Drink, Drive,Go to jail...

I read a commentary on one of my colleague’s blogs about how the Austin Police Department deals with individuals who are suspected of being under the influence. It is a good commentary and is definitely worth checking out at the Governmental Confusion blog. The author of the blog explains how APD will tack on additional charges to suspects who refuse both a breathalyzer and blood test. The author then goes on to say that this more than likely will not detour many drivers who are in fact under the influence. I would agree completely with the argument put forth in the commentary .I do not necessarily think that the threat of a blood test is going to stop anyone who is intoxicated from getting behind the wheel. If they have decided to drive drunk then they have already consciously made the decision to break the law in the first place. Not to mention to put their lives and others at risk. This brings me to the next item the author discusses, the idea of making the punishments for driving under the influence significantly harsher. Drunk drivers should absolutely face stiffer punishments. People should know and fear the punishments for driving drunk or intoxicated. It should be a one shot deal, not this maybe jail, maybe not game that it is today. By no means is driving drunk a victimless crime, as it can quickly turn incredibly dangerous and often fatal. People should be detoured from driving while they are intoxicated in the first place and hopefully that would be achieved with stiffer penalties. Perhaps this new blood testing policy will act as a deterrent to some would be drunk drivers. It is a bit unnerving that we are just short of having police officers acting as phlebotomists. However, the thought of getting broadsided by a drunk driver seems like an even worse deal.