Drunk drivers beware – 7 days in jail before your bail hearing

[InfidelGastro]

Welcome to getting older..... its so much fun to realise how much of a dickwad you were when you were younger...

So true. Sadly its impossible to put a wise head on young shoulders... But its also a good thing because its never meant to be.

 

[mattrudlles]

Incarcerating people won't solve the issue. This 7 day period is just cruel and unusual punishment. Prison makes people worse.

If you are caught drinking and driving your licence should be suspended and/or revoked entirely.

Or don't drink and drive. Safest option.

You're missing the point.

 

[rietrot]

If you are caught drinking and driving your licence should be suspended and/or revoked entirely.

.

That also doesn't solve the problem. It will just make things worse as now you are creating people that drive without a licence and also don't have insurance.

The best way is to punished real crimes seriously if someone dies or there is real damage to property.
Then if someone is caught doing something stupid or dangerous in a car impound the car. Make them jump some administrative hurdles, stand in some long queue in a government department and then pay a small fine, if it was a victimless crime.

 

[mattrudlles]

Having a single drink really is not an issue. And it should not be allowed to be one. The problem with saying responsible citizens should know when they have drunk too much is that you have no idea what a single (or second) drink does to your blood alcohol level. I have never had a test done - have any of you?

If you have a single drink and the blood test shows that you are just over you should be afforded the opportunity to produce your evidence to show that you only had a single drink. I cannot see how sitting in a cell for 7 days will make this situtation any better.

 

[mattrudlles]

That also doesn't solve the problem. It will just make things worse as now you are creating people that drive without a licence and also don't have insurance.

The best way is to punished real crimes seriously if someone dies or there is real damage to property.
Then if someone is caught doing something stupid or dangerous in a car impound the car. Make them jump some administrative hurdles, stand in some long queue in a government department and then pay a small fine, if it was a victimless crime.

Unfortunately you are right about the suspension of a licence not helping.

 

[RaptorSA]

Usual MyBB stupid showing itself again.

"It wants driving under the influence to be reclassified from a schedule 2 to schedule 5 offence, putting it on par with rape, murder, theft, and fraud. "

It's really simple, NO, f*** off. This is, and you are retarded if you can't see the obvious glaring problems with that.
They just need to apply the existing laws correctly, they're more than harsh enough as things stand.

 

[Kornhub]

I understand it but economically ?

 

[Nanfeishen]

Whats needed is a community service program for those caught over the limit on their first offence.
You report to place X given a bright orange overall with DD on the back and taken along with all the others caught to a public park or place in a one of those large prison vans specifically painted and marked "The Drunk Tank" and made to clean up refuse and other garbage.
The exposure, heckling and ridicule that will go along with it, will help in making people think twice about that extra "one for the road"
No show and a warrant of arrest is issued.
2nd offence your licence is confiscated and you are required to attend a mandated program on alcohol abuse and all the related dangers, as well community service. Your licence is only returned once you have attended all the hours required.
3rd offence, dont pass go, straight to lock up.

 

[bwana]

They just need to apply the existing laws correctly, they're more than harsh enough as things stand.

The existing penalties are laughable - those are what need to be addressed, not these bail restrictions.

 

[RaptorSA]

The existing penalties are laughable - those are what need to be addressed, not these bail restrictions.

That's your opinion.
The proposed ones however are objectively retarded and does nothing but show once again that these people don't understand how the law works, where it comes from and how it should work.
That's of course not unusual for incompetent leftist authoritarians.

 

[ForceFate]

Maybe I'm overreacting and missed the joke completely.

Incarcerating people won't solve the issue. This 7 day period is just cruel and unusual punishment. Prison makes people worse.

If you are caught drinking and driving your licence should be suspended and/or revoked entirely.

You're missing the point.

Yes, I realise I may have missed his point because of my near-fanatical anti-DUI stance.

 

[bwana]

That's your opinion.

Of course it's my opinion.

Do you think a R2000 fine is a deterrent?

 

[RaptorSA]

Of course it's my opinion.

Do you think a R2000 fine is a deterrent?

No idea where you get that from.

https://www.golegal.co.za/drunk-driving-law/
"If you’re found guilty of drunk driving in South Africa you could face up to 6 years in jail. You could also be liable for fines of up to R120 000 and your driver’s license may be suspended. You will have a criminal record which can have serious ramifications for the rest of your life."

That's a pretty harsh sentence and deterrent for the potential of causing an unintentional crime.
Like I said, enforce the current rules.

 

[rietrot]

Of course it's my opinion.

Do you think a R2000 fine is a deterrent?

The average person struggles to get R2000 together for petrol so yes it is as much of a deterrent as any fine could be.

 

[bwana]

No idea where you get that from.

The article attached to the OP, did you read it?

 

[ArtyLoop]

Having a single drink really is not an issue. And it should not be allowed to be one. The problem with saying responsible citizens should know when they have drunk too much is that you have no idea what a single (or second) drink does to your blood alcohol level. I have never had a test done - have any of you?

If you have a single drink and the blood test shows that you are just over you should be afforded the opportunity to produce your evidence to show that you only had a single drink. I cannot see how sitting in a cell for 7 days will make this situtation any better.

It IS an issue.. Too lazy now to search but people have been convicted for drunk driving, having had ONLY ONE DRINK. This is why, going back many years, most people I know say they either drink and not drive, or not drink at ALL and be the designated driver.

However this stupid hare-brained government has got the wrong end of the stick. Not to detract from the seriousness of DUI, the other issue is people driving under the influence of DRUGS, including prescribed medication, which is even worse in some cases than what booze can do.

 

[I.am.Sam]

only on mybb where you find a drunk person is good to go and punishment is bad ...

 

[RaptorSA]

The article attached to the OP, did you read it?

"Depending on prior convictions against you, as well as the circumstances surrounding your arrest, you face a minimum fine of R2,000 or a two-year prison sentence, or both. "

Oh for f*** sakes, how difficult is it to understand that a guy having one draught driving home and happens to get caught is not the same as the completely wasted swerving idiot at 2AM how gets pulled over after a phone call received by the police from a conserved citizen is not the same thing.

We don't lock up guys with three kids and a family for having one or two drinks too many... or at least, that's up to the judge and why it's also wrong to keep someone locked up for a week. The whole point of due process is to have your day in court where a trained respected judge takes all the evidence and decides your fate. This week lockup thing is bulls***t because you're basically serving a sentence before you've even had your due process.

 

[access]

only on mybb where you find a drunk person is good to go and punishment is bad ...

not so rehabilitated then

 

[Beyond.Celsus]

only on mybb where you find a drunk person is good to go and punishment is bad ...

Punishment should fit the crime though....