BINGO; thanks, Jeff (and sorry, BobPao, for top-posting; I'm just playing along). Indeed, a "prison-industrial complex" is emerging. But driving is a privilege, one that is apparently not treated sufficiently as a _privilege_ by "the system". Yeah, that's "John Q" speculation on my part, but this driver's record underscores it.
WRT. driving and alcohol (acknowledged, apparently not a factor in this case), it's a one-two punch politically as well. Not only does the car play far too prominent a role in modern life, but one can't help but think about the role the alcohol lobby (eg the Tavern League) plays in influencing public policy and practice wrt DUI. BTW, thanks, Bob N, for de-lurking. Your name's familiar; you're probably amused by the degree of "jailhouse lawyering" seen on this list (guilty as charged!). > From: "Schimpff, Jeff A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > No one said "imprison" - read again. The concept is removing them from the > highways by means other than imprisonment. A number of people on this list > can testify that it is perfectly possible to live a full, complete and > extremely mobile life without using a motor vehicle. We are fully aware that > the Reagan/Thompson "job growth through planting prisons far and wide" policy > would never succeed. > > The present system of allowing these people back on the highways without > thorough rehabilitation is a major failure, as well. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Behalf Of Robert F. Nagel > > I've trolled this bikie list for a few months now, but this is my first > post. I am a criminal defense lawyer. The death of a bicyclist or a > pedestrian or even a motor vehicle driver or passenger is a tragedy, but > this tragedy is not mitigated by ranting and raving about "absurd leniency" > toward repeat offenders. I represent repeat offenders and I've seen a lot > more absurd harshness in punishment than absurd leniency. You're fighting a > losing battle trying to imprison every last drunk driver forever and ever. > Drunk driving penalties keep getting harsher and harsher all the time. Does > that seem to be deterring drunk driving? Apparently not sufficiently. > Meanwhile, our state budget is bled dry by the bloated corrections' budget. > Perhaps with not so harsh and costly punishment, there'd be more money for > your agency, DNR, and more money for safe bike paths and pedestrian > improvements, not to mention driver education, and alcohol treatment and > other sorts of proactive, prevention-oriented measures. > > And if the moderator of this list-serve deems me to be an infidel and > banishes me, that's a risk I'm willing to take. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Schimpff, Jeff A > > Also an indication of the absurd leniency bestowed upon repeat offenders by > our court system. One killer in the past several years had 12 previous OWI > charges. This lack of respect for the public welfare endangers all > cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists, as well. We need to remember this > whenever elected judgeships are open, and when those who appoint judges are > up for election. > > Perhaps repeat traffic offenders need to be registered and treated like sex > offenders, but their housing should be located near a bus route so they can > traverse their communities without a motor vehicle. --------------- Paul T. O'Leary Desktop Insurgent Madison, WI USA _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
