does the punishment fit the crime(used for lack of a better

Grimmerick

I was reading a news article yesterday about a young girl who was driving and blew through a stop sign while talking on her cell phone(she admitted to that) and hit a couple going to an antique car show, killing the man instantly. She was brought up on vehicular manslaughter charges, She was found not guilty of manslaughter, instead she will get a $500 dollar fine and one point on her license. Now I am not saying she should go to jail for a terrible accident like that but D@MN, to me thats a punch in the face to the family of the victim. I mean ONE point on your license and a $500 dollar fine, is that what someones life is worth these days? or am I not considering something?

I am thinking, house arrest ( I don't think her crime warrants jail time, since it was an accident, and she is nonviolent with no other prior problems, she might come out a worse person and that wouldn't help our society), license suspension, loads of community service and no cell phone for a while, and maybe even make her go to schools and colleges and do lectures, to remind her for a while.

dmpizza

In her state, holding a cell phone while driving may not be illegal.

puggleperson

A total punch in the face to the family. When will people learn that talking on your cell ohone while driving is a matter of life and death?????? She should have at least spent a year to two in jail.. There needs to be a lesson taught here... for her and her fellow peers

SergeantSunshine_reused

ARRRRGGHHHHH!!!!

That makes me sad for the family

_SusieQ_

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

chanstriste13

i'm appalled. there is no justice here.

otr12

To put that in perspective,.... If I throw a cigarette out the window it's a $2650 fine. And that's if it doesn't catch anything on fire.

Scott613

I was reading a news article yesterday about a young girl who was driving and blew through a stop sign while talking on her cell phone(she admitted to that) and hit a couple going to an antique car show, killing the man instantly. She was brought up on vehicular manslaughter charges, She was found not guilty of manslaughter, instead she will get a $500 dollar fine and one point on her license. Now I am not saying she should go to jail for a terrible accident like that but D@MN, to me thats a punch in the face to the family of the victim. I mean ONE point on your license and a $500 dollar fine, is that what someones life is worth these days? or am I not considering something?

Somebody needs to run over that POS judge

sexforjaffacakes

she should have been put it jail, this is why kids shouldn't be driving!

Dangerous driving is just selfish, careless and wrong!

Drink driving, speeding, talking on your phone, all endangers life...so yeah, I think it counts as a jailable crime.

Why do people get away with murder (literally) in their damn cars?!

godroxmysox

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

AreneeG31

terrible news, and she should of had atleast a higher fine and tons of community service for goodness sakes! someone lost their life due to her neglegence. I know it was an accident however if it were a result of her talking on her phone, she made that decision and therefore was neglegent. Depends on her age as far a jail time goes I guess, but there should be more accountability for her actions.

Marla64

I was reading a news article yesterday about a young girl who was driving and blew through a stop sign while talking on her cell phone(she admitted to that) and hit a couple going to an antique car show, killing the man instantly. She was brought up on vehicular manslaughter charges, She was found not guilty of manslaughter, instead she will get a $500 dollar fine and one point on her license. Now I am not saying she should go to jail for a terrible accident like that but D@MN, to me thats a punch in the face to the family of the victim. I mean ONE point on your license and a $500 dollar fine, is that what someones life is worth these days? or am I not considering something?

Somebody needs to run over that POS judge

Um, can't right now-- too busy looking at your bicep.... :blushing:

:laugh:

misty589

I don't think she should have gone to jail (depending on the circumstances) but she should definitely lose her license for several years, do tonnes and tonnes of community service including talking to schools etc about her accident. I wish there was a way that they could take her cell away too, but I'm sure that wouldn't work

sandrinamsilva

I think too lean. I'm not saying jail time but really a life was lost because she wasnt paying attention. VERY SAD FOR THE FAMILY!

_beachgirl_

In that case the punishment does not fit the crime.

lexximan

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

I agree with suspension for sure, if not a bigger fine as well!!!!! But cell phone laws, are silly.(DONT YELL AT ME YET)

If you shouldn't drive while on your phone, you shouldnt be able to have an iPod or be able to put makeup on or shouldnt be able to eat while driving. ALL these things can cause accidents as well. What I am trying to get at is if they have to make on thing illegal shouldn't all those things be illegal??

Not that I think they should be because I do all those things. Its called smart driving, a smart driver isn't going to stop being a smart driver while on a phone. Obviously someone who is on a phone and CANT pay attention while on it, is already a bad driver....

Just my opinion.

mleoni092708

Everyone makes mistakes, but she definitely needs more punishment than what she got. House arrest, community service, etc. I'm sure the guilt she feels is also quite a punishment in itself. I don't understand our legal system.

BeeElMarvin

Wow. No it doesn't fit, it should have been much worse. Maybe no jail time, but license revocation until age 30 maybe... along with a much greater fine and probation for several years - at a minimum.

puggleperson

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

I agree with suspension for sure, if not a bigger fine as well!!!!! But cell phone laws, are silly.(DONT YELL AT ME YET)

If you shouldn't drive while on your phone, you shouldnt be able to have an iPod or be able to put makeup on or shouldnt be able to eat while driving. ALL these things can cause accidents as well. What I am trying to get at is if they have to make on thing illegal shouldn't all those things be illegal??

Not that I think they should be because I do all those things. Its called smart driving, a smart driver isn't going to stop being a smart driver while on a phone. Obviously someone who is on a phone and CANT pay attention while on it, is already a bad driver....

Just my opinion.

comming from someone who is not willing to put her phone down and drive. *Shaking head*

BeeElMarvin

It's hard to say, jail time might be too harsh, depending on age and driving record. BUT, at the very least I would say suspension of license, not just a d@mn point on her record. AND community service. And take her cell phone away. Ok, that would probably be more than the law would allow, but just sayin'

suspension and community service....absolutely!

I agree with suspension for sure, if not a bigger fine as well!!!!! But cell phone laws, are silly.(DONT YELL AT ME YET)

If you shouldn't drive while on your phone, you shouldnt be able to have an iPod or be able to put makeup on or shouldnt be able to eat while driving. ALL these things can cause accidents as well. What I am trying to get at is if they have to make on thing illegal shouldn't all those things be illegal??

Not that I think they should be because I do all those things. Its called smart driving, a smart driver isn't going to stop being a smart driver while on a phone. Obviously someone who is on a phone and CANT pay attention while on it, is already a bad driver....

Just my opinion.

Actually, if properly enforced, in many areas any and all of the things that you listed are called "distracted driving" and are punishable offenses.

By the way, I'll take you for a ride on my motorcycle if you want to see what cell phone users drive like. Scary **** man.

TheRoadDog

Jail Time.

Tired of all the idiots that think they are capable of driving while distracted.

HMonsterX

Over here that would be causing death by dangerous driving.

If you want to go down the route of banning everything like phones, such as eating/ makeup etc...then anyone who shifts gears should be done too. You're taking a hand off the wheel, and are therefore "Not in control of your vehicle"

Sat navs with displays.

Rear view mirrors.

Wing mirrors.

All of these cause you to be be momentarily dangerous, as you aren't focused on the road ahead....



Very tricky subject.

BigDaddyBRC

I was reading a news article yesterday about a young girl who was driving and blew through a stop sign while talking on her cell phone(she admitted to that) and hit a couple going to an antique car show, killing the man instantly. She was brought up on vehicular manslaughter charges, She was found not guilty of manslaughter, instead she will get a $500 dollar fine and one point on her license. Now I am not saying she should go to jail for a terrible accident like that but D@MN, to me thats a punch in the face to the family of the victim. I mean ONE point on your license and a $500 dollar fine, is that what someones life is worth these days? or am I not considering something?

I am thinking, house arrest ( I don't think her crime warrants jail time, since it was an accident, and she is nonviolent with no other prior problems, she might come out a worse person and that wouldn't help our society), license suspension, loads of community service and no cell phone for a while, and maybe even make her go to schools and colleges and do lectures, to remind her for a while.

Sierously? A mistake? You are just another reason as to WHY people think its OK to be an idiot on the phone in your car. She made the CHOICE to be distracted by being on the phone. She made the CHOICE to drive through the STOP sign. Personally, she needs to be in JAIL. and banned from ever getting the opportunity to OWN a cell phone.

VeganInTraining

I think your punishment sounds like a good idea! I can't believe they didn't even take away her license, she shouldn't be able to drive again for YEARS. I actually just went to a seminar that was put on by the prosecuting attourny for a similar situation at work. One thing that the attourny discussed is that it should have been unintentional man slaughter and the guy should have done more than 3 months (he killed an 8 yo boy and injured 4 others by riding them over in the boat) but he was aquitted. The attounry believes that the joury related to the guy and thought "that could have been me" so they just didn't feel right putting him away. Like you said, it wasn't intentional but there needs to be bigger consequences! In this case, we saw a video of the accident actually happening and there was NO reasonable doubt that he was being reckless. Even accidents should have consequences.

macpatti

Yes, she made a mistake. She CHOSE to talk on the phone, but she did not choose to kill someone. I think any punishment should take into consideration the intent. I think she got off easy, but I don't think she should serve jail time. I agree with taking her license away, give her probation, and community service.

courtclerkkris

But you can bet that there will be an Unlawful Death Action brought in Civil Court and guess who will pay for that?? Her insurance company! And guess how they are going to pay for that???? Pass it on to US as customers!!!!!!!

I work for the court system and see A LOT of unjustices but that seems excessively lean. In Missouri Speeding 6 mph or more is a 3 point conviction. Of course we have 12 points, not sure about this scenario, would love to know more. I am sure that she will be haunted by the fact that she took a precious life but I am guessing it wont stop her from using her cell phone while operating a motor vehicle after a year has passed.

I pray the family can find peace with this resolution......SOME HOW!

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I was reading a news article yesterday about a young girl who was driving and blew through a stop sign while talking on her cell phone(she admitted to that) and hit a couple going to an antique car show, killing the man instantly. She was brought up on vehicular manslaughter charges, She was found not guilty of manslaughter, instead she will get a $500 dollar fine and one point on her license. Now I am not saying she should go to jail for a terrible accident like that but D@MN, to me thats a punch in the face to the family of the victim. I mean ONE point on your license and a $500 dollar fine, is that what someones life is worth these days? or am I not considering something?

I am thinking, house arrest ( I don't think her crime warrants jail time, since it was an accident, and she is nonviolent with no other prior problems, she might come out a worse person and that wouldn't help our society), license suspension, loads of community service and no cell phone for a while, and maybe even make her go to schools and colleges and do lectures, to remind her for a while.

Sierously? A mistake? You are just another reason as to WHY people think its OK to be an idiot on the phone in your car. She made the CHOICE to be distracted by being on the phone. She made the CHOICE to drive through the STOP sign. Personally, she needs to be in JAIL. and banned from ever getting the opportunity to OWN a cell phone.

But the thing about teens is that their brains aren't developed yet and they can't always see the consequences of their actions. I'm not saying that judge was correct-- she should be doing community service for the rest of her teen life. No cell phone, driver's license suspension, whatever else they can think of. But jail time is just going to make her worse. Maybe some time in a structured school environment, like an all-girl's school with super strict rules or something. I agree it was a huge injustice to the family and there should be serious consequences, but placing a teenager in the system is probably not the answer either.

Iamfit4life

A year in jail

Community service for the rest of her life

she should never ever be allowed behind the wheel again.

Grimmerick

I was reading a news article yesterday about a young girl who was driving and blew through a stop sign while talking on her cell phone(she admitted to that) and hit a couple going to an antique car show, killing the man instantly. She was brought up on vehicular manslaughter charges, She was found not guilty of manslaughter, instead she will get a $500 dollar fine and one point on her license. Now I am not saying she should go to jail for a terrible accident like that but D@MN, to me thats a punch in the face to the family of the victim. I mean ONE point on your license and a $500 dollar fine, is that what someones life is worth these days? or am I not considering something?

I am thinking, house arrest ( I don't think her crime warrants jail time, since it was an accident, and she is nonviolent with no other prior problems, she might come out a worse person and that wouldn't help our society), license suspension, loads of community service and no cell phone for a while, and maybe even make her go to schools and colleges and do lectures, to remind her for a while.

Sierously? A mistake? You are just another reason as to WHY people think its OK to be an idiot on the phone in your car. She made the CHOICE to be distracted by being on the phone. She made the CHOICE to drive through the STOP sign. Personally, she needs to be in JAIL. and banned from ever getting the opportunity to OWN a cell phone.

Ok I Pmed you first to make sure you hadn't made a mistake in quoting me and not someone else. That said you sir would end up making the world way worse, by putting people that aren't really criminals in jail you obviously don't realize but you can just end up making more criminals. She is not a murderer, she was horribly neglectful, jail is for people who intentionally do things, not for people who accidently do things(there are exceptions to accidently too), she had never had anything prior to this. Her punishment should be super harsh but jail with hardened criminals is not the answer. Also I don't think its ok to talk on the phone and drive and there should be harsh punishments for it so how can I be the reason why people think it's ok to be idiots on the phone in their cars........................there is only one person being an idiot here and I just replied to him, Oh and I really hope you don't have a daughter that ever gets into a situation like that because I know for damn sure you wouldn't support sending her to jail and possibly ruining her life, you would probably want other very harsh non jail related punishments. JAIL IS NOT ALWAYS THE ONLY WAY TO PUNISH SOMEONE!! Especially someone that feels complete remorse for what they have done. With your logic that 14 year old that was playing with his grandpa's gun and shot his friend should be in prison. He's 14 he knows guns kill people and he should have known better right, lets just cart him off to prison where he can really learn how to be a thug.

LauraMacNCheese

A $500 fine & 1 point on the license is just beyond ludicrous...License suspension at the absolute minimum! And I'm thinking community service until the rapture is in order as well if jail time is out of the picture.

BrettPGH

I vote for jail time. It's 2011. Stop pretending like you can text and drive. You can't. "But I'm a really good driver!" Not if you're texting you're not. We all know the dangers at this point. She willingly choose to ignore the risk because she had to type LOL to one of her lame friends. Because of that a man died. Pathetic.

Just because it's an accident doesn't mean she's not to blame. She caused the accident by her own actions. It may not have been intentional but driving while texting is about as dangerous as walking through a crowd with a loaded gun in your pants. Sure PROBABLY nothing will happen, but if you're wrong people could die. It's not acceptable.