I am no fan of Mitt Romney, but he did the right thing this week by challenging the Massachusetts House of Representatives, which gutted Melanie’s Law, the bill intended to curtail drunk driving.
Here’s the text of a letter I sent earlier today:
Dear Governor Romney:
I strongly support your decision to submit amendments to restore the provisions deleted by the House version of Melanie’s Law.
According to statistics compiled by NHTSA, in 2004, Massachusetts ranked 14th in the nation in percentage of auto fatalities that were alcohol-related. That is worse than an embarassment, it’s a disgrace.
The fact that Speaker DiMasi has failed his public responsibilities is also a disgrace. He has shown, at best, abominable judgment.
At worst, he has exhibited unapologetic contempt for the over 200 families a year who lose a loved one due to DUI, a criminal activity that is absolutely preventible with the exercise of a minimal degree of self-control.
I am proud that you have taken a stand on this issue – thank you.
Our community leaders need to completely turn around the common perception in Massachusetts that driving drunk is a mere trifle of excusable fun, and that arrests for drunk driving are a form of cultural discrimination.
This past weekend, a friend of a friend was busted for DUI at 4 in the morning. Fortunately, there was no accident or injuries.
The incredible part of this little tale is that the bustee DRIVES for a living! Further, the accused has already received two warnings for traffic violations, and was told that one more would result in loss of employment.
This person is an adult with grown-up kids, not some dumb teenager (age not being an excuse, it just makes this even more incomprehensible).
I’m glad this person was stopped – somewhere, I remember reading that for every traffic stop, the average driver has already committed 100 violations. I hope there will be at least temporary consequences for their incredible lack of judgment in operating a one ton weapon while voluntarily impaired.
What bothers me, though, is the reaction of this person’s friends, who offered all kinds of help and support, including money, accompanying this person to their court appearance, moving in to the accused’s house to provide chauffering service, etc.
It seems to me that this is enabling a behavior which is not only self-destructive, but extremely dangerous to others. It’s as if the friends believe the accused was unfairly “picked on” by law enforcement officers who, as far as I’m concerned, take their lives in their hands every time they stop a suspected drunk.
I don’t get it, I really don’t.
So, good for the Governor for setting an example, and it’s too bad that others in the State House who make a good outside living by defending drunks aren’t doing the same.