Ironically, I start this paper in the comfort of my home sipping a glass of 2008 Pinot Noir named The Crusher. Honestly, not sure how I would begin to criticize a colleagues piece of work. However, this one blog caught my attention and mildly struck home.
About five years ago, my three year old daughter was hit by a drunk driver while in transit with her father. At the time, I was coming home from school and received a frantic phone call from a relative to rush to the emergency room because my daughter was due there at any minute. Needless to say, this traumatic experience inrepairably battered my heart. I learned that in a blink of an eye, the person most important to you could be stolen by ignorance.
The “No Refusal Policy” states that a police officer can obtain a warrant to draw your blood in the instance that you refuse to take a sobriety test. My classmate argues in her blog that this has gone too far and questions if this tramples our constitutional rights. In this case, does it matter? Honestly, if an individual was giving enough suspicion to a police officer that led them to probable cause then more than likely then individual was acting in a questionable state.
My classmate continues to say that she believes in other ways to stop drinking and driving but never says how. Is there really a way to completely stop it? No. There is ways however for a person to not do it again- once caught. My classmate mentions that if we had a better transportation system then it would reduce the number of deaths caused by drunk drivers. How? I am still left wondering.
My classmate finalizes her blog by disagreeing with DWI’s but doesn’t feel this measure will stop it. I simply think, nothing will. Is it even about what will stop it or what we can do to reduce it?
In closing, I would like to admit that I am no sober angel. However, I take responsibility for my actions and drink responsibly. Now whether that is every day bad day or weekend, I’ll never tell because it doesn’t matter. What matters is that people drink responsibly and take responsibility for their actions once they decide to get behind that wheel. I do not have sympathy for “drunk drivers” but respect a responsible drunk. There is a difference! Especially if the No Refusal policy could save one life and one family from a life of grievance.
-ALO
