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Driver’s punishment should be fast, harsh

Thursday, November 5, 2009
(Updated 3:00 am)

The recent death of a cyclist on Church Street was horrible. The punishment of the hit-and-run driver who struck him should be swift and harsh, especially for leaving the scene.

The fact still remains that North Church Street, Air Harbor Road and Lake Brandt Road are not friendly to cyclists because these roads are narrow and curvy. Surely there are safer places to ride.

Brenda Norris
Pleasant Garden

Comments

This letter has been closed to new comments. Comments on letters to the editor are only accepted for 24 hours.

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spa30

November 5, 2009 - 8:07 am EST

If motorized vehicles traveled the speed limit on Lake Brandt, N. Church Street and Air Harbor it might be a little safer for cyclists :-).

mamaboilermaker

November 5, 2009 - 11:42 am EST

Just read about the driver in Davidson County who fled from officers at a checkpoint. He got $15,000 bond set for driving while revoked and having open container and fleeing from officers--and he didn't kill anybody. I wonder if that woman's attorney can sleep at night wondering who she might kill next?

J.M.W.

November 5, 2009 - 11:57 am EST

Maybe she oughta glue a deer to her hood before she takes off to the beer joint.

zealander

November 9, 2009 - 3:28 pm EST

Whoever thought that "re-cycling" would ever be so dangerous? Maybe distracted drivers should be fined for talking on cellphones and arrogant riders should be fined for randomly swerving over the white line into automobile-domain. Better, if we can fine both sides for vehicular contributory negligence, we can exect more damages from both parties at fault.

mamaboilermaker

November 5, 2009 - 8:17 am EST

So many of these killer drivers are driving without licenses. License revocation as a punishment is a joke. It is like grounding your teenager, then leaving him home alone for a couple of weeks--any bets as to how long the kid would stay home?

Jail is the only way to stop some of these drivers. Otherwise they will find a car somewhere and they will eventually kill somebody. Not having an operator's license does not bother these people.

Voice of Reason

November 5, 2009 - 9:42 am EST

I'm not saying you're wrong, but since so many people on yesterday's drug letter to the editor shows that people are dead set against putting people who break the law in jail, I say, good luck to you. If I was a betting man, I'd wager she was drunk, and that's why she ran. Now we'll never know. DWI drivers aren't just a late night occurrence, they are out driving under the influence at all times of the day. And here's another shot to you drug legalizers out there: its hard to recognize when someone under the influence of drugs has caused an accident, yet its happening more and more. Certain judges in this city let drunk drivers off habitually, and its extremely difficult to get a DWI conviction in their courtroom. DWI trials take forever, as lawyers will delay and continue a case until a date when the charging officer is either not present or no longer on the force. And many times the final conviction is a reduced charge, which really helps nobody but allows courts to get cases through quicker. I agree, the laws should be tougher, but what you'll probably find is that most folks around here favor "more education" or some other ridiculous solution. You commit a crime, you do time. Simple. And then make jail so unpleasant people don't want to go back.

Panacea

November 5, 2009 - 10:45 pm EST

In part you're talking about me, so let me just say this: I oppose jailing NON violent offenders. It doesn't serve any useful purpose.

Felony hit and run with a fatality is another matter. This woman needs to be locked up simply to keep her from getting behind the wheel of a car.

J.M.W.

November 5, 2009 - 8:24 am EST

The defendant in this case has some advantages. First of all, it's a female. Typical Judge: "So you shot your husband in the face 16 times but you had 17 bullets?, bless your little heart. Two years probation and a mastercard!"

And she can afford Locke Clifford. It was a long time between finding the SUV and finding her. No details. She turned herself in and was out on a 5k bond. She'll probably claim she was abused by her daddy who was texting her perverted messages, thereby causing her to cross center.

She'll get a year at the most.

danagain

November 5, 2009 - 9:33 am EST

I find it incredible that someone drives with a revoked license, hits and KILLS someone, LEAVES the accident scene and LIES that she hit a deer is out on a measly $5000 bond. Just the fact that she left the accident displays her propensity to skip town. I wish she was behind metal bars.

Panacea

November 5, 2009 - 9:01 am EST

JMW I do fear you might be right.

This woman has been caught before driving while revoked. She does deserve a severe penalty.

truth

November 5, 2009 - 10:47 am EST

I agree. Hit and Run accidents where there is a known injury should receive harsh penalties. The law should treat this type of case with the same penalty as a DWI.

I doubt she'll get any jail time, definitely nowhere near a year.

J.M.W.

November 5, 2009 - 11:06 am EST

Let's take it all the way to blue/black.

The more indifferent she is, the lesser the sentence will be. It's those Bert Lahr types that get probed with the rubber glove. How else can cops and judges feel powerful?

truth

November 5, 2009 - 12:05 pm EST

True dat. Never give them that satisfaction. If they pull you over, they always ask "Do you know why I stopped you?" That's so they can watch you squirm for an answer and partly so you'll go ahead and admit guilt that can be used in court. Just say no.

Voice of Reason

November 5, 2009 - 1:22 pm EST

Yeah! All cops are bad! And all criminals are good, just like Robin Hood!!!

Except you're an idiot.

danagain

November 5, 2009 - 2:18 pm EST

"Except you're an idiot."

That from someone who calls him or herself voice of reason?

Voice of Reason

November 5, 2009 - 4:30 pm EST

Sometimes the shoe fits.

truth

November 5, 2009 - 5:28 pm EST

And sometimes one fits and the other doesn't. Sometimes it's cause I forgot to take that wad of paper out from the toe area. I hate trying on shoes.

danagain

November 5, 2009 - 10:20 pm EST

But not a voice of reason.

J.M.W.

November 5, 2009 - 5:02 pm EST

A cop said to me once "and it looks like your inspection sticker has expired." I replied matter-of-factly, "I just haven't done it."

I've always wondered why cops act like the offense is a personal affront to them. What do they care if I shoot a stranger?

truth

November 5, 2009 - 5:26 pm EST

Better reply would have been "What's an inspection sticker??"

zealander

November 9, 2009 - 3:55 pm EST

Or...(yet another reply) It's a good thing I did not "expire" before you stopped me so that you might meet your quota...

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