Why the sudden focus on street racing over the past few years?

[Pariah]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Pariah
Most sensible people would not consider death the only negative of drunk driving and street racing, just the most severe end result. For every person that dies in an accident, there are probably 100 more that are injured, many of them seriously. You might not care about someone being paralyzed, having amputated body parts or having to spend long periods of time in the hospital, but I bet the victims and the people around them it affects do.

Even without thinking about the human loss, if I get hit by someone and walk away fine, I'm still going to be pretty pissed if my car is totalled because someone else was being an illegal idiot. When you take into account all alcohol related accidents, not just the fatal ones, you are looking at $100's of millions in property damage every year. The money to pay for those damages doesn't grow on trees, we all have to pay for it in insurance and taxes.

Fines and laws are too stiff? OK, how about this instead. Let's make it legal, but if you are in an accident, you are responsible for paying for all damages and expenses, repairs/replacement of other person's vehicle, medical expenses, fees for any local authorities that tend to the accident (police, fire department, medical personnel), and any other property damage. That way only the people responsible pay, rather than everyone. If someone is hospitalized you reimburse them for their lost wages. Notice how expesive this is getting even without a loss of life? You kill someone and they have dependents or can't afford all the other expenses? I'm sure the insurance companies would love to give you a loan and turn you into an indentured servant for life. Sound better?

well the latter wouldn't work and just give the rich a free ride ticket.

I am all for penalities when 'something' has happened. With street racing and DUI laws nothing has to have happened, you may have had no way to endanger anyone even...yet the penalties are the same.

Being rich would only relieve you of the cost worry, if you seriously injured, or killed someone, the racing ticket would be the least of your worries when compared to the other charges you would be facing.

Regardless, the proposal I made isn't going to happen, it was only used to illustrate what a financial burden it places at the feet of everyone on top of the loss of human life. It's unbelievable that someone would say that something that can be controlled and yet unecessarily kills only 18,000 Americans a year is being blown out of proportion. It's even more unfathomable that someone would question the validity of the DUI and street racing laws we have. There really isn't even anything that can be said to convey how absurd that is.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Pariah
Being rich would only relieve you of the cost worry, if you seriously injured, or killed someone, the racing ticket would be the least of your worries when compared to the other charges you would be facing.

Regardless, the proposal I made isn't going to happen, it was only used to illustrate what a financial burden it places at the feet of everyone on top of the loss of human life. It's unbelievable that someone would say that something that can be controlled and yet unecessarily kills only 18,000 Americans a year is being blown out of proportion. It's even more unfathomable that someone would question the validity of the DUI and street racing laws we have. There really isn't even anything that can be said to convey how absurd that is.

Well in your proposal it was pay to play...not any penalty if you could.

To clarify since most are missing it since they don't understand the laws.

You can be ticketed for street racing and/or DUI/DWI without having to be actually doing them. They are both hybrid laws. You sit in front of the DMV first and there is no due process.

Both laws have citizens subjected to MAJORLY subjective and opinion based investigation. To be cited for a street race you could have just parked on a block next to where one occured. Should the officer feel you 'could' have been involved, that is enough for an arrest and subsequent conviction. They do not have to prove you were not even aware there was a race. To most people seeing your suped up car would be enough to cry for a hanging.

Same thing with DUI/DWI law. You chances of getting caught trying to sleep in the back of you car are far greater than getting caught driving drunk home. Either case will carry the same penalty. Not everyone can get a taxi nor can everyone afford one, most people think since they live in a major city cabs are everywhere. Most don't use cabs either and assume it's only going to be a couple bucks (the price of a drink or two is a popular quote) to get home. Every night practically every holding cell in every county is brimming with those arrested for DUI...most you'd never think were drunk...but each will probably be facing at least $5k in fees / penalties. Many due to not being able to drive for 3 months will lose their jobs. Those that have to pay to be driven around will face more financial burden. Many never recover financially. None of them ever hurting anyone nor probably would in their lifetimes.

There are tons of other things injuring FAR MORE property and people each year than what a simple red to red light drag would do or DUI. Most DUI and street racing as well are single vehicle events....either the driver injures himself or his car only. The next highest group is the driver injures his passengers. The final groups of non-involved people and property is the last group and much smaller. The thing is they are not as financially profitable nor as sensational for a lawmaker to get up and rant about.

MADD/SADD is one of the most powerful lobbys in the country because by using kids getting killed as the main event they can get tons of side issues not related to that pushed through.