No jail time for man with 17 DUIs

[PoliticalNick]

I'm not saying that anybody should be free to ignore the law. Of course there should be consequences. My issue is whether or not jail is the best option. I don't think so and none of the people that think this guy should be in jail have given a compelling reason for it.

He obviously hasn't learned his lesson from getting away without jail 17 - 20+ times. I am thinking he needs a little more than a 'stern warning' to learn from his mistakes. Maybe a few months in a mental hospital are better suited since he thinks getting any punishment for repeatedly breaking the law and ignoring the orders of the court are "crazy"!

 

[JLM]

...and around and around and around we go. Since his driving is not a threat to anybody, give him his license back and punish him in some other way. That way, those that want him punished can be happy, those that want him to stop driving without a license can be happy, those that do not wish to spend $50K+ looking after him can be happy and the people that rely on him for employment can be happy. For me, the judge that took away his license forever was one that also made a mistake and that mistake should be corrected.

I have no problem with a guy driving as long as he isn't drinking, and SO FAR since his last infraction that seems to be the case, but what if he falls off the wagon and kills someone? Would YOU be willing to take that responsibility? On the other hand if a guy needs to drive to eat, then suspending his license and expecting him not to drive just isn't a reasonable expectation. I think I'd be in favour of him being allowed to drive, on the understanding there will be a cop on every corner with a breathlyser waiting for. We can argue this thing 10 ways to Sunday, there is no right or wrong answer. Recently a person near here was picked up for his 10th impaired and just got put away for 5 years.......................................He'll probably do 16 months.

Exactly, he has proven that he will continue to drive without a license or insurance continually and apparently for many years even when faced with possible jail time. Now some wacko judge has let him off the hook for it he is given the lesson that what he is doing is ok. I would call that being a hazard to the safety of others.

Nick- If he's driving while sober we can't say for certain that he is a hazard to others. There has to be balance here between punishment and allowing the guy to earn a living, drunks have been known to quit drinking.

 

[Cannuck]

He obviously hasn't learned his lesson from getting away without jail 17 - 20+ times.

How do you know that? He has quit drinking and by all accounts from the article, he seems to be getting his poop in a group.

I have no problem with a guy driving as long as he isn't drinking, and SO FAR since his last infraction that seems to be the case, but what if he falls off the wagon and kills someone? Would YOU be willing to take that responsibility?

Why not? I take it with virtually every other person that has committed an offense, bean jailed and then released.

 

[jjaycee98]

You have a list of ways to prevent a chronic abuser of license suspensions from driving while suspended?

In British Columbia they would Impound his vehicle. If he borrowed a vehicle from a relative or a friend and the Traffic Cops stopped him, they would also impound that vehicle. Time of impound is by law according to the number of infractions-up to and including actually siezure and sale of the vehicle. As an owner it is your responsibility to make sure someone has a licence and is a responsible driver when you lend your vehicle to someone.

 

[PoliticalNick]

How do you know that? He has quit drinking and by all accounts from the article, he seems to be getting his poop in a group.

I know he isn`t getting his poop in a group because it was only 2 months ago he was arrested for driving with a revoked license. A clear violation of the law. It would seem he has been doing this since about 2005. No license means no insurance, another clear violation of the law. How can you say he is getting it together when he apparently has been breaking at least 2 laws on a regular basis for more than 5 years. I would say that such blatant continued disregard for the law is a definitive statement that he has not got his sh*t together at all and hasn`t learned any lesson at all.

 

[Vaessen]

bring back corporal punishment. Cane him!

 

[Cannuck]

I know he isn`t getting his poop in a group because it was only 2 months ago he was arrested for driving with a revoked license. A clear violation of the law. It would seem he has been doing this since about 2005. No license means no insurance, another clear violation of the law. How can you say he is getting it together when he apparently has been breaking at least 2 laws on a regular basis for more than 5 years.

I was referring to his drinking and driving. We were discussing the hazard (or lack thereof) that this individual poses to society. Clearly you feel we should be filling our jails with people that pose no threat to society. As I said before, if all you are concern with is punishing people then that is a perfectly viable option. Personally, I don't wish to spend 50k+ a year to do that when other government programs could use the money.

I would say that such blatant continued disregard for the law is a definitive statement that he has not got his sh*t together at all and hasn`t learned any lesson at all.

...and I would say that it isn't an issue of him having a blatant disregard for the law. It is the law having a blatant disregard for him. If you have somebody trying to turn the corner and make a better life and being repeatedly **** on, that only helps to stroke some people's egos. I find that that is not an effective use of the criminal justice system.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I was referring to his drinking and driving. We were discussing the hazard (or lack thereof) that this individual poses to society. Clearly you feel we should be filling our jails with people that pose no threat to society. As I said before, if all you are concern with is punishing people then that is a perfectly viable option. Personally, I don't wish to spend 50k+ a year to do that when other government programs could use the money.

Sometimes you go to jail as a punishment not just a protection of society.

 

[Cannuck]

Sometimes you go to jail as a punishment....

I think everybody is aware of that. The question at hand is whether that is the best option.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I think everybody is aware of that. The question at hand is whether that is the best option.

What other options work for someone who clearly has no respect for the law? Clearly a lifetime driving ban has no effect unless we punish those who ignore the ban.

 

[Cannuck]

What other options work for someone who clearly has no respect for the law? Clearly a lifetime driving ban has no effect unless we punish those who ignore the ban.

I would much prefer guys like this doing community service to spending my tax dollars keeping him in jail. Not to mention the fact that putting him in jail may very well throw other people (his workers) out of work. It's about thinking outside the box and doing what works.

Besides, there is nothing in the story that tells me he has "no respect for the law". He hasn't been driving around willy nilly. He drives when he has to.

 

[JLM]

bring back corporal punishment. Cane him!

It works like a damn in Singapore, they see VERY few repeat offenders, but if they brought it in here I don't think I could stand the whining. :lol:

Sometimes you go to jail as a punishment not just a protection of society.

As punishment? For many a warm bed, three squares a day and company! :smile:

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I would much prefer guys like this doing community service to spending my tax dollars keeping him in jail. Not to mention the fact that putting him in jail may very well throw other people (his workers) out of work. It's about thinking outside the box and doing what works.

Besides, there is nothing in the story that tells me he has "no respect for the law". He hasn't been driving around willy nilly. He drives when he has to.

I was looking at it as a case of deterance to the next guy who decides to drive without a liscence or drink and drive and then drive without a liscence or suspended liscence. I do hear what you are saying but I think it would lead to a state where are sentences are even more of a joke.

 

[Cannuck]

I was looking at it as a case of deterance to the next guy who decides to drive without a liscence or drink and drive and then drive without a liscence or suspended liscence. I do hear what you are saying but I think it would lead to a state where are sentences are even more of a joke.

I think the fines are deterrents enough for most people. This guy isn't drinking and driving and he isn't just ignoring the law. Taking away the license forever was a stupid thing to do in the first place.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I think the fines are deterrents enough for most people. This guy isn't drinking and driving and he isn't just ignoring the law. Taking away the license forever was a stupid thing to do in the first place.

I agree with you IF his second drunk driving arrest and every one thereafter did come with jail time. By building up a system of fines and liscence suspentions instead of jail time you are left in the end with the current conundrum.

 

[JLM]

I think the fines are deterrents enough for most people. This guy isn't drinking and driving and he isn't just ignoring the law. Taking away the license forever was a stupid thing to do in the first place.

There is one problem with your argument, Cannuck, if we allow suspended drivers to continue driving then suspending people's licenses ceases to be a punishment! :smile:

 

[PoliticalNick]

I think the fines are deterrents enough for most people. This guy isn't drinking and driving and he isn't just ignoring the law. Taking away the license forever was a stupid thing to do in the first place.

He is not ignoring the law he is outright breaking it. He knows he shouldn't be behind the wheel for any reason period. You may not agree with the lifetime suspension (I actually do and would have given it to him sooner) but that is his sentence. Just because you don't think it is a valid punishment doesn't let him off the hook. If he can't serve his sentence in the community properly then jail is the option. Giving him community service is a joke, he would probably drive to the place he does it. This guy has had enough chances (17 to be exact) and it is time to put a permanent end to his bullsh*t. I think 3-5 years in a prison might change his attitude toward 'ignoring' the law!!!!

By the way, do you actually have blood tests or some proof that he isn't drinking behind closed doors somewhere? No, you just have his word and that is obviously worth nothing as he accepted his sentence and then chooses to do what he shouldn't be doing anyway.

Besides, there is nothing in the story that tells me he has "no respect for the law". He hasn't been driving around willy nilly. He drives when he has to.

Did you miss something? Its not like his mother had a heart attack in the middle of nowhere and the only option was for him to drive her to hospital. He is driving around town. Ever heard of a bus or a taxi. Getting a ride from a friend is an option or hiring a driver.

A buddy of mine lost his license for a year for DUI. He ran a construction company and needed to get around for work so he hired some kid for $10/hr as his driver. That's the price you pay.

You don't get to decide to ignore a sentence from the court and break the law further because you think it is unfair. You pay the price for the offense!!

 

[shadowshiv]

PEABODY — A Peabody man still on probation after his 17th drunken-driving conviction persuaded a judge yesterday not to send him back to jail, after he was caught driving again in September.

Charles Stefanilo Jr.'s license had been revoked for life as a result of his long history of drinking and driving. But that didn't stop him from getting behind the wheel over the Labor Day weekend, and probation officials wanted a judge to revoke his probation as a result.

"That means I would be doing eight years in jail," Stefanilo, 55, complained to Judge Timothy Feeley. "It's crazy."

Stefanilo, who hasn't had a valid license to drive since at least 1995, served nearly five years in jail following his 16th drunken-driving conviction in Massachusetts. He also has at least one out-of-state conviction.

His 2004 arrest in Peabody was actually his 20th drunken-driving arrest, but he was able to beat four of the cases on his record, which dates to 1977.

Under the terms of an unusual sentence imposed after that 2004 arrest, Stefanilo also received a suspended two-year jail term for being a habitual traffic offender and an almost-unheard-of 25 years of probation, along with a $50,000 fine.

During yesterday's violation-of-probation hearing in Salem Superior Court, probation officials asked Feeley to revoke Stefanilo's probation and send him back to jail to serve out that two-year term, citing a Sept. 5 arrest on charges of driving while under license revocation and other offenses.

Feeley denied the request, instead putting Stefanilo back on probation, albeit with a stern warning.

"I will not revoke probation," Feeley said. "I will continue him on probation. You can't drive, not today, not tomorrow, not 10 years from now."

That's the same thing the Registry of Motor Vehicles has told him repeatedly, according to a driver history provided by the agency.
His license was permanently revoked following his 2005 conviction.





more insanity here:


No jail time for man with 17 DUIs » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

It's obvious that this dumbass has NOT learned anything. Put this ****ing idiot in jail and throw away the key.

 

[Cliffy]

It's obvious that this dumbass has NOT learned anything. Put this ****ing idiot in jail and throw away the key.

How about we make him walk nekid down the middle of a main thoroughfare, with lots of bars, after last call, sober?

 

[shadowshiv]

How about we make him walk nekid down the middle of a main thoroughfare, with lots of bars, after last call, sober?

No, because someone that is sober could accidentally hit the idiot, and then they would have to live with his (probable) demise.