January 11, 2008
Yellow License Plates Proposed for Va. Drunk Drivers
Most Virginia drivers are probably breathing a sigh of relief this week since Va. Gov. Tim Kaine told the General Assembly that he supports doing away with the state's controversial abusive driver fees. But for those individuals with multiple drunk driving convictions, a new bill before the legislature could mean an even more humiliating punishment: Del. Lionell Spruill has introduced a measure that would require anyone with three or more DUIs to put bright yellow license plates with red lettering on their vehicles.
A similar law has already been enacted in Ohio; that state's version of the plates is pictured left.
The intention behind the bill is to allow other drivers to identify those people on the road who have been convicted of multiple DUIs. Spruill compares his measure's intent to that of laws which require the addresses of repeat child molesters to be made public. People with three or more DUI convictions would be forced to keep the plates on their cars for five years after getting their licenses back.
It sounds like a solid idea to us -- we were frankly surprised anyone with three or more DUI convictions would still be able to hold a Virginia driver's license. But don't hold your breath on it getting passed: Spruill apparently introduced a similar bill last year, but it died in committee.
|
This doesn’t make sense because they assume that the owner of the car is the multiple DUI driver. What is going to stop a drunk from just changing his registration to his spouse, kid or good friend to avoid this? And what if it’s the other way around, the owner is a drunk and the driver is pious Mormon. Dumb idea. However, forcing the person to tattoo their head with their criminal record is an idea I can get behind.
Governments labelling people with yellow badges has a pretty long and interesting history.
I think after 10pm it should flash or blink tow truck style.
I'm assuming Virginia's going to be putting scarlet letters back on adulterers too.
Is this constitutional? I feel like a lawsuit would be on the way.
Also, do we really need this? Install breathalizers in the car of multiple (and heck even one-time) DUI offenders. I dont care if your license plate is yellow, I want to know that you're sober behind the wheel.
Wouldn't this just make it more likely for cops to pull you over? This seems to be unfair to the driver. Not defending people with multiple DUI's, but that doesn't mean they are always driving drunk.
Especially since cars are allowed to have, you know, different drivers.
Why can someone with DUI convictions be allowed to drive still... I don't get it... Driving is a licensed privledge, not a god-given right. If you abuse it, then you loose it. It's really quite that simple.
Oh yeah, should have said "Why can someone with 3 DUI convictions..."
Why should someone with 3 DUIs still be able to drive? If they didn't stop at two, do you really think they'd stop at three?
die juden are excellent drivers, monkey. the government's just giving them yellow badges (since yellow is the most quickly recognized color by the human eye) so we can quickly compliment their driving prowess.
I also think it's a bad idea, and can imagine it actually causing accidents as nearby drivers of other vehicles attempt to take evasive action, or conversely attempt a bit of vigilante justice by cutting off the yellow-plated car, or running the person of the road.
After 3 DUIs the bus driver should be holding your operator's license.
Yeah, cause there are buses/trains all over Virginia...
While we're at it, let's mark felons for life with face tattoos so we can all see what they've done.
This is so unconstitutional. There's no way public shaming for life is a part of the sentence.
(Particularly public shaming for the spouse who has to use that car to get to work, and who has done nothing wrong.)
The Ohio plates actually started in 1967 but didn't really get used until 2004 when the legislature mandated them in DUI sentences.
These are usually upheld because for some inane reason, courts do not consider sex offender registries, and other public notifications as "punishment".
Public shaming? After 3 DUI's, you should be ashamed of driving.
If you don't want to be labeled as a consistently drunk driver, than don't drink and drive - simple as that.
Public shaming? After 3 DUI's, you should be ashamed of driving.
If you don't want to be labeled as a consistently drunk driver, than don't drink and drive - simple as that.
@mw2006:
Okay. So when you get marked for speeding three times, I'm going to have "I DRIVE UNSAFELY" painted on the side of your car. That's fair, right? If you don't want to be marked, don't speed. Ever.
I actually used to live in Ohio, and I have a few thoughts related to how the plates worked there:
1) For the most part, the only notice that other drivers/pedestrians give is to point out what the plate means. There seemed to be very little trying to avoid 'plated' cars on the road.
2) Not unlike Ohio, Virgina has many areas in which public transportation is just not possible. For folks who cannot drive to make it to employment, their livelihood suffers and the state ends up taking care of them anyway. There needs to be a way to allow these people to take care of themselves.
3) I agree that driving is a privilege and repeat offenders perhaps should LOSE that privilege. BUT--some people do eventually learn, change, and grow up. Should one be punished with these consequences for a lifetime? I suppose the plates allow for extreme or 'unusual' punishment, and if these people are willing to accept it, then they can be afforded the privilege to drive.
4) My other concern is that 'plating' these cars seems a lot like 'Guilty until proven innocent.' I'd like to see some statistics on how often these cars are pulled over relative to 'non-plated' cars for 'suspicion' of violations....likely based solely on the plate.
I guess I didn't really decide my position either way here, but provided some food for thought.
I thought Ohio's law started the yellow tags at one DUI?
Yeah, cause there are buses/trains all over Virginia...
These drivers should be LUCKY they live in a metro area that has an extensive and mostly public transit system.
There are a lot of people throughout the country who dont live in an area with public transportation. If they lose their license, they have to figure out their way around also. These people will get no sympathy from me.
I've seen these in Ohio on my numerous visits to the in-laws in the Buckeye State (state motto: At least we don't suck as bad as Michigan).
When spotting them, I didn't take any sort of evasive maneuvers, but I did look extra careful to see if the driver was either drinking or driving poorly.
I really don't have a problem with this (and don't think there is any constitutional issue), but wonder if this isn't going to spread to other areas of criminal law violations (e.g., sexual crimes felons, state tax dodgers, Ron Paul supporters, etc.).
This could start a fabulous new trend in color-coding driving infractions. Three driving while stoned infractions? You get a reefer green and Doritos orange license plate. One too many f***ing merlots? Say hello to your beaujolais nouveau red plates. Driving high on crack? You get the transparent crackpipe plate. Driving on acid? Greatful Dead dancing bears for you (although, they're probably already on your bumper somewhere). Driving while talking on a cellphone? You get "A**HOLE" written all over your car.
Right, it's Asian drivers that you really have to watch out for. And cab drivers, regardless of ethnicity. At least the cab drivers are already identifiable.
I understand the argument that many of you make about privacy, and saw a few comments that this would lead to someone with these plated getting pulled more often. I personally think this is a great thing, especially during times when a person is most likely to be under the influence (evenings, weekends, holidays). Police already look for ways to find and arrest intoxicated drivers, including sobriety check points which can be lengthy and intimidating for anyone thats been through one. If this means that police now have an additional tool for targeting drivers that are more likely to be irresponsible with their alcohol and that repeat offenders might think twice about getting behind the wheel of their car because they know police will give them extra scrutiny, I have absolutely no issue with this.
In the reading I did, there was a court case which ruled that a DUI plate is not probable cause for a traffic stop, so in theory it cannot be 'an additional tool for targeting drivers', but of course in practice you are almost always breaking some sort of law so I'd imagine they can come up with some probable cause.
Right, it's Asian drivers that you really have to watch out for.
How can you say that when tiny women who can barely see over the dashboard of their Canyoneros are making the highways run red with the blood of the innocents? That, and people who drive a Mercedes. Just to be safe, everyone who owns a car that's worth more than mine should be shot. It would be a simple matter of having cops at the DC Emissions Inspection Station in SW go from car to car executing this simple preventative driving safety measure.
So this solution isn't exactly bulletproof, but clearly, humiliation is the way to go.
Go-go, gadget ASSHOLE FLAGS on all wrongdoers. Seriously. SHAME is a better motivator than LAW. That much is obvious.
Just make all offenders wear Bumpernuts. That should be humiliation enough.
This is the way it should work:
1 DUI, you lose your license for 60 days.
2 DUIs, you lose your license FOREVER.
3 DUIs, your ass goes to jail for something along the lines of "attempted manslaughter".
I have no sympathy that there aren't enough buses or trains. You drink and drive you put MY life in danger. Fuck you.
BeyondDC, you get in your car and you put my life in danger. So many people drive like tards regardless of alcohol.
I'd rather have plates for people who have caused three accidents. Who cares if someone likes the booze? I'd rather have the ditz who has caused 5 accidents be plated over someone who hasn't caused any accidents.
I just wish we had simple two-tone license plates like that. Older license plates looked so much better than that lame power-point-slide-looking plates states use nowadays.
Actually HCE, I live carfree.
You do bring up a couple of good point, though.
1) Statistically suburbanites are more likely to be accidentally hurt or killed than urbanites. Sure, crime is higher in the city, but there are way more car accidents in the 'burbs.
2) I totally agree: Anyone who proves they can't drive safely shouldn't be allowed to, regardless of their reason for not being able to do it safely.