# 17 DUI convictions, life in prison? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181 "2021-10-08T22:31:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/45 "2021-10-09T19:18:22Z")
> [@Dandan](#): > > > [@pkbites](#): > > > > beazle neck > > Googled this one, no luck - I’m always up for a new insult, could you supply a definition? Thanks > > Dan LEO jargon. Might be unique to my area. Beazle neck is an old crabby bitch that has a huge tuft of skin that connects her double chin to her throat. It waddles while she’s ranting and raving. Kind of a senior citizen version of “Karen”. Tends to drive too slow in the left lane with her face pushed up against the windshield because she can’t see for shit even though she’s squinting through 3 inch glasses. Then she bitches when you pass her going 12 in a 40. She’s even crabbier when she’s been drinking. Another is a Whore Buck. This is an old geezer who is a player at the retirement home. Whenever you pull him over for going to slow he always has a different old hen in the car with him. Tends to wear a white belt and white leather shoes (yes, the kind cousin Eddie bought Clark in the movie “vacation”). He actually has several old ladies on the hook fighting over him. He typically doesn’t associate with Beazle necks, which may be why she’s so crabby. He doesn’t have the wealth or material goods he claims to. He’s completely full of shit in more ways than one. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/46 "2021-10-09T19:36:47Z")
You just _had_ to ask lol ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/47 "2021-10-09T19:37:14Z")
I think trying home confinement with an ankle monitor is fine, as a first step. While there is some risk he breaks tether, keep in mind once you break tether you’re going to get arrested fairly quickly, and they can make his home confinement stipulation basically zero tolerance, so if he is caught trying to get to the liquor store he’ll be heading to prison. It’s generally troublesome to jail a 75 year old for life, because you’re basically creating a nursing home situation for the state and I think it’s reasonable to try home confinement to avoid that. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/48 "2021-10-09T19:55:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > but my first experience with one was when I walked into a bar and a guy leaving told me he’d buy me a beer if I’d blow for him. I had to read that three times before I picked up on the word “for” and realized what you were talking about and why it was relevant to the thread. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/49 "2021-10-09T19:55:58Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > But unless you have a squad sitting outside his house to pull him over he’s going to be able to get in a car and drive off, putting others in danger, before the authorities can get to him. I was thinking more of a BOLO situation. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/51 "2021-10-09T20:18:44Z")
From [another article](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/seattle-man-charged-with-13th-dui-in-king-county-court/) two years ago on the same guy [bolding mine] after the 17th arrest. Senior deputy prosecuting attorney Amy Freedheim wrote in charging documents that Benson is “incredibly dangerous to the community,” habitually drives while impaired when he’s not in custody and **has failed to appear in court 50 times since 1985.** “He refuses to follow orders by the courts or Department of Licensing. He **drives without an (ignition interlock device)** and **without any valid license or liability insurance** ,” she wrote. “… Several of his DUI crimes involve collisions. The community remains unsafe. He does not care.” ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/52 "2021-10-09T20:19:09Z")
Moderating: > [@pkbites](#): > > beazle neck > [@Dandan](#): > > Googled this one, no luck - I’m always up for a new insult, could you supply a definition? Thanks > > Dan > [@pkbites](#): > > LEO jargon. Might be unique to my area. @pkbites, ageism and misogyny are never a good approach when posting, even if it is merely implied with an insult such as “beazle neck.” Moreover, this entire dialogue is off topic and adding nothing to the subject of discussion. All, please refrain from further comment along these lines. No warning, only guidance. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/53 "2021-10-09T20:23:16Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > > [@Dandan](#): > > > > > [@pkbites](#): > > > > > > > beazle neck > > > > > Googled this one, no luck - I’m always up for a new insult, could you supply a definition? Thanks > > > > > > Dan > > @pkbites, ageism and misogyny are never a good approach when posting, even if it is merely implied with an insult such as “beazle neck.” Moreover, this entire dialogue is off topic and adding nothing to the subject of discussion. > > All, please refrain from further comment along these lines. > > No warning, only guidance. Uh-oh…even tho ignorance fought, I guess this is a case of one “aw, shit” wiping out a hundred “attaboys”. Well, thanks for the info, and thanks for the guidance! Dan ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/54 "2021-10-09T20:52:14Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I think trying home confinement with an ankle monitor is fine, as a first step. He’s got 17 convictions. Why are you talking about “as a first step”? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/55 "2021-10-09T20:54:37Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Moderating: > > @pkbites, ageism and misogyny are never a good approach when posting, even if it is merely implied with an insult such as “beazle neck.” Moreover, this entire dialogue is off topic and adding nothing to the subject of discussion. > > All, please refrain from further comment along these lines. > > No warning, only guidance. Understood. No reason to be a schlobergoogin over it. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/56 "2021-10-09T21:54:43Z")
Sucks for him that he’s old, but a ten year sentence wouldn’t be out of line considering the offense, and chances are the problem will resolve it’s self. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/57 "2021-10-09T22:22:55Z")
Public transportation in much of the country does suck - but people in NYC still drive drunk and have multiple drunken driving convictions even though there are taxis and good public transportation that runs 24/7. It doesn’t matter how easy treatment is to access, how many different types of treatment are available or how available public transportation is. This man might not even need treatment strictly speaking - there are plenty of people on the road who don’t have a drinking problem. Instead , they have a driving problem. They do not have any of the hallmarks of alcohol abuse. They can go through any list of questions or diagnostic checklists and answer “no” to every question unless there is specifically one about drinking and driving ( and there often isn’t. ) These are the people [DWI](https://online.maddvip.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc%2Bgrant&utm_campaign=rkd_fy21vip&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-4SLBhCVARIsACrhWLXckfK0vGueWeKUJTUK5uX6-od_YUzHFEB2rixYNce-0LXPAoM-tVAaAr6YEALw_wcB) impact panels seek to reach - and they are often effective for normal people, who maybe just didn’t quite realize the devastation a drunk driver can cause. But a 75 year old man with 17 DUI convictions who had been driving without a valid license for 20 years when he crashed into an oncoming vehicle overnight in Seattle ( a city which _does_ have good public transportation) sounds to me like the type of person whose drinking problem ( if he has one) isn’t the biggest issue. The bigger issue is that it seems he just doesn’t care that it’s dangerous to drive after he’s been drinking or that he may injure or kill someone- and there really isn’t any treatment for that. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/58 "2021-10-10T00:19:25Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > This man might not even need treatment strictly speaking FYI, according to the article I linked to, both the man and his family have acknowledged that he’s an alcoholic. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/59 "2021-10-10T00:43:39Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > But we do that already. In my state, after the 1st DUI, there is an evaluation. Are you just a young stupid kid who made a mistake or do you have a problem? Fairly modest penalty, treatment if you need it. A carrot and not a stick. After the 2nd (within 10 years) you clearly have a problem, and even more intensive therapy to help. After the 3rd? Then fuck you, we tried, now it is a felony and you are doing prison time. Japan was having problems with DUIs and they decided to make it serious. For any DUI that causes injury or death there was jail or prison time, even if it was the driver’s first SUI and even if the BAC was low. They also increased the amount of fines and jail time for all DUI offences. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/60 "2021-10-10T00:48:31Z")
IIRC, the passenger can also get in some serious shit for allowing the driver to operate a vehicle drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/61 "2021-10-10T00:49:23Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > It’s generally troublesome to jail a 75 year old for life, because you’re basically creating a nursing home situation for the state and I think it’s reasonable to try home confinement to avoid that. Sorry, no - old age should not be an automatic get-out-of-jail card. It’s not like there aren’t already old people in prison. @Qadgop_the_Mercotan has mentioned treating old geezers in his prison system, as well as having prisoners in hospice care. Why should this old fart get any better treatment? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/62 "2021-10-10T01:00:29Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > IIRC, the passenger can also get in some serious shit for allowing the driver to operate a vehicle drunk Yup. The passengers can be subject to the same punishments as the driver. This law was made because many bosses were making their subordinates drink with them, and and then making the subordinates drive them home. The drunk boss wouldn’t be driving so he (and almost always he) would be fine, but the subordinate couldn’t refuse in Japanese society. Making the passengers face the same punishment drastically reduced this practice. The rational for zero tolerance for all DUI was that the potential for accidents which killed or injured others was simply too high so even though the person may not have caused an accident on that particular ride, they very well could have. Japan also have less tolerance for accidences which cause injuries or deaths even those not related to alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/63 "2021-10-10T01:03:49Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Japan also have less tolerance for accidences which cause injuries or deaths even those not related to alcohol Yeah that’s consistent with my impression of their culture. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do it” just doesn’t matter there. They don’t give a shit about your intentions - just don’t be an irresponsible dumbass in the first place and all will be well. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/64 "2021-10-10T01:12:47Z")
They do have ankle monitors that can detect alcohol consumption. If this has any bearing I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181/65 "2021-10-10T01:27:33Z")
Home confinement isn’t get out of jail free, it’s just giving the State a lower cost way to take an elderly person off the roads. If he violates his tether he can be placed in prison. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-dui-convictions-life-in-prison/952181.md?page=4)