Texas county to name drunk drivers on Twitter

[Cy-Kill]

Those of you who are American, what do you think of this:

If you get busted for drunk driving in Montgomery County, Texas, this holiday season, your neighbors may hear about it on Twitter.

That's because the local district attorney's office has decided to publish the names of those charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

County Vehicular Crimes Prosecutor Warren Diepraam came up with the idea as a way of discouraging residents from getting behind the wheel while drunk. "It's not a magic bullet that's going to end DWIs, but its something to make people think twice before they get behind the wheel of a car and drive while they're intoxicated," he said.

The Houston-area county will start publishing names on Twitter during holiday weekends such as the Christmas holidays, Fourth of July and Memorial Day, which are thought of as times when a lot of people drive while intoxicated.

The information is already a matter of public record and it is not uncommon for local newspapers in the U.S. to publish the names of those charged with drunk driving or soliciting a prostitute as a kind of public shaming. But these practices are controversial, and some legal pundits wonder if publishing names on Twitter is going too far.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/1224...name-drunk.html

Edited December 25, 2009 by Cy-Kill

[Growled Member]

That should be against the law.

[halcyoncmdr]

It is already public record. Would it make a difference to you if it was the DA office or a regular cirizen? If so why? It shouldn't matter whether it is a government office or a regular citizen posting the information. It is all a matter of public record to begin with.

If it keeps just one person from drunk driving it has done its job of detering those who contemplate breaking the law in my opinion.

[goji]

Like the last paragraph said, their names and info is already publicized in the local paper, so this already happens. Twitter is only another channel of communication.

No issue in my eyes.

[peterish]

You already get jail-time and license suspension, so yours neighbors are the last thing you'd care about.

[WastedJoker]

If you get fined for skipping fares on the local Metro in Newcastle, your name gets put up on huge posters around the metro station.

[+SOOPRcow MVC]

That's because the local district attorney's office has decided to publish the names of those charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

I hope its just the article misrepresenting what they are actually doing but I hope that they're only posting the names of those convicted. And even then, I'm not so sure the whole "scarlet letter" thing works very well.

[I am Reid]

Yeah, its already a public record, so if someone wants to find out they will if they want to. This is just another way of letting people know.

[Matt]

not as bad as a judge in houston, tx that sentenced a guy involved in a dwi related death to sit out on the most populated street intersection with a sign saying he killed someone because he was drinking and driving.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

not as bad as a judge in houston, tx that sentenced a guy involved in a dwi related death to sit out on the most populated street intersection with a sign saying he killed someone because he was drinking and driving.

To be honest, thats a pretty decent punishment. I bet he won't do it again.

[Matt]

To be honest, thats a pretty decent punishment. I bet he won't do it again.

aside from being in jail for awhile, im pretty sure he wont.

[McCordRm]

Go Texas!!

Seriously, we're getting WAY too soft on criminals. It's about time we actually give them a reason to regret their decision.

[Treemonkeys]

You guy seriously think everyone who is charged with a DWI is guilty or putting someone's life at risk? Grow up already.

[I am Reid]

You guy seriously think everyone who is charged with a DWI is guilty or putting someone's life at risk? Grow up already.

if they are proved guilty and charged then yeah, i do.

[Shadrack]

if they are proved guilty and charged then yeah, i do.

Two completely different things.

Do you think Ice Cream will kill anyone? If it is filled with arsenic then yeah, i do.

My problem with this is that I consider cops dishonest and racist people (especially in Texas). They have earned that scarlet letter. They could arrest and charge someone with DWI unjustifiably. If a court of law finds someone guilty of DWI then that is different.

Go Texas!!

Seriously, we're getting WAY too soft on criminals. It's about time we actually give them a reason to regret their decision.

Seriously do you have any idea what the already do to you if you get popped w/ DWI? Your record is dragged through the mud, your license is suspended, you can face jail time (think anal rape)....then you are on probation for at least 6 months with regular drug/alcohol tests and forced to attend AA.

Look, driving drunk is stupid! No doubt. But to say that the law is not already sufficiently harsh is just being ignorant or a complete hard ass jerk.

[I am Reid]

Two completely different things.

Do you think Ice Cream will kill anyone? If it is filled with arsenic then yeah, i do.

My problem with this is that I consider cops dishonest and racist people (especially in Texas). They have earned that scarlet letter. They could arrest and charge someone with DWI unjustifiably. If a court of law finds someone guilty of DWI then that is different.

Seriously do you have any idea what the already do to you if you get popped w/ DWI? Your record is dragged through the mud, your license is suspended, you can face jail time (think anal rape)....then you are on probation for at least 6 months with regular drug/alcohol tests and forced to attend AA.

Look, driving drunk is stupid! No doubt. But to say that the law is not already sufficiently harsh is just being ignorant or a complete hard ass jerk.

how is this any differnt from any other puplic record that is posted in a news papers or on state websites everyday?

[McCordRm]

... or a complete hard ass jerk.

Sign me up! Drunk Driving is not an "accident", it's a decision to endanger others. So yes, I do realize the harsh penalties

and I'm all for it.

And you know... your ignorance is scary. You label all cops racist and dishonest as though your own remarks weren't those

of a bigot, yourself.

[+Warwagon MVC]

You guy seriously think everyone who is charged with a DWI is guilty or putting someone's life at risk? Grow up already.

No but they are stupid enough to drink and get behind the wheel of the car, regardless of how they think they feel. Its all about what you will blow. Which is why when I drive, I don't even have 1 beer. People say you can have one and still pass the breathalyzer, but I don't even risk it. Whats so hard about that?

[suicide_pact]

Funny, but it won't do a thing to change anything about drunk driving in his district. It will get some votes when he runs for office, which is what this is probably about. People don't stop drink driving out of embarrassment, unfortunately. Taking a tough stand on crime in Texas isn't exactly being bold. How about voting for education, or better yet, if he wanted to be REALLY tough on crime he could start repossessing cars, or removing their livers. Now that is tough on crime and drunk driving.

(You can infer the sarcasm tags where appropriate, and Merry Xmas!)

[iamawesomewicked]

You guy seriously think everyone who is charged with a DWI is guilty or putting someone's life at risk? Grow up already.

Last I checked, no one is falsely charged with DUI's.. since ya know, breathalizers are standard practice... And yes a person who is Driving While Intoxicated.. IS putting someone's life at risk.. Their own, and anyone in their path.. are you really that naive?

<first half of ignorance removed>

Seriously do you have any idea what the already do to you if you get popped w/ DWI? Your record is dragged through the mud, your license is suspended, you can face jail time (think anal rape)....then you are on probation for at least 6 months with regular drug/alcohol tests and forced to attend AA.

Look, driving drunk is stupid! No doubt. But to say that the law is not already sufficiently harsh is just being ignorant or a complete hard ass jerk.

Seriously.. people should be put through worse than having their license suspended.. Jail time is 100% must have.

Drunk driving isn't stupid.. stupid is too kind of a word.

It's wreckless, ignorant, idiotic.. anyone who drinks and drives should be shot in the back of the head. there's 0 excuse for it.. take a cab, call a friend.. walk.

[CrossCheck]

Two completely different things.

Do you think Ice Cream will kill anyone? If it is filled with arsenic then yeah, i do.

My problem with this is that I consider cops dishonest and racist people (especially in Texas). They have earned that scarlet letter. They could arrest and charge someone with DWI unjustifiably. If a court of law finds someone guilty of DWI then that is different.

Seriously do you have any idea what the already do to you if you get popped w/ DWI? Your record is dragged through the mud, your license is suspended, you can face jail time (think anal rape)....then you are on probation for at least 6 months with regular drug/alcohol tests and forced to attend AA.

Look, driving drunk is stupid! No doubt. But to say that the law is not already sufficiently harsh is just being ignorant or a complete hard ass jerk.

I am pretty sure that blowing anything higher than a .08 on a breathalizer is pretty self evident. If found over the legal limit, DUI?DWI are a charge that is really hard to beat. AND NO THE PUNISHMENT ISN'T HARD ENOUGH. I think the laws nationwide should be harsher on all crimes(except for 95% non violent crimes). I THINK WE NEED TELEVISED EXECUTIONS. a breathalizer is something that should be standard on all cars. in order to start the car you need to prove you are sober. now that wont eliminate the DWI w drugs involved. but that would eliminate a almost aLL dwi w/alcohol. I THINK A WORLD WITHOUT ALCOHOL RELATED DEATHS IS A MUCH BETTER WORLD

[suicide_pact]

I'm not downplaying the level of damage drunk or even buzzed driving does, I think it's needlessly stupid and an incredibly selfish thing to do. I just think this is a lame attempt to gain some headlines during a slow news cycle and add to the re-election war chest.

On the other hand short of public flogging there isn't much you can do to educate people about DUIs that they haven't heard before. It's sort of like smoking, there's only so much you can tell people about the dangers, there will still be people dumb enough to do it.

[webeagle12]

That should be against the law.

and drunk driving is not?

You guy seriously think everyone who is charged with a DWI is guilty or putting someone's life at risk? Grow up already.

I concluded just from reading your response is the only person who needs to grow up is you. When you drink and drive you endanger everybody.

Edited December 26, 2009 by webeagle12

[Pupik]

Meh, still find it (twitter) useless.

[dead.cell]

It's wreckless, ignorant, idiotic.. anyone who drinks and drives should be shot in the back of the head. there's 0 excuse for it.. take a cab, call a friend.. walk.

I am pretty sure that blowing anything higher than a .08 on a breathalizer is pretty self evident. If found over the legal limit, DUI?DWI are a charge that is really hard to beat. AND NO THE PUNISHMENT ISN'T HARD ENOUGH. I think the laws nationwide should be harsher on all crimes(except for 95% non violent crimes). I THINK WE NEED TELEVISED EXECUTIONS. a breathalizer is something that should be standard on all cars. in order to start the car you need to prove you are sober. now that wont eliminate the DWI w drugs involved. but that would eliminate a almost aLL dwi w/alcohol. I THINK A WORLD WITHOUT ALCOHOL RELATED DEATHS IS A MUCH BETTER WORLD

You guys are being dramatic. Take it down a notch.

As for the topic, I think it's pointless and won't do a damn thing. Many socially active people on the internet don't even care for Twitter already, what makes them think that your average person will?

Now, if it was on Facebook with a mugshot and all, maybe it'd be a different story...