Punishment should fit the crime

[#juan]

Driving a 50,000 lb cement truck on city streets must be roughly akin to driving a large battle tank without the gun. Any collision with a mere car at even city street speeds is going to have fatal consequences. Getting drunk and taking such a vehicle out on the streets shows wanton disregard for other people on the road. The car he hit was not a small car but a Chrysler Intrepid. This man deserves the maximum sentence we can give him under the law.




http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=156955

 

[iARTthere4iam]

Lone Wolf

I agree, the professional should be held to a higher standard whether that's driving a commerical vehicle or carrying a gun. (Of course a tazer wouldn't count...) but do we as a society hold everyone to the same standard? Do we demand that a bus driver recieves further training and is tested (vision reflexes, vehicle and road knowledge) more often and regularly than does the non-professional?

I don't know, but what I do know for certain is that there are cops wandering around in London Ontario who are armed with handguns they don't know how to use properly....

When did Canadians become so casual about personal responsibility?

I still hold onto my commercial driver's license even though I am not driving for a living just because it is a great asset if I ever need to get a job. But just having the licence should not affect the way I am treated if I am driving a normal car. If I am behind the wheel of a big rig or a cememt truck I am subject to random inspections by the Ministry of Transportation and the cops and because of the nature of these vehicles I should be held to a higher standart. And yes I am required to have a medical exam every three years and to retest for my truck licence and my air brake endorsement. As far as my regular driver's licence, I don't think I have to retest until I am 85 years old or so.

 

[lone wolf]

I have no idea Wolf.

But death isn't equatable to commerce imo.

Five people paid the ultimate price because some idiot drove drunk. The car doesn't matter. The lives do. If he were an armed burgler and five people died as a result of his criminal activity, would he be charged with one count of burglery or five counts of murder?

The robber didn't intend to kill anyone with the gun either....

Woof!

 

[lone wolf]

I still hold onto my commercial driver's license even though I am not driving for a living just because it is a great asset if I ever need to get a job. But just having the licence should not affect the way I am treated if I am driving a normal car. If I am behind the wheel of a big rig or a cememt truck I am subject to random inspections by the Ministry of Transportation and the cops and because of the nature of these vehicles I should be held to a higher standart. And yes I am required to have a medical exam every three years and to retest for my truck licence and my air brake endorsement. As far as my regular driver's licence, I don't think I have to retest until I am 85 years old or so.

Really, if I'm only driving a car and I kill someone while driving impaired, I should pay the price because that death is the result of criminal activity. My A endorsement was surrendered due to cardiac problems but I still have my DZ licence - even though I will not likely ever make my living behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. The licence is handy should I have the opportunity to ferry a truck.

Woof!