Drunk driving merits stronger reactions
When it comes to drunk driving, there’s little chance America’s judicial and law enforcement systems can overreact. Given the horrendous and senseless carnage on America’s roads, they can only react adequately, or they can underreact. But within the limits of the law, it’s highly doubtful they can overreact.
Strong reaction certainly was merited this week in Irving, when a young newlywed couple returning home from the movies was suddenly killed by a drunk driving suspect who already had four DWI arrests on his record and shouldn’t have been behind a wheel. Five Southern Methodist University students in another vehicle also were injured, and two were sent to a hospital, one with a broken arm.
This time, authorities did not hesitate in reacting definitively. They charged the suspect with two counts of murder and three counts of intoxication assault. According to a Dallas County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, it’s believed to be the first time a Dallas County prosecutor has pursued a DWI case as murder.
As such, authorities hardly can be accused of underreacting – though given the extremes of this crime, they clearly didn’t overreact, either. But if the same authorities had reacted with a similar degree of emphasis and urgency just three months ago, perhaps a young newlywed couple would still be alive.
In June, the same drunk-driving suspect was arrested for DWI – and was released after paying a relatively small $500 fine. That’s right, he was released despite the fact that he then had a total of four DWI arrests, had been involved in two police chases and had four outstanding warrants. Pay a small bail and you’re a free man – free to get drunk and drive again, and perhaps kill someone.
Apparently, some thought was given to clamping down on this danger to society back in 2007, when he was arrested yet another time for DWI and given a bail set at $3,500. The bail later was increased to $100,000, but then it was lowered back to $3,500 by a judge.
Did someone, at that point, underreact?
If you or a loved one has suffered in a drunk driving accident, get the best legal help from Jim S. Adler & Associates. The firm’s Texas drunk driving lawyer will not underreact to your case but will pursue justice to its fullest extent while seeking meaningful compensation for your loss.
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