Legal limit for alcohol

craigmandu
craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
in Chit-Chat
What do ya'll think of the push right now to drop the legal limit from 0.08 to 0.05?

I have no vested interest, as I don't drink alcohol at all, just want to hear some opinions.

Replies

  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
    It doesn't matter one bit here in AZ. If you even smell like booze they arrest you. You can fight it in court, but you're arrested regardless. Plus it's just stupid.

    My advice? Get a cab or a DD if you are going to be drinking. It's a LOT cheaper than a DUI.
  • bearkisses
    bearkisses Posts: 1,252 Member
    drinking and driving is one of the most retarded things i have seen or heard people boast about doing

    no one is an exception to biology. alcohol ****s you up. you shouldn't be driving.

    THAT is my opinion!
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I guess if they can show impairment at .08 then the level should be dropped. Bad news for us social drinkers but I guess if it saves lives.
  • Thomasm198
    Thomasm198 Posts: 3,189 Member
    If you witnessed the bloody mess caused by drink driving you would be all in favour of a zero tolerance level.

    I'm referring to mangled and torn bodies, decapitated bodies, etc.
  • ohenry78
    ohenry78 Posts: 228
    The legal limit for driving should be 0.00. Nobody needs to drive after they've had a drink under any circumstances. If you know you have to drive then don't drink.

    Now, the legal limit for stumbling around like an idiot in my own house and puking so hard I pop a vessel in my eye? Not even sure why we'd want to cap that :D
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    drinking and driving is one of the most retarded things i have seen or heard people boast about doing

    no one is an exception to biology. alcohol ****s you up. you shouldn't be driving.

    THAT is my opinion!

    Agreed!
  • Capt_Inzane
    Capt_Inzane Posts: 733 Member
    I have family that was killed by a drunk driver and saw how the judicial system has failed in preventing them (the guy that hit my cousin had 4 previous DUI's). His children now have to grow up fatherless because some drunk guy hit him and didn't even remember he had done it (couple days later the guy's father actually turned him in).

    I have another friend of mine who was charged with a DUI but swears he wasn't drunk. I trust my friend and it's difficult because he declined the breathalyzer and failed the sobriety test so can I believe him? I don't really discuss this with him because it's a difficult topic for me. Since then he's sworn off alcohol and hasn't had a drop so in the end the DUI helped him tremendously.

    I'm adamantly against drinking and driving and actually was stabbed and ran over for trying to prevent someone to drive (long story) however through the mist of all what I've written above I've actually driven home after having a few and while I when I left I thought I was fine the drinks actually hit me a little while after I left. I honestly didn't know what to do other than pull over into a parking lot and sleep it off.

    What would had happened to me if I was pulled over? Worse what if I hurt someone? It's unfortunate that sometimes we don't realize how drunk we really are and I think that's what gets most people.

    So should the limit be lowered? Honestly would it make that big off a difference? The people who are typically getting DUI's and/or hurting someone are so far over the limit that it's an arbitrary number that doesn't mean anything at that point.

    http://vh3.ca/VH3_BAC.htm

    a simple calculator I have no idea how accurate but you gotta drink a good bit and quickly to be over .08 (at least beer).
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    I have family that was killed by a drunk driver and saw how the judicial system has failed in preventing them (the guy that hit my cousin had 4 previous DUI's). His children now have to grow up fatherless because some drunk guy hit him and didn't even remember he had done it (couple days later the guy's father actually turned him in).

    I have another friend of mine who was charged with a DUI but swears he wasn't drunk. I trust my friend and it's difficult because he declined the breathalyzer and failed the sobriety test so can I believe him? I don't really discuss this with him because it's a difficult topic for me. Since then he's sworn off alcohol and hasn't had a drop so in the end the DUI helped him tremendously.

    I'm adamantly against drinking and driving and actually was stabbed and ran over for trying to prevent someone to drive (long story) however through the mist of all what I've written above I've actually driven home after having a few and while I when I left I thought I was fine the drinks actually hit me a little while after I left. I honestly didn't know what to do other than pull over into a parking lot and sleep it off.

    What would had happened to me if I was pulled over? Worse what if I hurt someone? It's unfortunate that sometimes we don't realize how drunk we really are and I think that's what gets most people.

    So should the limit be lowered? Honestly would it make that big off a difference? The people who are typically getting DUI's and/or hurting someone are so far over the limit that it's an arbitrary number that doesn't mean anything at that point.

    http://vh3.ca/VH3_BAC.htm

    a simple calculator I have no idea how accurate but you gotta drink a good bit and quickly to be over .08 (at least beer).

    I tend to agree with you that the majority of people who "drive drunk" are usually already past the .08 limit...I'm not sure if lowering to .05 will have much real effect. I'm sorry you've had family lost because of it.
  • marcvandenberg
    marcvandenberg Posts: 190 Member
    Here in holland its already 0.05 and for new drivers 0.02
  • BigDaddyRonnie
    BigDaddyRonnie Posts: 506 Member
    If you witnessed the bloody mess caused by drink driving you would be all in favour of a zero tolerance level.

    I'm referring to mangled and torn bodies, decapitated bodies, etc.

    Ya, because this never happens when people aren't drinking.



    Me, in favor, but it also tells me the penalties at .08 were to difficult to enforce and too difficult to make more strict that lowering the level was the only way to go.
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
    I don't think lowering to .05 is going to do much except make more people criminals. IMO they need to enforce stricter penalties even for first time offenders. Here in our lovely state of NY after your first offense you may be required to have a breathalyzer installed (at your own expense of course) in order to start your car. I think higher fines, stricter penalties is enough of a deterrent. There is definitely a problem with repeat offenders.

    I am against drinking and driving but .05 is so low. It is to the point you can't go have a beer or 2 after work then go home without driving yourself home.
  • sdokeefe
    sdokeefe Posts: 29
    I am completely against drink driving, but,

    When has anyone who's caused an accident been only 0.01 above the legal limit?

    People who cause **** are often far above legal limits, so any limit is irrelevant.

    Its the same as punishing them with "Disqualified from driving" they already break the law while driving, so how about a better punishment then "you aren't allowed to drive". Cars should be taken from the drink drivers and unless they are reported stolen (which would allow the legal owner to get it back, unless of course they willingly let the person use their car whilst drunk) they should be resold. Repeat offenders should be jailed.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    I don't think lowering to .05 is going to do much except make more people criminals. IMO they need to enforce stricter penalties even for first time offenders.

    ^^Correct answer.

    You can drop the level all you want, but if there aren't stricter penalties it won't stop the repeat offender. You'll just turn the person that had a beer with dinner into a criminal.
  • links_slayer
    links_slayer Posts: 1,151 Member
    should be 0.00 imo
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    It doesn't matter one bit here in AZ. If you even smell like booze they arrest you. You can fight it in court, but you're arrested regardless. Plus it's just stupid.

    My advice? Get a cab or a DD if you are going to be drinking. It's a LOT cheaper than a DUI.

    This does not sound constitutional.
  • Mmmmona
    Mmmmona Posts: 328 Member
    I don't think it really matters. One beer can put you at .08 (in Canada where we have real beer) so I think this is just a waste of time.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    should be 0.00 imo

    You could get a positive reading from a Halls Cough drop and be over the limit then.
  • craigmandu
    craigmandu Posts: 976 Member
    should be 0.00 imo

    You could get a positive reading from a Halls Cough drop and be over the limit then.

    I agree that you couldn't drop it all the way, unless you have a better way to test (other than breath) on the spot. Too many people could "pop positive" that had absolutely no drink in them.
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    If you witnessed the bloody mess caused by drink driving you would be all in favour of a zero tolerance level.

    I'm referring to mangled and torn bodies, decapitated bodies, etc.

    Ya, because this never happens when people aren't drinking.
    Exactly!
  • bearkisses
    bearkisses Posts: 1,252 Member
    should be 0.00 imo

    You could get a positive reading from a Halls Cough drop and be over the limit then.

    i'd wager that this is false
  • graceylou222
    graceylou222 Posts: 198 Member
    I don't think lowering to .05 is going to do much except make more people criminals. IMO they need to enforce stricter penalties even for first time offenders.

    ^^Correct answer.

    You can drop the level all you want, but if there aren't stricter penalties it won't stop the repeat offender. You'll just turn the person that had a beer with dinner into a criminal.

    ^^^this
  • ChrisRS87
    ChrisRS87 Posts: 781 Member
    I don't think lowering to .05 is going to do much except make more people criminals. IMO they need to enforce stricter penalties even for first time offenders.

    ^^Correct answer.

    You can drop the level all you want, but if there aren't stricter penalties it won't stop the repeat offender. You'll just turn the person that had a beer with dinner into a criminal.

    Agreed. The feds stated that fatality rates from drinking and driving related accidents were halved when the limit was lowered from .10 to .08, but what also happened was enforcement was stepped up. When I go out for a drink and I stay sober so I can drive home, what stops me from having a few extra drinks is the penalties if I get pulled over, not the thought that I might kill some one.

    Make DWI punishable with the death penalty, and watch those fatality rates plummet.
  • Sqeekyjojo
    Sqeekyjojo Posts: 704 Member
    It's not a difficult concept - if your car is parked outside, when you are offered an alcoholic drink or meal with alcohol in it (as it takes time to boil the alcohol out, mustn't leave a lid on the pan either) - you answer 'no thank you'.

    If it isn't, then you can answer 'yes, please'.

    And if you're with the sort of moron who does drink (even if 'its only one/I'm still fine to drive'), then make sure you have enough money and a phone to call for a cab.
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    should be 0.00 imo

    It doesnt matter. My son got into an accident last month. The other driver was DRUNK, was driving on an 18 month suspended license (FOR A PREVIOUS DUI), had NO INSURANCE, was in possession of marijuana and was out walking free that night!! He could easily be driving another vehicle right now getting ready to get into an accident with someone else.

    You can make the legal or illegal limit whatever you want on paper, but until theres an actual penalty that the people who violate the laws actually FEEL, then it will not deter people from continuing to violate or be repeat offenders.

    Personally I vote for vigilante justice. 48 hour rule in effect to get vengeance :)
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    this isnt about safety. its a cash grab for states, attorneys and everyone else involved. keep it at .08.
  • aaronlawrenc
    aaronlawrenc Posts: 666 Member
    should be 0.00 imo

    It doesnt matter. My son got into an accident last month. The other driver was DRUNK, was driving on an 18 month suspended license (FOR A PREVIOUS DUI), had NO INSURANCE, was in possession of marijuana and was out walking free that night!! He could easily be driving another vehicle right now getting ready to get into an accident with someone else.

    You can make the legal or illegal limit whatever you want on paper, but until theres an actual penalty that the people who violate the laws actually FEEL, then it will not deter people from continuing to violate or be repeat offenders.

    Personally I vote for vigilante justice. 48 hour rule in effect to get vengeance :)

    cobra_stallone_meet_cure_disease.gif
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I don't think lowering to .05 is going to do much except make more people criminals. IMO they need to enforce stricter penalties even for first time offenders.

    ^^Correct answer.

    You can drop the level all you want, but if there aren't stricter penalties it won't stop the repeat offender. You'll just turn the person that had a beer with dinner into a criminal.

    I like this rational answer as well as opposed to the emotional ones.

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