Drunk Driving: Are We Serious? Did Nick Adenhart Have To Die?

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

But by the grace of GOD go I. Having experienced the shame and guilt of causing an accident while DUI, and the mercy that GOD bestowed on my victims and me, I can say that there are a lot of people reading this that have driven drunk and not killed anyone or got caught.

I got caught, but was prevented from killing anyone by no actions of mine. I could have killed all nine people in a van I caused to roll over. I went to prison for 240 days. I am still on parole. The financial effects will be felt for many years to come.

And you know what? I will never do it again. Knowing that the difference between this driver and myself cannot be explained by any earthly reason, I feel incredibly guilty every time this happens. I have remorse. I learned. But, obviously, this driver did not.

I was in prison with many DUI drivers who were on offense No. 3, 4, 5, some with 10 or more, and this was the first time in prison for many of them. I was in alcohol education classes with people who continued to drive on suspended licenses, and, worse yet, continued to drive drunk, often to class!

I by no means condone or excuse the actions of this or any other drunk driver, including myself, but how long will the government allow this to go on? The technology to install an ignition-lock on all vehicles, new and old, exists.

The industry that profits from DUI's is vast and large and includes law enforcement, lawyers, bail bondsmen, prison unions, auto repair, insurance, and many others. They lobby long and hard against any changes that would stop or dramatically reduce DUIs.

Personal responsibility is the key, but some among us are not able to exercise it, including my prior self. Follow the money trail to discover that the same old methods to stop DUI are not working, yet they continue to be employed. Sobriety checkpoints are the most common but one of the most ineffective. 

Often, few or no drunk drivers are arrested, but many citations are issued, mainly for lack of insurance, failure to wear seat-belts, improper or non-use of child safety seats, and myriad other vehicle infractions. Where is the logic in that?

Methods also include rehab, classes, fines, probation, jail, prison, community service, license suspension, and many others.

The alcohol industry defends the interests of the criminal justice infrastructure that protects their monopoly on legal intoxication. How many drivers left Angel Stadium last night inebriated? Guess what? Not much is working. If it is illegal to drive drunk, how come there are parking lots for bars?

This driver had a suspended license, and he won't drive drunk again, because he will more than likely face a murder charge and do some serious time. The 20-year-old girl, Brittany Deanne Schuetz, is facing a murder charge for the same thing.

The same old story, again and again. Is tougher sentencing for first-time offenders the answer? If so, are we as a society prepared to bear the costs of lengthy sentences?

The average yearly cost of housing a prisoner in the California prison system is roughly $40,000. A year at USC is about $30,000. Are we prepared to incarcerate EVERYONE who is caught DUI?

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