March 28, 2007
The recent arrest of actress Vivica A. Fox for driving under the influence of alcohol did not sit well with those who have followed her career over the years.
The beautiful, talented Ms. Fox joins a long list of high profile people who have gained public attention because of brushes with the law. Still, there is the hope that there was some mix-up— that she would not risk her life and others—doing something as stupid and careless as driving while drunk. At what point will folks get it?
It’s bad enough that the roads are filled with people who are: suffering from sleep deprivation, putting on make-up, eating, talking on the cell phone, watching television, fiddling with the radio, getting high, shaving, getting dressed or disciplining the kids.
In 1976, Maine police ar-rested 30-year-old George W. Bush. Yes, that’s right, the same George W. Bush who sits in the White House today. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, the future head of state paid a $150 fine and went on his way, accor-ding to Kennebunkport Police Department documents. In 1962 and then again in 1963, 15 years before Bush’s brush with the law, 21-year-old Dick Cheney was arrested for drunk driving, according to thesmokinggun.com.
Whether you are 21 or 30, you cannot be excused for driving while intoxicated. It is imperative that people are taught at a young age that driving while intoxicated is unacceptable.
Alcohol is a drug, a depressant, which slows down the brain. There are many arguments for not drinking at all, namely the damage alcohol does if used excessively over a long period of time. The more you drink, the more you crave alcohol, until eventually you become an alcoholic.
When Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded in 1980, it was after Laura Lamb and Cari Lightner had been hit by cars driven by drunk drivers. The driver that struck Cari had three drunk driving convictions and Laura’s had five offenses. Cari was 13 when she was hit in 1980 and Laura was five and a half months old. Because of injuries sustained in the accident, Laura became a quadriplegic. Two months before her 17th birthday, Laura died.
In 1980 the mothers of Cari and Laura joined together and formed MADD. Today, Glynn R. Birch is the president of MADD. The drunk driver who killed his 21-month-old son had a blood alcohol level of .26 at the time of the crash and was driving with a revoked license and three prior DUI convictions.
Drunk driving is serious. No one can be absolved of punishment, regardless of their stature or status in life.
Accountability is the issue. Being remorseful does not bring back the 16,685 who died in alcohol-related traffic accidents in 2005. That same year, Texas (1,569) ranked number two in the country, behind California (1,719) for alcohol-related traffic deaths. Florida (1,471) came in a close third. The District of Columbia was last with only 26! While I applaud D.C. for the low numbers, would you want your loved one to be one of those 26?
Looking at those responsible for meting out justice, we must also hold judges and district attorneys accountable.
There’s no excuse for people who have been charged time and time again to be driving the streets.
Zero Tolerance must become the mantra. No excuses, no explanations.
Get drunk drivers off the streets!
Cheryl can be reached at csmith@dallasweekly.com
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