Cops in Miramar Beach? WCSO operations & DUI discussion

[scooterbug44]

Oh, I am not in the law enforcement community, MADD member, or anything like that.

Just a resident who constantly sees/hears of people driving drunk (not borderline buzzed, but unquestionably drunk) and thinks it is horrible how acceptable that is to many.

 

[LuciferSam]

What about the drunk who sees the cop, pulls over, and throws their keys out the window?

If the cop actually saw him driving he's screwed as he should be. If not and a cop finds him sleeping in his car and can't find the discarded keys, then he is off the hook. That kind of makes my point. A drunk sleeping in his car with no intention of driving with his keys in his pocket is guilty of DUI. If you've had too much to drink and you sleep in your motorhome, you are a drunk driver.

My guess is that there is a reason why certain standards have evolved and the police should be able to exercise some judgment - and if you disagree, you can take it to a judge/jury.

The standards have evolved because people don't bother to question them and they line some people's pockets with $$$$. Trials cost people money and line the pockets of others with it. That's what this charade is all about.

 

[scooterbug44]

How realistic is it that you would be arrested for DUI in these scenarios where your drunk self, your keys, and your vehicle are innocently in proximity to each other?

I haven't had much experience with this (so feel free to correct me if this is a common thing I am unaware of), but I find it hard to believe the cops are going for technical arrests when there are so many easy targets.

 

[LuciferSam]

How realistic is it that you would be arrested for DUI in these scenarios where your drunk self, your keys, and your vehicle are innocently in proximity to each other?

I haven't had much experience with this (so feel free to correct me if this is a common thing I am unaware of), but I find it hard to believe the cops are going for technical arrests when there are so many easy targets.

I do know that cops are indeed going after technical arrests. FHP has an award system based not on convictions, but arrests.

 

[scooterbug44]

Really? That isn't fair at all IMO!

So many lawbreakers around and they are going for technicalities?

 

[emeraldcoastdav]

Sam,
"the standards have evolved because people don't question them".
I agree.
I never had a vote on any of these standards and it is much more difficult to disagree after "law" then prior too. You know what lobby groups are driving these stiff penalties. Moms, insurance companies, and law enforcement groups. These Lars don't come from citizens. If they did we are past masokistic.

 

[emeraldcoastdav]

Scotterbug, wreckless driving, while forgivable, is a lot less forgivable then wreckless sleeping.

 

[LuciferSam]

Really? That isn't fair at all IMO!

So many lawbreakers around and they are going for technicalities?

Yes, and there is a whole food chain workers in the public and private sector who stand to benefit financially. Think about all the counselors who stand to benefit. Many of them got sucked into the business only because they at one time got busted themselves. I do undersatnd the need for getting tough on this. I think maybe the legal limit should be lowered to .05, but with less severe penalties between .05 and .08.

 

[Matt J]

It's interesting that in most other countries blowing any level of BA results in jail time and lifetime revocation of your drivers license.

Here's some arrests by type for the past month (approximately).

4 - DUI - ? DUI
8 - DUI Alcohol or Drug 1st offense - ? DUI
3 - DUI Alcohol or Drug 1st offense refusal - ? DUI ALCOHOL OR DRUGS 1ST OFF REFUSAL

Here's a fun one:

? DUI ALCOHOL OR DRUGS 3RD VIOL W/IN 10 YEARS; REFUSE TO SUBMIT DUI TEST AFTER LIC SUSP; DRIVE WHILE LIC SUSP HABITUAL OFFENDER

Grand total of alcohol related arrests from January 13th, 2009 through today is 17, total arrests 141. That's 12.1% of arrests. One of those was a juvenile. That's 17 incidents in which a law enforcement officer did not have to do one of the following:

Notify a spouse, relative, or friend that their loved one was killed while driving drunk.
Notify a spouse, relative, or friend that their loved one was killed by someone who was driving drunk.

 

[emeraldcoastdav]

Swgb,
that's "fear mongering". What might have happened.
What are the details? How many wrecks, or wreckless driving in those dui.