Demand enforcement and quit the sniveling


Published on Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:14 PM AKDT

Had to laugh when I read the article, “Crash victim suing WPD,” where Jennifer Setters blames the Wasilla police for trying to get a drunk driver off the road.

The police were doing their job. If Setters wants someone to blame, all she has to do is look in the mirror.

How many times over the last 15 years has she asked her legislators to put teeth in existing laws concerning driving without insurance, drunk driving, DWLR/DWLS?

How many times has she asked the troopers/police to provide the names of “judges” who set bail conditions for drunk drivers? There are “judges” and “magistrates” who release drunk drivers with no bail required, or a measly $250 to $500 bail, when the PFD is well over a thousand dollars! And the troopers/police protect these judicial officers by not providing their names in their press releases.

These judges are not in compliance with Article 1, sections 12, 24 of the Alaska Constitution, and since superior court judges are up for retention every six years, the public should know who the weak judges are.

As for the problem of people driving without insurance, that is easy to fix. First, amend existing law (A.S.28.22.019) to remove the stupid excuse “Oh, I left it at home.” The law says you are required to have proof of insurance in your vehicle — get caught without it and the law should require that your vehicle is immediately impounded until you bring in proof of insurance. And then you get to pay towing/impound fees. Maybe that will encourage you to obey civil law.

Second, if you have your insurance card with you, the officer should be able to call the insurance company and verify that you have insurance in effect. If you don’t, your vehicle is immediately impounded until you do.

Until you go to your legislator and demand these things, you are the problem (and I don’t want to hear your sniveling).

R.K. Butts

Wasilla

Comments

11 comment(s)

    Insure the driver wrote on Aug 19, 2008 11:28 AM:

    " Instead of insuring vehicles insure drivers not every vehicle gets driven but every driver by definition drives. I know the insurance companies would object because then they couldn't make a killing on all the insured vehicles that may not be driven but it would make it more fair for all those make it fair people. No matter how many cars you own you would still be insured when you drive. To simple to work I know. "

    valley wrote on Aug 17, 2008 4:03 PM:

    " "Quote"To Valley and Vinni wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:19 AM:
    neither one of you should write after smoking whatever it is you are smoking. You could cause yourselves a brain injury!"
    Right on-another person oblivious to the absolute facts, either that or some who doesn't like the truth being out. One thing is for sure I am not smoking the revenue like you. "

    Helping friends wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:38 PM:

    " Taking ones car because they don't have insurance is a knee jerk reaction. I don't have an answer, but there is another story to consider. Its the single moms living on the edge here in the valley. The mom's that work and will be with out a job with when you take the car. Then they loose the apartment, kids go hungry. Then they get so far behind they cant get caught up. How do I know this? My wife and myself are helping 3 single moms trying to make it here in Wasilla. Look at the big picture. "

    To Valley and Vinni wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:19 AM:

    " ...neither one of you should write after smoking whatever it is you are smoking. You could cause yourselves a brain injury! "

    Valley wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:25 PM:

    " Revenue, Revenue, thats all they want, thats why every ticket, every law is civil so they can attach a fine to it.
    There Revenue collectors, not Sheriffs, not Officers of the several states, but administrative collectors of revenue for the administrative state. You want true Police protection, enforcement, and profesionalism, then change there status, get them out of enforcing Fines and back to where they need to be serving the community, or live with what you have. "

    vinni wrote on Aug 16, 2008 12:23 PM:

    " wow, I'm surprised at the amount of support for such communist laws as producing documents. I agree, anyone caught driving without insurance should pay hefty fines. But, to impound someones vehicle simply because a piece of paper is missing is well, not what I would consider an American trait. We do need to hold the courts responsible for not following through with punishments, which is at the center of our "detterent" system. That is the primary problem with crime in this country, the detterent is not strong enough to make criminals think twice. "

    Stupid wrote on Aug 15, 2008 4:15 PM:

    " Every insurance card has the dates of service. There is no need for a call to the insurance company.
    I'm with Mary. "

    Chris B wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:54 PM:

    " When you get hit by an unisured driver as my wife was, maybe you'll see the need for more stringent enforcement of the mandatory insurance laws. But if some folks think it's too much trouble to call for verification, they are free to send me a check for the $250 deductable for uninsured motorist collision coverage. I just spent $190 for parts and that's just the beginning. Even better, the girl who hit my wife had already been cited and fined $160 for no insurance. Why does she still posess a drivers license and a car? "

    barbara Shew wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:44 PM:

    " Yes..Thank you Mr. Butts, One of alaska,s biggest problems is drunks driving and the fact that our judges not inforcing the laws on the books. So many people with previous dwi,s and suspended licenes are still driving and drinking. Why arn't we imponding cars and why not for second offences they should loose the car,s. I have heard its to hard on the familys. Maybe the familys and friends would make a greater effort to stop them driving drunk. Lets make it very expencive for these drunks. B Shew "

    To Mary Johnson.... wrote on Aug 15, 2008 5:47 AM:

    " You would be amazed at how many people when pulled over for an equipment violation, are found to have warrants for domestic violence FTA.(failure to appear in court) Your weak argument holds no water. 911 calls are not missed. Read the police blotters and you will see that one traffic stop can result in numerous charges. The police are spending their time well. That DUI task force ought to be expanded. Keep up the good work. Mr. Butts, you couldn't have said it better. "

    Mary Johnson wrote on Aug 15, 2008 3:22 AM:

    " Yes Mr. Butts, and how many domestic violence calls or other crimes against a person are committed but are missed while you version of "enforcement" is being carried out? How long does a verification of insurance call take? How long does it take to pull someone over for faulty equipment? It seems to me that law enforcement time could be better spent or maybe they have too much time on their hands? I would like to know how many 911 calls are missed while Trooper Smith is sitting at the side of the road issuing moxnix tickets. "

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