Wednesday, March 11, 1997

Two Letters to the editor
Drunk Driving
They don't deserve privilege
Over the years several friends and acquaintances were killed by drunk
drivers. Last fall it happened again. This resulted in the worst
possible tragedy for the victim's family and was an incalculable loss
for our community. The drunk driver will likely get some prison
time...and his life will be forever affected.
Bob Apter's recent commentary raised important questions about how we
as a society might deal with the problem of drunk drivers. ...His
proposed solutions include Breathalyzer machines coupled to car ignition
systems, law enforcement stakeouts near taverns, stiffer sentences for
those convicted of drunk driving, and an increase in alcohol taxes. As
he points out, each of these has both practical and political problems.
As an alternative, I would like to suggest an idea....The drunk driver
forfeits the car he is driving. No exceptions. I believe that people
will think twice about driving drunk if they might lose their wheels.
The wealthy drunk who can pay almost any fine will lose his Mercedes or
Lexus. Friends and family members will not loan a car to someone who
might be driving drunk. The drunk driver who has lost his license will
not be illegally driving a car that has been confiscated.
Of course, this plan alone will not solve the problem, and I anticipate
howls of protest from civil libertarians (with whom I usually agree),
car rental outfits and others. I still remember, however,m my drivers
education instructor telling me 25 years ago "driving a car is a
privilege, not a right. "Drunk drivers do not deserve that privilege.
Dr. Dale R. Abbott

Send a real message
So our local prosecutor thinks three years is a reasonable sentence for
the murder of Karan Bakke by a drunk driver? Let me express my complete
contempt for this. It's obvious that there are two groups of people who
haven't gotten the message here: drunk drivers and the prosecutor's
office.
I have been a paramedic in Skagit and Whatcom counties for nearly 17
years. During that time I have seen an almost unbelievable string of
violence related to alcohol and drunk driving. My wife and I, along with
the rest of Karan's friends and family, stood at her grave last fall on
perhaps the saddest day of our lives. And now we see what the penalty
may be for what really is a random murder. That makes me wonder what the
drunk that murdered the two Ferndale teenagers will getthree and a half
with time off for good behavior?
Let me suggest a solution: A mandatory oneyear prison term for the
first DWI, with lifetime loss of driving privileges. For vehicular
homicide involving alcohol, how about a mandatory life sentence? If is
sounds severe, just remember: The killer is still alive. And I
personally don't really care if they stand shouldertoshoulder in
prison. Then I, along with other decent people, won't have to take
chances with them as we drive our roads and highways.
To the prosecutor's office I say: Take a good look. The public is fed
up, and a slap on the wrist just isn't enough. It's time to send a real
message, and I, for one, am still waiting.
John Scurlock