only 5?!?

[lucindrea]

OK i was reading this
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/18/mexico.justice.ap/index.html

and the very last paragraph in this article is

Prosecutors say Santana was drunk when the pickup truck he was driving flipped over, killing one of his friends and leaving another paralyzed from the neck down. Santana argued he lost control of the truck but was not drunk and only had five beers.

?!?! is that even a defence lol

[fredster]

Only 5?

I'd say this guy deserves whatever he gets out of this.

"No ossifier dat tree just jumpped outta the side nad I had to swerve to missit"

Conviction could result in eight years in prison.

Mexican Prison.

[Bones]

If you drink and drive, well you must face the consequences.....

However, anybody who is a regular drinker can pretty much down 5 beers and not be drunk while somebody else can be slurring after 2 beers.

I know people who can drink 10 beers and to watch them you could never tell, but should they drive? Of course not.

[fredster]

However, anybody who is a regular drinker can pretty much down 5 beers and not be drunk while somebody else can be slurring after 2 beers.

At least they think they can. I can tell when somebody drinks a beer.

I got into a little trouble when I was 22ish. I had to take defensive driving.  I guess the teacher got into trouble also, that's why he was teaching the class. Why do I think that?

He told us, "If you get pulled over, hell, just talk slower " And he meant that to be "sage" advice.

I still laugh when I think of that.

[danny_galaga]

my view is that a second conviction of drink driving should carry a mandatory prison sentence. having said that, one piece of advice if pulled over and you're a bit worried is to say you've only just finished having a drink. then they will make you wait a bit longer before doing the test. if you were marginal you might just be under by then.
but better advice still, is don't drink and drive. it's ridiculous how many people do it regularly...

[Bones]

Yeah, to still think you function normally when drunk is absurd. You only have to play your favourite MAME game after a couple of coolies to realise how sloppy it makes your reflexes.

[lucindrea]

a 19 yr old mexican , i doubt he's heavy set , so 5 beers is allot .. and it takes several years of hard drinking ( somthing very possable at that age ) for your tolarence to go up ... the catch is , even hardened alcholics that dont get drunk off what would make most of us call it a night still have slowed reflexes , just they have them ALL the time.

it does show the differance in culture .. a judge here in the US would need to pick up his jaw before tossing the kid in a cell if he said he didnt loose control of the car because he only had 5 beers ( not to mention the sanctions to his laywer for even letting the kid say that )

[DrewKaree]

The amount of times you hear "and they were convicted a second (third, fifth, 475th) time last _____ )" points to the fact that there are far too many people who don't learn their liesson....danny, I agree with your stance - second time - mandatory jail time. 

I happen to live in a state where the drunk driving penalties have become stiffer, but drinking is a sport in my state, and they should stiffen them up even more.

If ever we meet to have a beer, I'll be your designated driver. 

[danny_galaga]

The amount of times you hear "and they were convicted a second (third, fifth, 475th) time last _____ )" points to the fact that there are far too many people who don't learn their liesson....danny, I agree with your stance - second time - mandatory jail time.