Random breathalyzer tests considered for Canada

[canwhitewolf]

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[b1ngnx33]

Oh hell yeah!

Lets give cops the best power of all.

License to kill anyone, anywhere, anytime.

No reason necessary, no warrant, no legal issues, no law.

Just kill as you see fit, or to pass the time.

Who cares about civil liberties, freedom, human rights, etc.

Where's the nearest cop school?

I want to join this police state and kick ass.

[. ._]

Yeah, drunk driving isn't cool, but I hate the way MADD and the government are in bed with each other.

Here's a hypothetical situation.

The cop doesn't like your face, so he pulls you over. He says you were swerving, had glassy eyes and slurred speech. All BS. You're 100 percent sober.

He wishes to administer a breathalyser test. You say no. You're busted for refusing the test. Your car insurance goes up and you you lose your licence.

OR

You say, "sure. I'm sober as a judge" and blow green. So the cop takes you down to the station because he believes the breathalyser is faulty. He give you the REAL breathalyser and it reads 0.0. The cop says you are high on weed and yanks your licence for 30 days. Your insurance goes up and you are fined. In court, 60 days later, the case gets thrown out, but because of your previous 30 day suspension (this is Ontario, we're talking about) your insurance is 5 times what it was for the next 5 years.

This is legal because of MADD.

There is no legal recourse to get a 30 day suspension off your record. IMHO, if you are being charged with something, you should have the right to see a judge. MADD disagrees with due process.

I don't support MADD. They are friggin fascists.

-istp

[The Old Fogducker]

Racist?

I never knew drunks were a race and thereby subject to discrimination.

I'm in favour of taking every single drunk off the road by almost any means, but I'm really down on scumbag drunks getting into collisions ever since one of society's darlings nailed me almost 25 years ago and left me with permanent damage. The jerk blew 3 times the legal limit, had multiple prior convictions, and was suspended at the time. He was a serious problem because he couldn't keep his snout out of the bottle ... really unfortunate on a social basis, but that "I drink because I've got problems" excuse earns zero tolerance from me.

On a legal basis, they should have thrown his ass into the slammer to keep him away from the rest of us for a long time.

As far as I'm concerned, the Boys In Blue should be stationed outside every bar in town and breathalyze every single patron that is carrying a set of keys. Bar owners would baying and howling as if they were Coon Dogs that had a ring-tailed rascal up a tree, but that would come under the category of "That's just too bad in Fogducker Land."

Don't be lookin' to me for any sympathy what-so-ever if you pick up a DUI.

The Old Fogducker

[Rockie]

You're such a fence-sitter TOF. You should really learn to develop an opinion and express it.

[. ._]

Racist?

The Old Fogducker

Who said anything about cops being racist? Did I miss something?

[Siddley Hawker]

I'm setting up a chapter of DAMM* to protest this action.

*Drunks Against Mad Mothers.

[My-Shoes-Are-Covered]

Just like they say in the ad boys! "If you drink don't drive". The reality of this is that it protects everyone but the guilty. The problem with Canada is that we don't want to offend anyone, so criminals have carte blanche. Bullshit I say! Breathalize away and if anyone of you, or me for that matter, gets caught, rot in jail!

[2R]

The law does not redress the harm done.By using the defense of impaired , many people have escaped prosecution and punishment for rape,manslaughter,and vehicular homicide.
The impaired defense should not offer immunity for offences and harm caused by poor drivers or people who cannot walk and chew gum.
If someone wants to drive drunk they should be allowed to do so under the caveat that they will be held responsible for any and all damges that their behaviour may cause.Part of the frustration of the MADD group is that the law does not address the harm caused by some accidents and that drivers using the impaired defense are not held responsable for their actions.By making people legally responsible for their actions maybe more people might act responsibly and take a taxi home.
Time to end the get out of jail cards ,that the impaired defense offers to drivers who cause harm through their poor decision making and driving skills.

The temperance movements in north america have always tried to demonize alcohol and the behaviours surrounding social use of alcohol.The temperance movements are using subversive means to prohibit the social use of alcohol.Eventually the Law makers will restrict the use of alcohol in a similar way that they have attacked smokers in the last twenty years .After the drinkers they will go after those who do not go to church....history repeats itself .......

[canwhitewolf]

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[canwhitewolf]

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[BoostedNihilist]

this law will last exactly one charter defense.

Unless you are a drunk, I just don't get how you can see this law as okay.

I respect the opinion that everyone who is caught drinking and driving should be taken off the road... however random testing at the discretion of the front line 'officers' is not an option.

Punishing the rest of society because a few people can't act right is fascism. Controlling your population with fear and military checkpoints (lets face it, that is what these things are) is fascism. Last time I was learned I was learned that we live in a free country and only those who do bad get punished. I was taught that my fight against any perceived or real injustice ends at my neighbors nose. I was taught that all members of society, including governments and their minions are beholden to these principles and yet as I grow old I am sickened by the gradual erosion of our rights.

They sell us this bullshit as if we as society are incapable of being responsible for ourselves and our actions.

I am surprised to hear our elders, many who probably lost friends in battle, hell many who have probably battled themselves rant on about how we should impose nazi like fascism on our fellow brethren. Seems like the antithesis of the ideals all of those who fought for freedom and liberty fell for on our behalf.

Oddly enough, as this information was being released, another piece of information was being released as well. Another officer put on administrative leave for being busted for drunk driving.

[sky's the limit]

its totally stupid to be allowing MADD to lobby this countrys laws and processes...again its all about votes and not wisdom

its original intent was ok but now its delusionary

This is what modern Democracy is built on - lobby. Washington has become transformed by them, and Ottawa is not far behind. Goes hand in hand with our economic system... but I'd hate to be accused of making obvious links. It's all about money baby.

stl

[North Shore]

this law will last exactly one charter defense.

Dunno about that - the courts have allowed random roadblocks, why wouldn't they allow the Stasi to breathalyse you at the same time?

[Icebound]

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On a legal basis, they should have thrown his ass into the slammer to keep him away from the rest of us for a long time.



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Just asking.... does it make sense for you and society to be paying out $300 a day to feed and house this idiot "for a long time"....

... or to have him working at a good-paying job, paying out maybe $30,000 a year in taxes which might help fund medical and physio for yourself, plus fund programs to help youth keep away from drugs and alcohol... and especially drugs and alcohol combined with driving....????

Let's see, the one way, we are out (365 times $300 times 10 years.... carry the one...mmm.) ... we are out $1 million 100 Thousand, in addition to your personal grief.

The other way, your society has gained $300 thousand for the afore-mentioned programs. And maybe some of that can go directly to the victim's pocket.

Which scenario makes more sense?




Rot-in-jail is such an easy, yet extremely costly, solution. Vengeange is a lazy form of grief. We have to get much more innovative about penalties. Perhaps forced AA, loss of licence forever, registry of can't-ever-own-vehicle, maybe even a surcharge on provincial or federal taxes.... etc... It takes some thought and effort.



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[mcrit]

... or to have him working at a good-paying job, paying out maybe $30,000 a year in taxes which might help fund medical and physio for yourself, plus fund programs to help youth keep away from drugs and alcohol... and especially drugs and alcohol combined with driving....????

You're basing that arguement on the assumption that skippy the drunk noodle will be able to hold a job that generates $30K in taxes every year. I think that assumption is faulty.

That said, I'm opposed to giving the cops this authority. Thin edge of the wedge. Next it will be the right to randomly check hard drives for child porn, then illegal downloads......

*EDIT FOR SPELLING*

[Chuck Ellsworth]

EDITED

[Icebound]

... or to have him working at a good-paying job, paying out maybe $30,000 a year in taxes which might help fund medical and physio for yourself, plus fund programs to help youth keep away from drugs and alcohol... and especially drugs and alcohol combined with driving....????

You're basing that arguement on the assumption that skippy the drunk noodle will be able to hold a job that generates $30K in taxes every year. I think that assumption is faulty.

...I dunno..... Do a google for lawyers specializing in DUI/DWI defense. The list is long and growing. There must be money there. (Besides, you guys keep telling me how badly we are taxed, so it shouldn't take much to generate 30K, right?)

If the penalty was something other than jail, is it possible that Skippy would forgo the expensive legal defense and just pay the penalty???...



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[Icebound]

[.....

....., I'm opposed to giving the cops this authority. Thin edge of the wedge. Next it will be the right to randomly check hard drives for child porn, then illegal downloads......

Wasn't that a random hard-drive check that netted that Bishop from the East coast???? It's already happening....

[Siddley Hawker]

Wasn't that a random hard-drive check that netted that Bishop from the East coast????

They nailed him going through security at YOW, I think.

[Dash-Ate]

I thought Harper would protect us from "shrill, hysterical liberals" and their "liberal agenda" to take away our freedoms??
I though he was our saviour...
How's that working out...

[BoostedNihilist]

That's the problem with conservatives. Let them at government in general

but keep them away from social policy

[200hr Wonder]

I have no problem getting drunks off the road, but lets face it like so many things a monkey could come up with a better idea than random breathalyzers and road checks. I NEVER seem to go through the things when traveling a bar route at prime bar closing time! They are all just like airport security make you feel good. MADD on the other hand wants to have people to only drink in there bedroom with the lights out under the covers while smoking (my apologies to Mr. Denis Leary).

Handing the cops the ability to search someone without a warrant pisses me off to no end! Next time I get pulled over I am gunna wash my hands with hand sanitizer and then get medieval on the cops ass when he wants me to breathalyze. Drag him through the courts for a violations of my rights as a Canadian!

How about a good targeted program at the drunks. When you get caught you have to get an interlock installed, counseling, community service etc. Plus fines and so forth. If you hurt or kill someone one, well off to jail you go.

[canwhitewolf]

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[GilletteNorth]

Every drunk driving conviction - impound whatever vehicle the person is driving for 6 months and add a 5% penalty to his annual income tax assessment.

If the guy can afford to drive a car he can afford to lose it. Demonstrate what it means to lose the priviledge. Not his car? Simple. The impound will convince the owner to NEVER borrow his car to the irresponsible lout again.

The tax penalty will further motivate the person not to be a repeat offender.