Drunk driving exacts a painful toll on thousands of people every year. Every day, drivers across the country get behind the wheel of a car after drinking and cause accidents on streets and highways that cause property damage and injure or kill other motorists or pedestrians. That is why DUI laws are tough.
For a first offense, a driver who has been convicted of drunk driving can expect jail time or probation, heavy fines, suspension of his or her driver’s license, and mandatory installation of anti-drunk driving devices in their car (at their own expense) and mandatory completion of a DUI program. The penalties for drinking and driving increase for subsequent convictions.
But many people feel that drunk-driving laws and penalties are not tough enough, and favor “zero-tolerance” laws or laws that apply to drivers who are operate a vehicle while impaired, but may not be legally drunk, essentially lowering the threshold for DUI or a DUI-related offense. Some states have responded to public pressure and passed such laws. Stories such as one reported on a Florida news website recently suggest why other states may want to follow that example.
Ocala.com, a website which covers news stories from the central Florida city of Ocala, reports that 59-year-old John Medeiros was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a drunk-driving accident that killed 39-year-old Dwayne Bradley in 2010. Medeiros admitted to drinking a can of beer before leaving his house that day, but that he did not feel that he was impaired while driving. Bradley, who was riding a motorcycle at the time, and Medeiros were travelling in opposite directions along a local road when the accident occurred. Medeiros turned left in front of Bradley, killing him and leading to a charge of DUI-manslaughter and several other related charges. Medeiros’ BAC was measured at .104 after the accident, well above Florida’s legal limit of .08.
But, as is often the case in DUI stories, Medeiros’ background and previous run-ins with the law make the tragedy here seem sadly predictable. Dwayne Bradley was not even the first person Medeiros killed in an automobile accident – he had been convicted of vehicular homicide in 1996. He was also convicted of DUI that year, had several other traffic citations in the years after that. He was driving with a revoked license at the time of the accident. The judge in this case ensured, at least for the time being, that Medeiros would not be able to add to his list of victims.
Perhaps tougher laws would have prevented Medeiros from taking another life after his first vehicular homicide conviction (presuming it was alcohol-related). Those who advocate for more stringent penalties for drunk-driving point to stories such as this to persuade the public and lawmakers of the need for reform.
Have you been pulled over for drunk-driving and facing a charge of DUI? Contact an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who can study the facts of your case and begin preparing a defense. Under certain circumstances, a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer may be able to have your charge(s) reduced or dismissed. Although a favorable outcome for your case cannot be guaranteed, a reputable and experienced defense lawyer can be a valuable asset for you if you are facing a trial for drunk driving.
