Micheal Phelps arrested for DUI *Update* Suspended from US team for 6 months

[Corporate Thug]

It's just physically impossible for you to say anything without being stupid.

A victimless crime? DUI? More than 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes annually in the USA. The problem with DUI is that it's treated as a minor offense rather than the serious crime it is. There should be a zero tolerance policy, do it once, lose your license and take the bus. Do it twice and go directly to jail.

Some states do have mandatory jail time for 2x offenders.

 

[alkemyst]

It's just physically impossible for you to say anything without being stupid.

A victimless crime? DUI? More than 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes annually in the USA. The problem with DUI is that it's treated as a minor offense rather than the serious crime it is. There should be a zero tolerance policy, do it once, lose your license and take the bus. Do it twice and go directly to jail.

Don't take my post the wrong way.

Phelps didn't hurt anyone and more than likely wouldn't.

It's treated as a minor offense with a huge fine because it's not a serious problem.

There are millions arrested for DUI each year just to save those 10k lifes. There is about the same for murdering people, but our forces aren't kicking down doors to arrest those because mostly there is no revenue.

You seem to underestimate how many people actually drink and drive.

The problem (which even the founder of MADD claims) is we have lowered the BAL limits that puts those just having a few cocktails and not more dangerous than someone with a flu or overly-tired in harm's way for getting thousands of dollars in fines.

Even insurance companies mostly have stopped increasing premiums for single DUI's with no property damage/deaths.

The people that end up killing those 10,000 people are those that are fall down sloppy drunk usually and sadly never get stopped.

It's people blowing .08 usually rounded up in a roadblock that are getting stopped who would have never harmed anyone.

I don't agree with getting DRUNK and driving at all and I value every life. However; the DUI laws and media have turned this into a very successful lobby with other agendas than saving lives.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

The first DUI is 10 years old, doubt it will contribute to this.

The state gets to make a lot of money though on a victim less crime.

In Virginia they can use a prior against you for 11 years.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It's not a crime unless someone is mangled or gotten dead. Obviously he was just having a leisurely drive down main street. Haters be jelly.

 

[alkemyst]

Some states do have mandatory jail time for 2x offenders.

QFT, I agree no one should get 2 DUI's within their cool-off period.

Sadly some states have made .10 a "high penalty" level.

Also most states put a freeze on your license (on top of $1,000's in penalties) that you can't drive even to work for the first 90 days. Most are only 30 for work and 90 for any thing else.

Some impound you vehicle.

All that said, you actually also do not need to be driving to get a DUI.

I would suggest those that believe in this system whole-heartedly to sit down with a DUI defense lawyer or go to one of the many classes DUI arrestees have to take and learn the real story.

I got nailed for a DUI just pulling into my parking space. I blew an insane level that could not have been correct. I am over it all, I paid out my fines and took on the free education.

There was a major NYC public defender in my DUI classes that got popped washing his brand-new Corvette in his drive way while having beers. He wasn't going anywhere that day and just was enjoying his car. Some of the cops he defending against showed up and arrested him. Since he had his car keys within 'distance' it showed 'intent to drive' based on the law. He was arrested, his vehicle confiscated and he moved to Florida.

At the time he was spending big bucks trying to change the laws, I don't know what happened to him as we were not friends. In any DUI class, they have you write on a board "How much has your arrest caused you?" He was the highest. He wrote $100K+ and then one new Corvette below that.

 

[alkemyst]

It's not a crime unless someone is mangled or gotten dead. Obviously he was just having a leisurely drive down main street. Haters be jelly.

The speeding was a crime. However, 45mph on I95 seems way slow to me. We are posted here 55-70 and it's rare for the left lane to be doing less than 80-90 with sober drivers except in gridlock/rush hour.

 

[alkemyst]

In Virginia they can use a prior against you for 11 years.

Interesting. That's a long time to hold something against someone.

 

[Blackjack200]

The speeding was a crime. However, 45mph on I95 seems way slow to me. We are posted here 55-70 and it's rare for the left lane to be doing less than 80-90 with sober drivers except in gridlock/rush hour.

Usually 45 MPH is for construction zones, but I'm surprised they wouldn't have mentioned it in the article if that's what it was.

 

[Imp]

Douche move... but he didn't kill anyone -- it's sad that the bar is set so low because every other celebrity does it now.

 

[jlee]

The first DUI is 10 years old, doubt it will contribute to this.

The state gets to make a lot of money though on a victim less crime.

I once responded to a rollover fatality that was caused by an intoxicated driver. Want to tell that to the victim's family?

 

[Zorkorist]

The virulent hate to drunk drivers, is crazy.

One time offenders, lose their license for life.
Two time offenders, incarcerated for life.
Three time offenders, death penalty.

It's just crazy.

These, people... these, crazy people, are who you are supporting when you vote for more Government, or the Democrat party.

-John

 

[Corporate Thug]

I once responded to a rollover fatality that was caused by an intoxicated driver. Want to tell that to the victim's family?

I'm not defending Alky here, but based on his follow up posts, its pretty clear that he was using term "victimless" tongue in cheek and he meant it as few victims compared to the number of violators.

 

[alkemyst]

I once responded to a rollover fatality that was caused by an intoxicated driver. Want to tell that to the victim's family?

I am not saying it's OK to be intoxicated. What was his BAL?

 

[alkemyst]

Usually 45 MPH is for construction zones, but I'm surprised they wouldn't have mentioned it in the article if that's what it was.

We have a 6 lane road east to west from our 'downtown' here in Palm Beach that has on and off ramps. They put 45 up...it's a speed trap by day and DUI stop at night.

Revenue.

 

[natto fire]

I'm not defending Alky here, but based on his follow up posts, its pretty clear that he was using term "victimless" tongue in cheek and he meant it as few victims compared to the number of violators.

I also feel bad because I took the same route, even though I have had a close friend lost through drunk driving, it was his own drunkenness which killed him. Zorkorist is trying to P&N this thread, and to me, that is much more despicable than putting in your two cents and moving on.

 

[Zorkorist]

No, you and your friends are trying to P&N life.

It is unreasonable to hate drunk drivers so much.

-John

 

[Brovane]

I am not saying it's OK to be intoxicated. What was his BAL?

I read on another article that he blew double the legal limit. While you shouldn't drink and drive let's not treat this as the crime of the century. I am glad he got pulled over and was taken off the road.

 

[Brovane]

QFT, I agree no one should get 2 DUI's within their cool-off period.

Sadly some states have made .10 a "high penalty" level.

Also most states put a freeze on your license (on top of $1,000's in penalties) that you can't drive even to work for the first 90 days. Most are only 30 for work and 90 for any thing else.

Some impound you vehicle.

All that said, you actually also do not need to be driving to get a DUI.

I would suggest those that believe in this system whole-heartedly to sit down with a DUI defense lawyer or go to one of the many classes DUI arrestees have to take and learn the real story.

I got nailed for a DUI just pulling into my parking space. I blew an insane level that could not have been correct. I am over it all, I paid out my fines and took on the free education.

There was a major NYC public defender in my DUI classes that got popped washing his brand-new Corvette in his drive way while having beers. He wasn't going anywhere that day and just was enjoying his car. Some of the cops he defending against showed up and arrested him. Since he had his car keys within 'distance' it showed 'intent to drive' based on the law. He was arrested, his vehicle confiscated and he moved to Florida.

At the time he was spending big bucks trying to change the laws, I don't know what happened to him as we were not friends. In any DUI class, they have you write on a board "How much has your arrest caused you?" He was the highest. He wrote $100K+ and then one new Corvette below that.

That Public Defender story is just so wrong and just shows how messed up the system is and how we shouldn't treat things at face value. The confiscation of the Corvette is just baloney. That is like the people that are drunk that decide to sleep it off in their car and still get a DUI. It is like with crime and punishment in this country we like to do the pile on. We just keep throwing things on top until somebody is completely beat down if they make a mistake. Seriously where I work if I get a DUI I loose my job. Part of my job involves using company vehicles and I cannot use a company vehicle if I get a DUI so I loose my job. However mysteriously it seems like Cops have no problems retaining their jobs after multiple DUI's.

 

[OverVolt]

As far as maryland goes for the under 30 crowd not even a well-off Olympic athlete has managed to grow the fuck up I see.

Its not like he couldn't afford a cab.

 

[dmcowen674]

Usually 45 MPH is for construction zones, but I'm surprised they wouldn't have mentioned it in the article if that's what it was.

Have you ever driven in a tunnel? That's normal posted speed limit.

 

[Mai72]

He's a punk!

 

[jlee]

I am not saying it's OK to be intoxicated. What was his BAL?

I want to say .22-ish, but I don't recall. It's been a while now.

 

[alkemyst]

That Public Defender story is just so wrong and just shows how messed up the system is and how we shouldn't treat things at face value. The confiscation of the Corvette is just baloney. That is like the people that are drunk that decide to sleep it off in their car and still get a DUI. It is like with crime and punishment in this country we like to do the pile on. We just keep throwing things on top until somebody is completely beat down if they make a mistake. Seriously where I work if I get a DUI I loose my job. Part of my job involves using company vehicles and I cannot use a company vehicle if I get a DUI so I loose my job. However mysteriously it seems like Cops have no problems retaining their jobs after multiple DUI's.

Florida was confiscating cars for just stereo violations at one point. The sad part is many would think "FUCK YEAH! I HATE THOSE BOOMERS!", but the reality is the law states as long as the sound is perceivable at 25' then it's too loud. A normal conversation in a car can be heard at 25'

They were taking the vehicles (mostly convertibles) from doctor and lawyer types.

The law still stands, but they are no longer taking cars. It's like a $160 ticket and most 'ticket clinics' will not try to defend them.

 

[alkemyst]

I want to say .22-ish, but I don't recall. It's been a while now.

.22 is totally intoxicated even for functional drunks. You also are past the point where your gag reflex will stop you from choking to death should you vomit.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm not defending Alky here, but based on his follow up posts, its pretty clear that he was using term "victimless" tongue in cheek and he meant it as few victims compared to the number of violators.

Not exactly, what I meant was Phelps arrest was a victim-less crime.

I personally feel the number of arrests to how many accidents/deaths there are is out of control. Most don't believe it's in the millions per year and any city may have 100's of people in holding (which they require you to remain in for 8 hours in I think almost all states with no bailing out) on an average Friday/Saturday night.

I wish I had access to the library the attorney I spoke to had on DUI stuff. He had an interesting video of like 100 people doing road side tests. 50 were drunk and 50 were not. Most people could not choose accurately who was drunk and not. The field side tests are merely used while being filmed because it makes convictions easier.

He also had a paper on most people from like Thursday at 5 pm until Sunday at 2am or something if stopped at night around local night club/party areas would fail DUI testing at the .08/.10 levels. Also that most DUI road blocks turn up many other things due to officers using the stops to do warrant-less searches of vehicles that they suspect may have been drinking.

I don't believe anyone should drive drunk, but I don't think someone having 1-2 drinks per hour or stopping at a happy hour for a couple drinks is who we should be targeting so heavily.

People think even a first time DUI should be jail time (and in most areas the judge can give jail time), but they don't understand just how expensive the process is and the impact of not being able to even drive to work for the first 30 days has.