DWI Reform Needed NOW

I had an idea kicking around for a while about how to increase NJ state revenue, attack the REAL underlying problem concerning repeat offenders, and lessen the draconion laws imposed by legislation.

For second or third offenders of DWI it's been estimated that between the convictions of 1st to second and second to third, the driver had driven intoxicated HUNDREDS of times. To be clear on this point, I don't mean EVERY time they were falling down drunk, they could have had a BAC of .01 on up.
In my mind, it is insane for someone with a first DWI on their record to rack up a second offense, what knowingly sane person would engage in that behaivor after going through the hell they did after the first one? There is something going on underneath the exterior of the repeat offenders that scare tactics don't work on. Suspension for two years? Yeah, it sucks but there is the percentage of motorists that will rack up a third or fourth DWI conviction after that. Why? Are they just masochists at heart?

The State of New Jersey still, in my humble opinion, doesn't have a firm grasp on the true problem. These repeat offenders have a sickness. A disease, if you will. Looking upon the true cause of their behaivor as the illness that it is, instead of locking these people up (which is still not a deterrent, as is suspension) will lead me into my proprosal.

I propose a "traffic school" for DWI offenders. They have them for speeding where you can attend classes and get points taken off your license. Why not a scenario like this for DWI cases? I had the idea of a state run facility paid for by the DWI offenders themselves, whereupon they attend regular group therapy, meetings and educational classes (with qualified staff on hand that specialize in substance abuse). Yes, I realize that a 16 week therapy course is assigned to second offenders upon assessment at the IDRC, but what's 16 weeks? To someone who has a real drinking problem, 16 weeks is rubbish. I propose CONTINUED therapy, education and meetings in my aforementioned state-run facility. As a side effect, the more you attend, the more your suspension gets lessened. And it attacks the REAL problem from a therapeutic base. And since alchoholism is considered a disease, wouldn't medical insurance cover this plan as well as out of pocket?

Would this plan also not benefit the income revenue of our state as well? I agree, that on the surface, people would attend not to solve their real problems but to lessen their suspension time. As far as a revenue stream for NJ goes, I can't imagine a person with a two to ten year suspension NOT attending. However, I'm of the belief that over continued exposure to therapy and education, the offenders will make significant changes in thier lifestyle and behaivor. Locking them up with huge fines and suspensions has proven to be not a significant deterrent to repeat offenders.

These are just the broad strokes of my idea, but I think you get the picture. What say you?

Matt

You should lobby the state house!

It's time for something to make better sense than the current DUI system.

The only reform DUI laws needs is to allow less offenses before taking drastic action. Imprisonment for all first time offenders. The slap on the wrist laws as they stand today obviously don't work.

Alcoholism isn't on any health plan because the government knows it's not really a "disease". It's an addiction; aweakness in character that allows people to wallow in self pity because of any excuse they can think of from their childhood traumas. It ranks alongside gambling addiction, drug addiction, sex addiction, eating addiction. To call it a "disease" is a lame attempt to place the responsibility outside one's self for having such an addiction.

I like the ideas!!

Can't use only the stick with this problem although strong punishment is crucial as a deterrent as well.

Alcoholism isn't covered by any medical insurance plan? Where are you doing your research? Wikipedia?
I refer you here, sir; I found this after 2 minutes of searching:

Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems: Resources: State Laws, Health Insurance, and Alcohol Treatment

I realize my idea is not politically correct and I sympathize with anyone who has lost someone to a drunk driver. I've lost two loved ones to this senseless tragedy. These people will do prison time for vehicular manslaughter and they should. My problem is this: why does the State believe that after a two or ten year suspension, a true problem drinker will never get behind the wheel drunk again?

As far as alcoholism not being a disease, I refer you here, sir:

FAQs for the General Public

It's a disease to whomever believes it truly is. Addiction, whether alcohol or food or drugs or whatever, is an emotional behavior problem. Just because someone labels it a disease does not make it true.

Diseases are Huntington's, Alzheimer's, Cancer, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. Alcohol addiction due to self pitying is something that can be cured by simply stopping the habit. Cancer, for instance, is not something a person can simply start and stop at will. Willpower has much to do with the so called "disease" of alcoholism.

How can alcoholism be a disease when it's something a person can either take or leave? Disease is used to make us all feel better about our addictions.

I just think it is absolutely absurd that the penalties for DWI are so much, they can take your whole life from you over nothing. The fact of the matter is .08 BAC is somthing most people probably wouldn't notice. Everyone does it yet when we catch some other poor SOB we nail him to the cross. Going to a nice dinner with your wife and having two glasses of wine and getting pulled over can make you a felon. Somthing needs to be done about this immediately. Those who claim that people who drink are weak and are making excuses need to get a little perspective on their own lives...I work in emergency services so I do see alot of alcohol related incidents but guess what those people are nowhere near .08 they're way off the charts .2 or even .3. Now I can certainly understand them going to jail and being slapped with a large penalty. I have even seen a guy who had been drinking be hit by an elderly couple, and he went to jail the accident was not his fault alcohol did not cause the collision, but groups like MADD still get to use this for their statistics to make a problem out of nothing becasue they have a personal grudge against the issue.