IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVERS

ON TV and in the papers we see where contemptuous individuals are being apprehended for their seventh or higher offence for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Enough is enough and responsible drivers must be able to take themselves and their families on the roads without these selfish individuals setting up potential deaths in a car crash.

We should be able to safely drive through an intersection on a green without having some inebriated, outof-control idiot come through the red and collide with us.

Ultimately the culpability lies with the drinker or drug user, however I also blame the spineless politicians of all ideologies who make laws that allow liberal “slap on the wrist” judges and magistrates to keep turning the wretches loose.

“Don’t do it again,” they say, knowing full well their words are wasted on those too uncaring of others to comply. I also mention unscrupulous bar staff who continue to serve drinks to those obviously over the sensible parameters ... they have the right and the duty to decline.

The situation should be that licenced premises should cease alcohol sales at 10pm, as was the case many years ago. If they wish to stay open beyond that I see no problem. The major problem is the irresponsible and undisciplined individual who cannot control his intake.

As Clint Eastwood said in his Dirty Harry movie Magnum Force, “a man’s got to know his limitations”. If the drinker cannot control himself then he must be controlled by others for the good of all.

We want politicians who will enact mandatory minimum sentencing laws. That way, if a sentence has a 10year minimum mandated then no liberal whimp on the bench can impose a sentence that is manifestly unsuitable and an insult to justice. Take away the discretion of the bench and make the law feared again as it used to be.

In the ACT the names of individuals caught drink driving are published in the local paper, along with the amount of alcohol they had recorded and the amount of the fines imposed. They should have that here and in every state and territory.

There should be no person still driving around intoxicated on his or her seventh offence. Make this antisocial situation a crime from point one at the first offence and impose gaol sentences from the second offence.

I suggest two months non-parole at the second offence and add a month on each subsequent offence until the persons who put the lives of others at risk get it through their heads their behaviour will not be tolerated. ROGER DESHON, Toowoomba