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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: (Orphan) Re: Re: DWI Crackdowns
Message-ID: <465@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 1-Aug-85 17:31:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.465
Posted: Thu Aug  1 17:31:51 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Aug-85 07:08:42 EDT
References: <378@kontron.UUCP> <6700028@pbear.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 25

> 
> What do you think is the average personality of the drunk driver? I believe
> you would be suprised at the number of "responsible and stable"
> people that are pulled over for drunk driving. I know there is no reason
> that people should drive drunk, but ego and experience convince people that
> they can handle it.
> 
> Your one incident does not make a pattern that covers 100% of the persons.
> 
> Peter Barada

Actually, I think studies have shown that the *majority* (not all) of people
convicted of DWI are not "responsible and stable" but are people who have
been previously convicted of other crimes (large and small).  There may
be a selection effect here.

It may be impossible to persuade such people not to drink and drive, but
I bet it is exactly those "responsible and stable" types who are deterred
by the threat of stiff sentences.
-- 

"Don't argue with a fool.      Ethan Vishniac
 Borrow his money."            {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
                               Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas