Convictions for any of those charges will result in vehicle forfeiture. Now that's what I call expensive justice for those scofflaws. http://www.lohud.com/article/20101215/NEWS02/12150377/Vehicle-surrender-for-DWI-convictions-goes-in-effect-today?obref=obinsite
Works for me! Works for me. Punishment is suppose to be a deterrent, unlike the slap on the wrist typical these days.
Losing one's potentially expensive set of wheels is quite a deterrent. Before: "Hey everybody, look how fast my M[fill in your favorite M here] is!" After: "Hey everybody. Look how fast they took it away." Last time I checked, an incomplete payment book or a lease is not a defense against vehicle forfeiture.
"Losing one's potentially expensive set of wheels is quite a deterrent." ...and that is precisely the point.
I'll drink to that...(non-alcoholic, or outside Westchester County. Take your pick.) +1. Bottoms up and happy holidays!
It seems to me there are a couple of constitutional issues here that Westchester will learn all about shortly after they take away the car of a particularly well-heeled owner ... and I understand that there are some who frequent that community.
I'm reminded of my favorite quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin. "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Although there are numerous variations of this quote attributed to various authors, my favorite for both is listed above. The honorable Mr. Franklin would be astonished at how profound that statement is in our present age.
If you know the punishment, you have no excuse. Personally I don't care if they take your vehicle, throw you in jail or fine you $100,000 as long as you learn your lesson and stop your unacceptable behavior that endangers other people. The paid liars can argue over what is Constitutional or not.
Paid liars are probably not going to be liable for their behavior. We don't call those liars 'defendants.' Instead, we put them in elective office - for as long as they want to run.
So I guess you wouldn't object to the death penalty for these offenses, either. Or for accidentally running a red light. Or talking on a cell phone. Or changing lanes without seeing the car next to you. Now, what it is you do for a living so we can insult your profession without knowing anything else about you?
Actually some of us would be guilty of far less serious offenses These days, some people would wish you harm (or death) for voting for the wrong political party. Or being on the "wrong" side of the Wikileaks or health care debate.
Did I say death penalty? No I did not. They don't give you the death penalty for running a red light or talking on a cellphone or any other vehicular violation that I am aware of including involuntary manslaughter. If you suffer from the afflictions you discribe above you are not qualified to be operating a motorized vehicle and should not be doing so. If you're a paid liar and you're offended, then you're too thin skinned and less than objective about your career choice. Having a family member that is a paid liar, he readily admits this is reality, as do most paid liars that I personally know.
Unfortunately in the U.S. no driving skills are required to obtain a driver's license. You don't even need to be able to read the English language or traffic signs. This is the land of entitlement...
Driving skills? That wasn't on the test! Driving SKILLS? You don't need to know no driving skills, bwoy (sic)!! You'll be driving a TRACTOR just like your old man! That's why you don't need to be no grown man to get behind the wheel. That's why most U.S. states let you get behind the wheel as young as 14 years old. Our powerful farm lobby figures all those raging teen hormones give you kids better reaction times and superior reflexes! Just perfect for riding a top of a three ton tractor hauling a hay-baling machine at five miles an hour. That's America, son -- putting politics in the driver's seat, and public safety rides in the TRUNK. 50 states, with 50 different standards for licensing. All of the driver instruction schools teach you how to pass a test, not how to drive. In Germany, you have to train for two years to get your license. No wonder they have better drivers and a far lower fatality rate. But this is America, son. We don't need none of that sissy, socialist stuff telling us how to drive. We do just fine plowing into trees at 40 miles an hour without help from no commie Eurocrat. Meanwhile ignoring that German driver laughing his @$$ off at us while going 80 (legally!) down the European highway.
...and if you were to suggest proper driver's education and licensing in the U.S. you'd be a racist discriminating against illegal aliens that are entitled to a driver's license so that they can drive a taxi in NYC.
Well, why not? That would be a great deterrent, don't ya think? I ?mean, we gotta quit being so soft on these criminals. Any one of 'em could kill you tomorrow. Or maybe you think the punishment is a little excessive for the crime. Maybe you're too thick to notice that that's what I was getting at. I'm sure Brian understood, whether he agrees with me or not. Let's look at an example: You're driving your BMW through Westchester County and you come to a red light. Some snot-nosed punk in a slammed Honda pulls up beside you and sits there ready to race. When the light changes, you ignore him and drive off in your usual manner, but he decides to 'race' you in order to get some 'street cred' for a 'BMW Kill'. Officer Bob sees you both a block down the street and he pulls you both over. After all, it takes two to race, doesn't it? You both deny doing anything of the sort. Officer Bob writes you both up and a week or so later, they take away your car. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Maybe your family member and other associates really are paid to lie. I am not. I am scrupulously honest about what I do and I am known and respected for it. What I suspect is closer to the truth is that they acknowledge what you say just to shut you up about it and turn away thinking you're a complete boor. Just like I'm about to do ...
I know a few lawyers, and personally I can say I THINK most of them are decent, trustworthy individuals. And, on the other hand, a couple of them will be glad to lie without any payment at all. If one really thinks about it for a moment, he can substitute almost any other profession for lawyer and still be "on the mark". Having said that, I do believe we could institute some changes in our legal system that would greatly improve it without causing any diminished protection. Having been on a few juries in my 56 years, personally speaking, seeing some of the "citizens" serving along side me, I have severe doubts that some of these folks were my (or the defendant's) peers.
People sometimes make poor choices I realize that some folks take exception to reality, but it is what it is. They are entitled to their POV as is everyone here and in life. The world does not change because you have a different POV or are offended that someone else doesn't subscribe to your ideology. Defending inappropriate behavior be it vehicular law violations, the lack of proper driver's education and licensing, or the unscrupulous behavior of paid liars is a waste of time and effort. It is what it is. This is the society we live in. People make choices to violate laws or be paid liars. That's their choice and it's the reason we have punishment for making bad choices. You can argue until the cows come home what is "appropriate punishment" for a crime but the bottomline is if the punishment isn't sufficient to deter most criminals from future repeat behavior, then the punishment is insufficient. I suspect anyone having their car seized for the listed offenses will think twice about repeating their unacceptable driving violations. And that is precisely the reason for the increased punishment. BTW, I have no personal issues with CRKrieger who may be a wonderful person, but I don't share his POV on vehicular laws, punishment for crime or paid liars, so we can respectfully agree to disagree without personal barbs.
Growing up in the south, I clearly remember folks getting 10 years on the chain-gang for writing a $2 bad check. That no longer is the case. Of course, nowadays one can get a variety of punishments for committing some really serious crimes.... from a slap on the wrist to years in prison. No question about it.... One's "day in court" is determined heavily based on who one has to represent them. The vehicle confiscation law sounds a bit stiff to me, and I suspect, in the end, it will be struck down.