mcs328

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051116/...license_plates

CLEARWATER, Fla. - A Florida state senator wants to require convicted drunken drivers to have license plates that start with "DUI."

The proposed law would also 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," State Sen. Mike 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 know it's been talked about before but I'm surprised that 840K out of 15 million licensed drivers have an active DUI saction (whatever that means). So roughly 1 out of 20 drivers I assume have been recently convicted of DUI? That seems high and if true kind of scary.

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Itsme

Our local morning talk show host covered this for an hour this morning. Since we live in a conservative area, all the calls were for this, but just about everyone agreed it could never go into effect because the liberals believe shaming someone is cruel and unusual punishment.

Cubsfan

Is it about shaming them, or is it about warning the rest of us?

A lot of states already warn people when a violent sexual offender moves into their neighborhood, so maybe it's just as fair to warn people that they are driving behind a person that has a drunk driving offense.

Grimm

So, if you have to use a friend's car because yours is in the shop, and it has the DUI plates, and you are late to work because you were stopped 3 times on the way (the car is unfamilar to you so you are not demonstrating perfect driving) is that right?

What if your spouse has a DUI and it is a one car family? Or a parent? Should the sons be punished for the father's sins?

mcs328

I agree with Grimm. Although I've seen the statistics stated here in G|A about the rate of reform being low, giving them a scarlet letter for life punishes those who want to reform, have reformed and/or have carried out their sentence. I'm willing to go half-sies on this and maybe have people with a DUI be identified for maybe 5 years after they served their sentence but not until the day they die. And I think the cops have better things to do then try and stop every past offender as soon as they get on the road without current probable cause.

Itsme

I don't think the pink license plate would have even been proposed if it was not for judges who basically let drunk drivers off with little or no penalty at all.

If someone drives drunk, and hurts or kills someone, he most often doesn't even lose his license for 30, 60, or 90 days because his lawyer claims the punishment is harmful because the person then can't work. That's bunk.

Grimm

Can't they give DUIs now for people being to tired when driving in California?

Nija

Pfft. Take their driver's license away for a minimum of 1 year. I'd prefer that to special plates.

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bachviet

No since it's not "driving under influence".

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brain

And not having a driver's license prevents people from driving?

Nija

No.

However, if they are caught driving, it's a violation of parole with a min. amount of jail time.

I just don't like the idea of extra plates. It sounds like an additional cost to the state. And even if the DUI'er has to pay for the plate, I'm still not that comfortable with it.

gear02

i'm for it and I'm sorta liberal. I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who drinks and drives.

But I think we should have a special license plate for all floridians as a warning to all.

raimin

so the pink plates are the ones currently with restricted driving privledges, the rest just have dui as part of the license scheme...

I think that would be a good idea

Jeffbx

Geez, I live in Michigan but I didn't know this. Fat lot of good it's doing here...

gwilks98

I hate these types of things. It's no different than a sex offender list. I'm with Nija. I'm for longer *prison* time than badging someone publicly as a former criminal.

I can't wait for the first road rage incident from a MADD driver. Or the cop with the bad attitude...This is definitly no good.

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zero2dash

I support it because it gives you leeway and alerts you to steer cleer (no pun intended) of driving around that individual because they could be drunk and/or cause problems on the road that could injure me & my family.

Yep. I definitely support it. I think it's a fair way for someone to still be able to drive to work to make a living yet it also warns other people to pay extra attention when driving around that person.

It's a win-win situation for other drivers & the DUI driver. If they're "embarassed" well that's too bad; you break the law, you do the time.

Thesifer

I'm for and against this. I don't believe that someone should hold the DUI or Pink Plate for the rest of the time that they can drive a car, but I do think that during the time of either A> special work driving privelages B> during other types of suspensions. But after that I don't believe they should always be required to have that.

I would almost be close to being for it if they hadn't also included the words "can be pulled over without probable cause" WHAT?! So they broke the law and were punished and now they lose their constitutional rights altogether??

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thresher

It also gives the police far more leeway for pc when pulling them over. I am for it.

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guiseppewv

This is a great law!!! Two thumbs up.


If I had a friend with DUI plates I wouldn't borrow their car and if my parents had a car with DUI plates I wouldn't use their car either.

guiseppewv

I don't think that the person has to have this plate forever after having a DUI offense.