Fighting Drunk Driving

Many people take a stab at establishing a resolution for the new year and unfortunately most don't get past keeping it for much longer than a week. These resolutions range from losing weight or keeping an even temper to quitting smoking or even drinking. It seems that people are trying harder than ever to kick that habit in particular and are coming up with some creative ways to curb excessive drinking by friends or loved ones and even themselves. Not all are as effective as others but you have to admit at least they appear to be honest efforts.

Take the case of a 17-year-old girl who was out on New Year's Eve when she called up the police using the OnStar emergency response button in her car. She contacted 911 to reporter herself as being intoxicated and unable to drive her car (despite later admitting she had been doing it for quite some time earlier in the evening). Police were dispatched, tests were taken and the girl was promptly arrested as her blood alcohol level was well beyond the legal limits. Compounding the problem was the fact that she was underage and therefore in violation of the law. The girl was later released to her parents custody and while many are applauding here self-reporting and safety consciousness despite her apparent innebriation, there is still the concern that she was an underage drunk.

But as I said, at least she had the sense to pull the car over to the side (eventually) and call for assistance. Others have decided this year to take the statement "friends don't let friends drive drunk" to a whole new level. Take the case of a 41-year-old man who was arrested by police after he was seen out on the road shooting a paintball gun at the windshield of a parked car. Now that's not necessarily a crime per se but the fact that he was doing it late at night raised suspicion with police. When arrested, the man confessed to shooting paintballs all over his friend's windshield so that he wouldn't be able to drive away after his night of drunken partying.

Now both of these cases raise the question as to whether or not the ends justifies the means or whether the other drunk driving statement ("knowing when to say when") is something that should apply to those attempting to prevent drunk driving as well. It's all a strange little scenario that has left many wondering whether or not the decision not to drink or whether to keep others from drinking or drinking and driving is a wise one. I'm sure it all boils down to good intentions on the part of many but surely there should be a way to stop drunk driving without getting yourself in trouble as well. I mean Superman wouldn't have been as happy helping people if he kept getting himself arrested every time he saved a cat from a tree. Perhaps these good samaritans should also take that into consideration.