Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Special plates for DUI drivers?

A Florida state senator has introduced a bill to require drivers convicted of DUI offenses (Driving Under the Influence) to show pink license plates with "DUI" in big letters.

"Maybe it will embarrass people and keep them from drinking and driving," said Mike Fasano (R). "Maybe they'll think twice." The bill also says police "may stop any vehicle that bears a DUI plate without probable cause to check the driver."

"Pink plates would hold out individuals for punishment as well as ridicule. We are very opposed to it," said Larry Spalding, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida.

About 840,000 of Florida's 15 million licensed drivers have an active DUI sanction on their driving records, said Frank Penela, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles spokesman. A small percentage of those have limited driving privileges, such as permission to drive only to and from work, Penela said. Source.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I have a problem with this idea. I am in recovery and also a nurse who has cared for victims of drunk drivers as well as drunk drivers themselves. Putting these plates on cars would be like giving someone a stick to hit people with. If lawmakers would work on enforcing the crime/punishment laws that are already in place instead of having others do their work, this stuff would not be an issue. The scene comes to mind of a family member of a drunk driving victim walking by a car with one of these plates. They see the plate and see red. It could be open season on the car for slashed tires, broken windows, etc. Look out road rage, too. Perhaps and hopefully so the owner of the car is in recovery and has already paid for the crime. Is this not double jeopardy?