Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The conviction rates for DWI are close to 90%, and most acquittals are due to procedural problems with the stop, not because the person wasn't actually intoxicated, so no, it isn't much of an issue. It helps that the accused is actually physically tested for the drug with impartial machines.
In any event, does Joe461 want to ban the show "Cops" too? They even tell you that the perps are innocent until proven guilty.
The conviction rates for DWI are close to 90%, and most acquittals are due to procedural problems with the stop, not because the person wasn't actually intoxicated, so no, it isn't much of an issue. It helps that the accused is actually physically tested for the drug with impartial machines.
Using your statistics, at least three people on the list of shame will be proven NOT guilty in court. That makes my point. Procedural errors or not, I tend to believe in the Constitution and crazy concepts like due process.
"Better ten guilty men go free than one innocent be wrongly convicted" and all that.
What's so special about DWI? Why not expand this program to everything. Every single person accused of any crime should be outed and publicly shamed. Let's put a big red "A" on their shirt.
What's so wrong with waiting for an actual conviction to publish the names? By your stats, there would still be 26 names on the list, only they would have actually been afforded their constitutionally guaranteed protections.
Remember that when a name can end up on a list like this based on a simple accusation, the next list could have your name on it (or mine), despite the charge having no actual merit. Police do a great job, but they are not judge, jury and executioner.
Quote:
In any event, does Joe461 want to ban the show "Cops" too? They even tell you that the perps are innocent until proven guilty.
Cops should be cancelled simply based on the rules of good taste. Unfortunately, any semblance of good taste left television many years ago.
You do realize that "reality" TV is anything but real? It is edited (and most times scripted) to show the story the producers want to tell.
"Participants" in shows like "Cops" sign a release and are likely compensated for their appearance. Those who do not sign the release have their faces blurred out, or never make the show. So there you are dealing with willing participants.
Joe461, once you realize the OP's agenda has nothing to do with due process, reasonable or intelligent discourse, or fairness and everything to do with putting down minorities and justifying an anti-immigrant and anti-minority rhetoric, the answer to most of your questions will become obvious.
Using your statistics, at least three people on the list of shame will be proven NOT guilty in court. That makes my point. Procedural errors or not, I tend to believe in the Constitution and crazy concepts like due process.
"Better ten guilty men go free than one innocent be wrongly convicted" and all that.
What's so special about DWI? Why not expand this program to everything. Every single person accused of any crime should be outed and publicly shamed. Let's put a big red "A" on their shirt.
What's so wrong with waiting for an actual conviction to publish the names? By your stats, there would still be 26 names on the list, only they would have actually been afforded their constitutionally guaranteed protections.
Remember that when a name can end up on a list like this based on a simple accusation, the next list could have your name on it (or mine), despite the charge having no actual merit. Police do a great job, but they are not judge, jury and executioner.
Cops should be cancelled simply based on the rules of good taste. Unfortunately, any semblance of good taste left television many years ago.
You do realize that "reality" TV is anything but real? It is edited (and most times scripted) to show the story the producers want to tell.
"Participants" in shows like "Cops" sign a release and are likely compensated for their appearance. Those who do not sign the release have their faces blurred out, or never make the show. So there you are dealing with willing participants.
The police release the names of virtually everyone arrested for every crime and have for as long as I can remember. Newspapers (and now websites) publish something called the "police blotter" which you've no doubt seen - Patch.com, the website linked in the OP, does this regularly. There are cable networks dedicated to courtroom drama, and the media follows high profile cases with bated breath. Riots and anti-police violence are stirred and stoked immediately after someone is killed and doesn't let up even after the accused is ACQUITTED. I'd say pissing and moaning about DWI press releases is rather close to closing the barn door after the horses have left.
This is a big country with every types of nationalities, most of these people are surrounded by their natives, they look out for each other. The same way they tell them how to make it, get help in this country, they fill them in as to what's good and bad. Most irresponsible people who drinks think they perform best when they drink. I am sure someone within their group will inform them of the consequences of driving under the influence, and am sure they listen to the news in their native languages. I do not feel there is any patern of racism here. I am sure the person with the post did not hand-pick the names for the list. If you look on Newsday's list of recent mugshots, they print them as they get it from the police department, not randomly picked.
Thinking someone who's last name sounds foreign means they were raised or are from another country is rather ignorant. I know people with Spanish last names who's families have been here for several generations.
Joe, I applaud you for bringing up a good point about due process and whether guilty or not guilty no matter what their race is. People's lives can be destroyed by unfair shaming. Unfortunately many people in this country see a minority arrested for something and they're automatically guilty. Whereas if they see a white person arrested he's most likely innocent until proven guilty.
While there are people that are found not-guilty of DWI based on technicalities, etc, you can essentially guarantee that someone was driving drunk when they're arrested for said offense.
The cops can test you on the street with a hand-held alcohol meter. I picked up one of my own at Costco so I can check myself before I go home from a party, bbq, etc.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see if someone is drunk. If a cop pulls you over, sees you're clearly drunk and you test above the legal limit... what more is there to discuss?
Funny thing East Hampton patch does not list the name of those who are arrested for DWI.......... I guess they are too smart and thin to warrant such treatment.
While there are people that are found not-guilty of DWI based on technicalities, etc, you can essentially guarantee that someone was driving drunk when they're arrested for said offense.
The cops can test you on the street with a hand-held alcohol meter. I picked up one of my own at Costco so I can check myself before I go home from a party, bbq, etc.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see if someone is drunk. If a cop pulls you over, sees you're clearly drunk and you test above the legal limit... what more is there to discuss?
Virtually the same argument could be made for every arrest. Why even bother with Courts at all?
Thinking someone who's last name sounds foreign means they were raised or are from another country is rather ignorant. I know people with Spanish last names who's families have been here for several generations.
Either they're foreign or they're here for several generations and are still disproportionately driving around drunk. I'm not sure what's worse.
Quote:
Joe, I applaud you for bringing up a good point about due process and whether guilty or not guilty no matter what their race is. People's lives can be destroyed by unfair shaming. Unfortunately many people in this country see a minority arrested for something and they're automatically guilty. Whereas if they see a white person arrested he's most likely innocent until proven guilty.
We're talking about drunk driving here, Mr. Sharpton. If you're arrested for it, the machine, which doesn't know what color you are, told the cop that you were drunk. As I mentioned earlier, it's a crime with a 90%+ conviction rate.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Follow The News
