To the editor:
A couple of weeks ago the question "On the Street" was, "Should there be stricter punishment for refusing to take a breathalyzer test?" The question preceeded an article in the Feb. 25 issue that had referenced a current bill in the Kansas Legislature making refusal of the sobriety test a Class B misdemeanor and giving judges the option of putting a "repeat refuser" in jail for up to six months. I find it interesting that all those who were interviewed responded with "no." They stated that the punishment fit the crime and that having your driver's license suspended would get the point across.
We should all be entitled to our own opinions. I also feel that public opinion is sometimes based on limited information.
Currently in Kansas, repeat DUI offenders face a minimum sentence of 48 hours in jail, a maximum of one year, followed by work-release and probation. Senate Bill 215 would require second- and third-time offenders to spend 10 days to 120 days, respectively, in county jail. Fourth- and fifth-time offenders would face a minimum sentence of 15 months in prison. Their driving privileges would be permanently revoked.
I am a teacher and a certified drug/alcohol counselor. My intent is not to try to sway public opinion but to better inform citizens of the true nature of repeat offenders.
The Feb. 25 Journal World had an article on Casey Beaver, a 1999 KU graduate who was killed by a drunk driver. That drunk driver had eight previous convictions for DUI and seven convictions for driving without a license. Recently, a KU student was killed in an automobile accident by a drunk driver, who had a prior alcohol-related conviction.
I work with repeat offenders in a substance abuse program and my clients have all told me that they have driven numerous times on suspended or revoked licenses. It is common knowledge among drug/alcohol professionals that repeat offenders will drive on suspended/revoked licenses.
In the United States, 85 percent of the population does not drink to excess. Fifty percent of all the alcohol is consumed by 10 percent of the population. Repeat offenders have the tendency to fall into that 10 percent. Do you want you or a loved one to be killed or injured by a repeat offender that is driving?
Doug McCauley,
Lawrence
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.