she was smart for the people around her

now thats ballsy drunk

Congratulating her for doing this is kind of... out there. I mean, she got into the car and drove while drunk... then called the police on herself? If she'd have pulled over and just gotten a ride from (as others have stated) a cab or a friend, or anything, she wouldn't have to pay all this money and go to AA. She wasn't in a good state of mind, that's why she called the police. Poor problem-solving skills.

Have to give her credit for realizing she was a menace and called in. Rather comical though as most people dont do that.

Why didn't she just pull over to the side of the road and call a cab?

They told her to pull over... she could have done that on her own. I guess she needed the cops to tell her to pull over.

Her blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit? She is proof that a drunk still has the frame of mind to know better. She needs help and the 2x or more offenders deserve the book thrown at them.

She isn't proof of anything. She still illegally drove while drunk - which suggests she wasn't able to know better then. Someone "knowing better" would call a licensed taxi.

Not committing the crime in the first place is the more reasonable and commendable decision than committing the crime and then taking accountability for your actions.

I agree with you, but if she knew enough to pull over she knew enough to stay out of the vehicle. She deserves the full punishment of the law but will probably be hailed a hero in today's society. Thank God she didn't kill anyone before she stopped the car.

She got into the vehicle, so I don't think I agree that she knew enough to stay out of the vehicle. We don't know, for example, if she began sobering up. Also, the point of alcohol is that it slows down your judgements. She may have eventually have "known better", but it took her considerably longer to reach that understanding - and by then, it could have been too late.

I too am thankful no one was harmed, and agree that she should not be hailed in a positive light.

I guess I am just trying to make sense of this kind of thing. It is so senseless to drink when you know beforehand that you will have to drive home. Everyone is human, but to risk someone else's life even when you have no regard for your own is just a lack of decency (to be kind).

I say this because when you see a photo of four caskets on the front page of your local newspaper as a result of a drunken repeat offender, you become outraged. Three of the victims were single-digit ages and the fourth was their grandmother. According to the story, the mother was following them on a freeway when the tragedy occurred and witnessed her entire immediate family killed before her eyes. I cannot imagine the horror because I didn't know the family, yet I have not been able to get that photo out of my mind.

Marti, I completely agree, but we must not let such emotions cloud our judgement. I was involved in a head on collision on a dual carriageway due to a drunk driver. Nobody in our car died, though many were seriously injured (luckily I actually got off relatively lightly, I think I was the only person too - I had a fractured collarbone), but a newly born baby died in one of the others involved.

However, I don't think that them not knowing the difference between right and wrong means they can't be punished for their actions. Before picking up that first drink they knew the difference between right and wrong, even after a drink or two they should theoretically. Nothing prevented them at these times making sure they had a safe and legal way to get home. Instead, they got themselves in a drunken stupor not thinking about anybody else.

Yeah, that was my point. She knew, as everyone should from all of the public service announcements, etc., that drinking and driving don't mix. Before picking up a drink arrangements should be made to protect others on the roadways. I would like to see stiff laws passed to get people to think beforehand about the possible result of their actions. Some states have gone to the 3-strikes law, so after the third offense the privilege to drive is taken away for life.

Well, not many people know that a few weeks ago the World Health Organisation declared the start of the first global attack on alcohol abuse. They are and were the ones behind the attack on cigarettes, incase you don't know about them and what they do.

The first thing they are trying to do is prevent alcohol being advertised. It has already worked in some areas, but they're still working on billboards, television, etc. They also want to talk about what they are calling "passive drinkers". The people, like that family of four, affected by other people drinking alcohol.

I don't exactly agree with Riki, but I just want to say that this woman made the news because her case was an anomaly. Most drunks don't know better.

Just out of curiosity, what don't you agree with? If you don't wish to go into it, then don't worry. I was just curious.

I guess I'm somewhere in between. I think you know how bad it is if you're twice the legal limit. I remember the policeman who visited my school every year told us he'd prefer if we drank a twelve pack than two or three beers before thinking about driving, because if we drank WAY too much we'd know better. (Yeah, I know, he was a great cop talking to a bunch of 15 and 16-year-olds like that. XD)
So, basically, I thought you were wrong, but just because I had heard a different perspective. I think people rarely act entirely out of stupidity, even when there are drugs and alcohol involved, without a shred of doubt. (If I'm not making sense, tell me, it's getting late here. :P)

I think you're making sense in terms of expressing your point of view....somewhat. The policeman, however, seems to be a little off the mark. Alcohol increases reaction time and slows down our ability to make judgements - like hand eye co-ordination, etc. His conclusion does not seem to be supported by any evidence, logic or reason. I bet I could find many other policemen professing the opposite. My eldest sibling, for example.

He seems a little irresponsible. The best message is not "I'd prefer this over this", but "driving under the influence of excessive alcohol is unacceptable".

They don't "act out of stupidity". They are very likely to act similar to themselves normally, but may take longer to come to the same conclusions they would when sober. For example, self-restraint is one thing that often dissipates. People who before the alcohol are sweet people can quickly become violent. We also often seen a boost in confidence. The processes of them mind become soft and blurred, so when thinking of what to do about something the normal pressures we put on ourselves take a lot longer to appear in our heads and hold us back.

The idea was that if you just had a few beers, you might contemplate it - "well, I'm not THAT drunk, what the hell? What's the worst that could happen?" He wasn't saying they should drink a twelve pack and proceed to drive anyway. You're right about it removing inhibitions, though, that's definitely true.

But under the influence of twelve beers, you would think "I can do this - I've done it a thousand times, I'm not putting anyone at risk."

From a SOBER point of view, we would rationalise that a few isn't too bad, but twelve is going too far. From an incredibly drunk point of view....well, I think I already said.

Impaired judgement secondary to alcohol abuse X 3: 1) She drank too much. 2) She got into a car and drove. 3) She called the police while driving drunk.

Call a friend. Call a taxi. Call your parents/family.