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I didn't say that was my biggest regret. I have a lot of regrets about past behavior. I DID think the cops were out for me. That's part of the thinking and denial. Even on this board, you aren't an alcoholic with the wee bit I would drink. Weren't you one of them, Avo, part of the pack that would chant 6 pack Clara? Posters were coming out of the woodwork to tell me I had a problem with DUIs, not alcohol. Being in AA doesn't change how I thought at the time.

Spoken like a true junkie, in denial. Jesus, I haven't heard this amount of bull since I was using years back.

It's coming here for a reason, Ironic, and it comes through a number of Texas border towns, especialy El Paso. They have interesting stories they tell. The homegrown drug is meth.

I don't distinguish between degrees of crime for the purposes of this discussion. If it is a crime there is a court appearance and either restitution or consequence must be paid. I wasn't a "hardened criminal" for the 20 years I was out there driving drunk, but I was a criminal. I skated through a field sobriety check even though I was clearly intoxicated. They did not give me a breathalyzer. This was long ago, before so much attention was paid to drunk driving. The level of criminal savvy has nothing to do with the fact that DUI drivers are criminals.

You said: "That doesn't make it right, but it does make the fact that it is usually a "slap on the wrist" or a fine instead of more severe punishments make a bit more sense."

I disagree. I'm not saying jail either, but (IMO) it should definitely be form of punishment that resembles the significant danger of the crime. That one time, even for the non alcoholic or occasional drinker is enough to destroy lives. I don't think that it should be about substances. This is about carrying a gun and waving it around recklessly. Or at least that is how it should be portrayed, even if the intent was just to make a loud noise on Independence Day. The Lightfoot sentence was preposterous and insane and sets no example because it's realized that the sentence is not in the norm and doesn't fit the crime. I think it needs to be shown people that dui won't be tolerated. If it isn't harsh enough the first time, it's gonna happen again. And it shouldn't be taken as lightly as it is. **Back in the day, I did my share of dui. I regret it and now really wonder how I could be so thoughtless. I guess because a lot of people do/did it often and over and over. My very distanced brother (I have a lot) that was a drinker killed a woman walking her dog when he was drunk. Never been arrested before, wonderful man, hard working. He ended up in prison for years along with the rapists and murderers. That struck me, knocked some sense into me like a bat would. It can happen that first and only time (he had dui before though, just never caught) and those first times need to be avoided too. What to do? I’m not sure. And I don’t want a life destroyed by it either. I really think that house arrest is a good idea in some cases. Something along those lines, with mandated ongoing classes. Maybe a DUI jail. Something that isn’t crippling but could make a difference. What happens now just doesn’t deter enough.

And give them a slap on the wrist, tacitly endorsing drunk driving and putting truly innocent lives in jeopardy? Hell yes, I would throw their asses in jail.

What IS the way to drive it home, that driving drunk is selfish, irresponsible, egotistical? You hate mandating as a method of subjecting them to a possible solution. You don't want them in meetings, you don't want them in jail - what do you want? "Just don't do it again, Jimmy . . . and I'm taking the keys to your cherry 68 Camaro for one solid week, mister!" Is that gonna do it? Any self-respecting punk has duplicate keys or friends with cars and booze. Come on.

A DUI charge doesn't destroy the driver's life, by the way, but a drunk driver can kill himself, his passengers, and others who happen to be unlucky enough to be in harm's way.