Idea to help stop drivers with suspended license.

[Jalopyshoppe]

The problem with taking cars is that it creates profit for the private sector. Licenses get suspended, but fine payments are still required. I realize DUI creates emotional reactions, but suspending licenses just takes peoples ability to insure themselves away. Adding impound fees and other predatory private sector penalties is bullshit. You're getting into civil forfeiture territory. No one but lawyers should profit from criminal penalties or prosecution.
I don't have a solution to the DUI problem, but not driving is in many cases a ticket straight to poverty. (For the "who cares" crowd, shut up unless you've never sped or violated any traffic law ever.) Some people get caught more than others. Poor decisions do have consequences, but this system creates deeper holes and more profit to sleazy tow yards. Why would we just double down on it?

 

[mean dad]

The problem with taking cars is that it creates profit for the private sector. Licenses get suspended, but fine payments are still required. I realize DUI creates emotional reactions, but suspending licenses just takes peoples ability to insure themselves away. Adding impound fees and other predatory private sector penalties is bullshit. You're getting into civil forfeiture territory. No one but lawyers should profit from criminal penalties or prosecution.
I don't have a solution to the DUI problem, but not driving is in many cases a ticket straight to poverty. (For the "who cares" crowd, shut up unless you've never sped or violated any traffic law ever.) Some people get caught more than others. Poor decisions do have consequences, but this system creates deeper holes and more profit to sleazy tow yards. Why would we just double down on it?

As someone who got enough tickets to have a suspended license more than once, this is ridiculous.
Fuck their poor decision making skills. One speeding ticket? Pay it and slow down.
Two speeding tickets within a few months? Pay them and slow down.
Three or four speeding tickets in a few months so now your license is suspended for being a shitty driver? TOO FUCKING BAD fuck your shitty choices.

lol, some get caught more than others, you mean some people don't fucking learn to slow down.
Oh no, gotta get up early and take the bus or ride yopur bicycle, that's your fault.
Gotta buy a cheap shitty car and drive slow so you can sneak around and get to work? Better drive fucking slow and follow all the rules of the road so you don't get pulled over.

 

[SFSV650]

Hell, I would guess most suspensions occur as a result of not paying a traffic infraction.

Yes, please let's penalize them to the fullest extent possible.

Had a couple of messy days a few months back when the DMV made a shambles of renewing my SO's license. She'd mailed the forms as soon as she was eligible to renew, waited 12+ weeks with no word (check was cashed), existing license card expired, and the DMV website where you can check the validity of your license is down, and has been for months.

She's a good driver with insurance and no outstanding tickets, no points, etc etc, but we had to remember her license was up on her birthday and then be very careful to remember not to do a perfectly ordinary thing like drive to work for a couple of weeks while the DMV did their obstructionism dance. Even the SF sheriff found himself unknowingly driving on a suspended license, because our bureaucracies are terrible.

I'd love to take unlicensed, and especially uninsured, drivers off the streets , but when you propose such draconian measures try to remember how easily someone acting in good faith could run afoul of the law.

 

[SFSV650]

They passed legislation in this county and city that illegal/unlicensed/uninsured drivers here will not get their car towed, because it's not fair. Yeah, but if I drive on a suspended, because of an unpaid ticket, they will tow my shit. I'm licensed, insured, trained and experienced on our roads, but because they aren't making money off me like they make off these illegal fucks, they will ding me for $500 in fees.
FUCK THAT.

Do you have a link to that? I've heard it before but always wanted to read the details for myself.

 

[Johndicezx9]

I go to a little country store on the edge of the fields on my way home. Same guys, buying a case every day. We have an alcohol problem here.

Probably see that at a liquor store in Isla Vista as well...

 

[pepesm]

Store your best vehicles in storage.

Leave your most hated car in the garage. (geo metro, anyone). With a stuck tape player that never goes off and kept playing "you drive like your grandma, fa la la la la!" Over and over again. Make sure the glove box is filled with old grandma/dirty old people porn magazines (I dunno if there are such thing, are there?"

 

[Johndicezx9]

 

[Cincinnatus]

Store your best vehicles in storage.

Leave your most hated car in the garage. (geo metro, anyone). With a stuck tape player that never goes off and kept playing "you drive like your grandma, fa la la la la!" Over and over again. Make sure the glove box is filled with old grandma/dirty old people porn magazines (I dunno if there are such thing, are there?"

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=elder+porn

No, I didn't go there, I'm familiar with the "Things seen cannot be unseen". arty

 

[CDONA]

What happened to the seizure laws that pertained to prostitution in Oakland?
For a time the powers that be were stealing the Johns cars to finance the special task force that now is titled human trafficking.

I thought the best thing you could do was to buy a beater, to commit the crime of searching for "professional comfort" or drive without a license. Why lose that nice MB, Jag, to some quick buck city councilman?

 

[El Feo]

In Yolo County, a very forgiving judge actually bought my f=ma argument (Your Honor, although I was certainly speeding, given my very small mass compared to even a compact car, any damage I could potential cause is far less severe) and reduced my ticket greatly.

Citing Newtonian case law is teh awesome.

I dont think you are right about drinkers opting for public transit. Some would, but many would not make rational decisions about that while blitzed.

The culture is very different in metropolitan areas with great public transportation (e.g., greater Boston). However, this affects only a small percent of the population living there.

just shows how white liberals dont see the rest of the country.

The myopia extends well beyond white liberals.

The problem with taking cars is that it creates profit for the private sector. Licenses get suspended, but fine payments are still required. I realize DUI creates emotional reactions, but suspending licenses just takes peoples ability to insure themselves away. Adding impound fees and other predatory private sector penalties is bullshit. You're getting into civil forfeiture territory. No one but lawyers should profit from criminal penalties or prosecution.
I don't have a solution to the DUI problem, but not driving is in many cases a ticket straight to poverty. (For the "who cares" crowd, shut up unless you've never sped or violated any traffic law ever.) Some people get caught more than others. Poor decisions do have consequences, but this system creates deeper holes and more profit to sleazy tow yards. Why would we just double down on it?

I'm sure the reactionary will miss your fine, very valid points.

Had a couple of messy days a few months back when the DMV made a shambles of renewing my SO's license. She'd mailed the forms as soon as she was eligible to renew, waited 12+ weeks with no word (check was cashed), existing license card expired, and the DMV website where you can check the validity of your license is down, and has been for months.

She's a good driver with insurance and no outstanding tickets, no points, etc etc, but we had to remember her license was up on her birthday and then be very careful to remember not to do a perfectly ordinary thing like drive to work for a couple of weeks while the DMV did their obstructionism dance. Even the SF sheriff found himself unknowingly driving on a suspended license, because our bureaucracies are terrible.

Many years ago, I paid a right-on-red ticket and forgot about it. Some time later, I was pulled over for something very minor and informed I had a warrant for my arrest and suspended license (for the unpaid ticket).

It was Friday afternoon, so the thought of spending the weekend in jail put me in panic mode. Insisting it was mistake and pleading with the officer, I started rattling off the names of every cop I knew. He didn't let me off until I got to a Lieutenant in homicide, who was an acquaintance of mine.

On Monday, the courts/DMV simply stated, "Our bee, boo."

Probably see that at a liquor store in Isla Vista as well...

I was going to say that those kids don't typically drive. But, Distopia and Halloween bring in a shit ton of alcohol tourists.

 

[Johndicezx9]

I was going to say that those kids don't typically drive. But, Distopia and Halloween bring in a shit ton of alcohol tourists.

You can get a DUI on bicycle, and it counts.

 

[El Feo]

You can get a DUI on bicycle, and it counts.

Indeed. My sister almost got one.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Indeed. My sister almost got one.

I know a woman in Carmel Valley that got one riding a horse from one corral to another on the lightly traveled road I've attached a pic of, you can even see the corral...

When I heard the story I couldn't help but laugh, and I asked her why didn't she use the classic joke "Ask the horse, he knows where he's going." Of course, I'm sure I wasn't getting the whole story from her, i.e. did she mouth off to the sheriff, did she fall off the horse, was the horse weaving (how can you tell?)...

But, it's the same penalty: DL suspension, DMV penalty, classes, fines, the whole thing.

 

[DReg350]

You can get a DUI on anything as far as I can tell... car, moto, bike, lawnmower, scissor lift, bar stool, you name it.

 

[madsen203]

You can get a DUI on anything as far as I can tell... car, moto, bike, lawnmower, scissor lift, bar stool, you name it.

Lawnmower....oh my. Reminds me of those silly "I know my rights" video with the drunk on the 'mower.

[youtube]30InBgGhiSo[/youtube]

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

As someone who got enough tickets to have a suspended license more than once, this is ridiculous.
Fuck their poor decision making skills. One speeding ticket? Pay it and slow down.
Two speeding tickets within a few months? Pay them and slow down.
Three or four speeding tickets in a few months so now your license is suspended for being a shitty driver? TOO FUCKING BAD fuck your shitty choices.

lol, some get caught more than others, you mean some people don't fucking learn to slow down.
Oh no, gotta get up early and take the bus or ride yopur bicycle, that's your fault.
Gotta buy a cheap shitty car and drive slow so you can sneak around and get to work? Better drive fucking slow and follow all the rules of the road so you don't get pulled over.

Speeding or poor driving are not the only route to tickets. Here's a scenario:
Start with Danville. The bulk of the jobs are service related, and people in those jobs can not afford to live where they work. No problem with that, but public transportation is not exactly plentiful to and from Danville. So, someone with a sub standard car is driving through town at night . Danville PD makes a profile stop because you can't drive through Danville at night while being white trash. The officer has no intention in writing a ticket, but he claims that the person failed to completely stop. Thus person has had a bad day and instead of swallowing pride and politely obliging the officer's request to search the car, they decline. It escalates, and the cop has to write the ticket, in order to validate the stop. The PC search yields nothing, and our subject is now out $500 for not eating shit. For me, $500 is a big deal. Now that junk car breaks down. Make your choice, fix the car or pay the fine. One makes work possible, one is bullshit. Now you're suspended, and no longer insured, but you have have a job still. Until you get pulled over for being white trash in Danville again. Now your car is impounded. So, you scrape together the impound fees, in order to save your job. Or you buy another shit car. No headway on your fines still, but the tow yard is up $500. It's a trap that ends in some dire straits. The only one who wins is the tow yard.

 

[MysterYvil]

I know a woman in Carmel Valley that got one riding a horse from one corral to another on the lightly traveled road I've attached a pic of, you can even see the corral...

When I heard the story I couldn't help but laugh, and I asked her why didn't she use the classic joke "Ask the horse, he knows where he's going." Of course, I'm sure I wasn't getting the whole story from her, i.e. did she mouth off to the sheriff, did she fall off the horse, was the horse weaving (how can you tell?)...

But, it's the same penalty: DL suspension, DMV penalty, classes, fines, the whole thing.

Anecdote =/= data.

Cite? Name? Date?

Otherwise, BS...

 

[Johndicezx9]

Anecdote =/= data.

Cite? Name? Date?

Otherwise, BS...

You must read my mind when it comes to some of your posts!

Yes, let me out her on an internet forum.

 

[kongjie]

What's to keep 'em from just buying another cheap car?
You can't get around this country without a car. It's not set up for it.

That's the problem--these people are being rightfully punished for DUI, etc., but many of them can't continue to make a living without driving to work.

You can say, well, they should have thought of that before they got loaded and got in a car. I agree. But they didn't.

So a situation is created that will ultimately force them to drive on a suspended license.

I don't know a good solution, but I do know that we're setting people up for failure.

 

[dravnx]

That's the problem--these people are being rightfully punished for DUI, etc., but many of them can't continue to make a living without driving to work.

You can say, well, they should have thought of that before they got loaded and got in a car. I agree. But they didn't.

So a situation is created that will ultimately force them to drive on a suspended license.

I don't know a good solution, but I do know that we're setting people up for failure.

No, we're setting people up to not have repercussions for their bad decisions.