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From: jordan@ucbvax.ARPA (Jordan Hayes)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: DWI Crackdowns
Message-ID: <9360@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 26-Jul-85 13:14:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.9360
Posted: Fri Jul 26 13:14:07 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Jul-85 09:22:28 EDT
References: <9272@ucbvax.ARPA> <662@cvl.UUCP>
Reply-To: jordan@ucbvax.UUCP (Jordan Hayes)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Lines: 33


Me:

>> Bah. There is a clear solution to people who don't do as they should
>> with the responsibility of a PRIVLEGE (driving a car): Credit
>> Companies have figured it out. Why can't DMV ??
>> 

Eli:

>What you seem to have forgotten in your ranting is that while a credit card
>may belong to you, all it is a $0.05 of plastic that gives you the RIGHT
>to charge purchases to the credit company which issued it.  Thus, when they
>take it away, the primary thing that they are taking away is that right and
>not the plastic.  On the other hand, confiscation of a vehicle for DWI
>entails taking away the actual vehicle.  This vehicle belongs to someone,
>and is very concrete, where the "right" to charge things is much less
>substantial.

Well, a vehicle with no way to drive it is useless. A credit card does
not, in fact, belong to you. If you read anything about it, it will tell
you that it is the property of the bank. Credit and Driving are not rights.
Sorry. They are priveleges. The state grants you permission to drive. It
can sure as hell take it away. I see no legal problem with confiscating
a car and dealing with what to do later. My point is that people who
will break laws (such as driving while intoxicated) will do the same again,
given the chance. Taking away the *thing* in question stops that. If you
are arrested for the illegal use of a gun, it is confiscated.

------------
Jordan Hayes        jordan@ucb-vax.BERKELEY.EDU
UC Berkeley                       ucbvax!jordan
+1 (415) 835-8767    37' 52.29" N 122' 15.41" W