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From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics,net.legal,net.auto
Subject: Re: DWI Crackdowns;Motorcycle sentences
Message-ID: <1019@ulysses.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 25-Jul-85 12:54:54 EDT
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Posted: Thu Jul 25 12:54:54 1985
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The problem with draconian penalties for drunk driving is that juries won't
convict.  Defense attorneys are very good at portraying their clients as
"just plain folks" who are being abused by the system.  Most jurors can
see themselves making "one little mistake", just like their "peer".

Not that prosecutors are much better; I know of several instances where
the local district attorney has been arrested for drunk driving.  Also
some state legislators, congresscritters, archbishops, etc....

I also don't know what to do about the problem, though I do feel that current
public response is little short of hysterical.   Does anyone but me fear the
possibility of a return to Prohibition?