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Florida idea for Drunk Drivers....

Motokid

Motokid

New Member
Fla. Official Wants Pink DUI License Plates

POSTED: 5:50 am EST November 15, 2005

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- A Republican senator wants a law to require bright pink license plates on vehicles driven by people with restricted driving privileges due to convictions for driving under the influence.

Sen. Mike Fasano, of New Port Richey, filed a bill earlier this month that requires the first three characters on the plate to read "DUI."

"Maybe it will embarrass people and keep them from drinking and driving," Fasano said. "Maybe they'll think twice."

The bill also says police "may stop any vehicle that bears a DUI plate without probable cause to check the driver."

Ohio and Michigan have similar laws in place. Other states have debated the issue, but failed to pass it due to privacy reasons.

"Pink plates would hold out individuals for punishment as well as ridicule. We are very opposed to it," said Larry Spalding, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida.

About 840,000 of Florida's 15 million licensed drivers have an active DUI sanction on their driving records, said Frank Penela, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles spokesman. A small percentage of those have limited driving privileges, such as permission to drive only to and from work, Penela said.

"It could take two years to get the support, but I think it's worth the effort," Fasano said. "If I can't get a House sponsor, then maybe I can get it passed in the Senate and attached to a larger transportation bill."
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I like it. I like that the driver can be stopped without probable cause too....people keep shouting that we should get tough on criminals, and this is one way to go....what do you think?
 
It is a tough measure, but what did they rant on about in driver's ed class? "Watch out for the other guy." This special tag lets us know who some of the other guys are. I'm for it. It would also alert police officers in case of an accident, who should be tested for booze first...
 
In my state of Victoria in Australia we have to display Learner plates (A 20cm square yellow and black 'L') when we have our learner permit (minimum age is 16), and then P-plates (red and white) when we get our probotionary licence (minimum age is 18 and this will last 3 years). These plates are displayed at the front and back of the vehicle, and must be shown or it is an offence. They're great! It means other drivers are aware that you are not as experienced on the road, and they (generally) give you extra room and make allowances for small errors. As a fully licenced driver now, I certainly extend L platers a lot of lee-way, and give P platers a wide berth if possible.

I think that having drivers who are questionable on the roads display something so that other drivers are aware that they could be less able on the roads is a good idea. I don't like the idea of public humiliation for these drivers, though, and as such I don't believe that singling them out for DUI is a good idea. Putting them onto something like P-plates wouldn't be such a bad idea, however. People would be aware that they are less trustworthy, but wouldn't know whether this was because they were new drivers or because they had committed some offence. Mind you, this would require the P-plate concept to be introduced first.
 
You Americans have some really good ideas. The UK is way too soft on criminals. We need to follow some of your ideas.
 
I think a little public humiliation is not such a bad thing for an offense that has really almost become a ho-hum type of thing. Here in America getting a DUI is almost common place.

I'll have to look it up but when cops put up road blocks on certain roads in my state it is not uncommon for 100 people to be arrested for various offenses in just a few hours.
 
Motokid said:
A Republican senator wants a law to require bright pink license plates on vehicles driven by people with restricted driving privileges due to convictions for driving under the influence..."Maybe it will embarrass people and keep them from drinking and driving," Fasano said. "Maybe they'll think twice...
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But if they're driving something like a Nissan then surely they're already embarrassed?
 
CDA said:
What's wrong with Nissans?
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The Nissan Micra for a start

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NZ has a system similar to Australia, although people can get their Learners when they are 15 and then can get their Restricted after 6 months, which means that they are able to drive by themselves, but are unable to take passengers. Restricted licence holders don't need id plates, though. People are able to get their Full licence 18 months later, or 12 months if you take a special road skills course. The plates showing others that the driver is a learner helps a lot with building up confidence in driving, as most of the other drivers are a bit more patient and courteous than they would usually be with regular drivers.

I think that this is a great idea. These people deserve to be humiliated and ridiculed. It's an absolutely disgusting thing that they do and I think they need to see how other people feel about vermin like them.
 
MonkeyCatcher said:
These people deserve to be humiliated and ridiculed. It's an absolutely disgusting thing that they do and I think they need to see how other people feel about vermin like them.
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Indeed. Some of them actually think it's clever: putting one over on the police or something. Utterly stupid.
 
CDA said:
Indeed. Some of them actually think it's clever: putting one over on the police or something. Utterly stupid.
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I really can't stand morons, and so have very little time for people with a mindset like this.

I'm not too sure about the number of offences here, but there are ads on tv about it just about every ad break. I'm not sure how effective they are, but some of them are pretty clever.
 
MonkeyCatcher said:
I really can't stand morons, and so have very little time for people with a mindset like this.

I'm not too sure about the number of offences here, but there are ads on tv about it just about every ad break. I'm not sure how effective they are, but some of them are pretty clever.
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I've no time for idiots at all.

Thing is, yes, these ads are clever and shocking sometimes. But I really don't think it has any effect on the people they are aimed at, because let's face it - they're stupid. The only thing that will make a difference is harsher penalties IMO. Zero tolerance, and all that.
 
CDA said:
I've no time for idiots at all.

Thing is, yes, these ads are clever and shocking sometimes. But I really don't think it has any effect on the people they are aimed at, because let's face it - they're stupid. The only thing that will make a difference is harsher penalties IMO. Zero tolerance, and all that.
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Agreed. I have a regect of a cousin, and now that I remember it, whenever he sees ads like this all he says is "oh, good c**t! Man those guys are mint. Stupid pigs" :rolleyes: I'm all for harsher pentalities. I don't care how well-behaved they are in prison, the fact of the matter is that they were not at all well behaved in the real word.
 
I have no problem with the pink license plates - but I have a better idea. I actually heard politicians discussing this, but I thought of this years ago.
Once you have a DWI conviction, there's a breathalyzer installed in the dashboard. You blow into it - if your blood alcohol level is above the limit the car won't start for a half hour, when you can try again.
What's wrong with that? An ounce of prevention...
 
I like the brathalyzer idea MUCH better than stopping vehicles with pink plates without probable cause. That really rubs me the wrong way.
 
Motokid said:
I like it. I like that the driver can be stopped without probable cause too....people keep shouting that we should get tough on criminals, and this is one way to go....what do you think?
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It won't fly in court. You can't punish a person after their given sentence. It could be argued that giving them different plates punishes them even after the justice system is done with them. I can see why the guy proposed the bill, but I could also see why it would go over like a lead zeppelin in court.
 
I see it as part of the punishment, part of the sentence. Much like 2 years in jail. It's not punishment after the sentence. It's all part and parcel.

Isn't increased insurance costs for ump-teen years after a DUI conviction punishment after the sentence?

While it does not state in the article a specific time frame for having to display the pink tag I assume it would be for the length of time the restrictions are placed on the driver.
 
My state has yellow license plates for DUIs, I saw one last week. Good idea, but it doesn't replace the "look out for the other guy". We now have to look out for The Teenage Driver Who Just Got His License, My Cell Phone Conversation Is More Important Than My Driving, I Only Had One Glass of Wine (The One I Didn't Finish Doesn't Count) at Lunch, Mom Distracted By Screaming Kids in the Back Seat, The Guy Whose Head Automatically Swivels To Look At Babes Walking On The Sidewalk, Get Outta My Way, I'm Late For Work ,I Didn't Think I Needed To Turn On My Headlights Because I Can Still See; and many more.
 
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