DUI Punishments

This is part of an email I sent to Governor Bredesen, Senator Finney, and Representatives McCord and Montgomery.

In Sunday's The Mountain Press there were several articles concerning DUI laws. One of the articles listed the current punishments. I do not believe Sevier county uses those laws and punishments. Sevier counth has too many guilty of multiple offenses.

I believe, Illinois has $10,000 fine and 14 years in jail for accidents in construction areas that kill construction workers. I believe South Carolina has a $7,500 fine for the same offenses.

If Tennessee law is ever to be taken seriously there must be harsher punishments. On the second offense the offender should be declared an habitual offender and lose driving rights permanently in Tennessee. The fines must be enough to be feared. Automobiles should be confiscated regardless of ownership.

Habitual offenders should be given jail sentences long enough to be feared and violations on probation or suspended licenses should result in life without parole sentences. The laws must protect the public.

It is long past time to get serious. If the lawmakers, and governor do not pass stricter harsher laws the next time there is a DUI death or devastating accident you all will know you permitted it.

It appears for lawmakers to be personally affected is the only way laws will be passed. An example is District Attorney General Dunn's nephew. I realize Dunn is not a lawmaker, he has some influence. Green county, in Ohio, has the toughest DUI laws in the state. Why? Their Federal Congressman's daughter was killed by a driver DUI. Also in Ohio, people tried for years to get crossing warnings for some railroad crossings where there were many accidents. One day a state truck was involved and several state employees were killed. Crossing warnings were installed within 2 months. I hope you and your compatriots will act to prevent needless deaths and injuries and not wait to respond. Laws are meant to protect.