The news that Morgan Hill nabbed 25 (!) drunk drivers and Gilroy caught 20 – four of them underage – last weekend was, well, sobering. These figures are higher than in past years. With all the attention and education over the past two decades by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and others, what gives?
I shake my head at the stupidity and the cheek of those who put their own right to a buzz above the safety of others by driving after imbibing. Fortunately, there were no fatalities and injuries, but talk to one who’s life has been forever changed by a drunk driver, and I would think you’ll never even want to drink again, much less drive. But that doesn’t seem to be true.
Looking through the police blotter in each Times, there are plenty of citations of “driving under the influence.” Sometimes, they are paired with “driving without a license.”
I assume there can be only two reasons for driving without a license. The first is this is not the driver’s first DUI, and has had his license suspended. If this is the case, I wish such drivers would receive a “go directly to jail” sentence. I am sympathetic to the fact that alcoholism is difficult to overcome. However, when public safety is threatened so immediately by an alcoholic who can’t kick, driving drunk should not be tolerated.
The other reason one would drive without a license is that the person is undocumented. I embrace immigrants, documented or undocumented, but I let go as soon as someone drinks and drives. Drinking and driving has proven to be a problem in any country, not just ours. It’s inadvisable anywhere.
Undocumented immigrants, who suffer a significant amount of stress based on their status, don’t do themselves as a group any favors when they drink and drive. In fact, with the current misdirection of hostility toward illegal immigrants, one of the worst things that can happen is one drives under the influence and hurts another, especially a legal resident, as one did recently to a mother of four in Los Gatos. If you think the community’s mobilizing to crack down on drunk drivers everywhere, you’re wrong. Instead, they are taking the attention off of all of drunk drivers – where it should be – and pushing for extra penalties against illegal immigrants who drive drunk.
When people drink, they get a major case of the “stupids.” It can be the only explanation for why they take such a risk and put us all in danger. Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming said drunk driving “is a big problem in a town this size.” Gilroy Police also stated drinking and driving is a problem in Gilroy.
Obviously, enough isn’t being done to fix the problem, and we can’t look to the alcohol industry for help. Don’t be fooled by the rapid fire admonishment to “drink responsibly” that sometimes comes at the end of a commercial showing drinking, fun-loving, virile guys who attract plenty of girls. Sure, they support social host laws and increased DUI penalties, putting the total responsibility on the individual. However, they are staunchly against changes in community policy and practice that adopt prevention strategies to minimize the negative impacts of alcohol consumption and that studies have shown work.
They work to defeat Dram Shop Rules – holding a bar liable to anyone who has been hurt by a drunk driver for serving liquor to that obviously intoxicated person. It’s hard to prove the link and individual rights and responsibilities advocates hate this kind of thing, but the studies show that the possibility makes bartenders more watchful and proactive about their serving. The alcohol industry pays big money in lobbyists and to campaigns to California; it’s not surprising it passed a law specifically banning such a liability.
Another proven remedy in the reduction of underage drinking they stand tirelessly against is restricted advertising. The studies show that youth are bombarded with ads for alcohol and that they contribute directly to underage drinking. Still, the alcohol industry fights tooth and nail against preventing them, and instead pointing the fingers at parents and kids. But that’s free enterprise for you. As long as they make a (lot of) buck(s), it doesn’t matter whose back it’s on.
Because we don’t have the magic answer as to why people drink and drive, be extra careful out there this holiday break. The cops are looking out for you but can only do so much. Otherwise, no one else is.
