem to be made for people to think its no big deal to get a DUI. For instance, my 18 YEAR OLD sister got a DUI a year and a half ago. Her blood alcohol level was 3 times the legal amount for a person over 21 years of age and she was only 18. She spent 5 hours in jail (the drunk tank) and was released with a court date. She was charged with a DUI and reckless driving. She got $2500 in fines and ordered to take a diversion program. She laughed her whole way through the diversion program, paid her fines and she is home-free. To this day she still drinks and drives and she is only 19 years old. Its a joke to her, and to many others.

I'm not saying that everyone thinks this way but the DUI laws are very open and are not strict enough for first time offenders, especially those under the legal drinking age.