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I don't know if this was a national campaign or just regional to my area, but over July 4th, and still today, the State Police Dept put up big yellow billboards that read "Sobriety Check-Point Ahead".

The only catch was:  there was no check-points ahead, and those billboards (paid for by tax dollars thank you very much) were just placed on random billboards to scare motorists.

This is kinda a big debate here because most people, including myself, would rather have seen them spend that money on actual un-advertised sobriety check-points, rather than putting up phony billboards that lose their effect after a few days when motorists realise its all a sham.  (not to mention the fact that since its been in the news, everyone found out they were fake).

Anyway, do you guys have these in your states and if so what do you think about them?
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I can understand what they were trying to do, but I agree that it was probably ineffective.  Although it might have worked on the 4th.  As Cat says, NO billboards in VT., and real checkpoints, usually near groups of watering holes on holidays.  

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I don't have a problem with the check-points themselves, I have a problem with the billboards that warn of a non-existent check-point ahead, as mentioned in my initial post.
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Geeze 80's, we agree again.  It's very discouraging to read about people killed by drunk drivers.  I certainly take a drink, but not when I know I'm going to drive.  Out to eat I'll have a glass or two of wine.  Anything else is just stupid.  I also think that those convicted of DWI should get stiffer sentences.  There was one guy here who was finally put away after 10 (TEN) DWI's, several with a suspended licence.

Quoting:I also think that those convicted of DWI should get stiffer sentences.  End Quote

I agree.

Instead of spending tax cash to put of pointless billboards, I would rather them spend the money for police to bust the drunk drivers, and get them off the road, and slap them with a much much tougher penalty.

I know several people who have been caught as DWI, but then they keep doing it.  Somethings not quite right there.

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Geeze 80's, we agree again.  It's very discouraging to read about people killed by drunk drivers.  I certainly take a drink, but not when I know I'm going to drive.  Out to eat I'll have a glass or two of wine.  Anything else is just stupid.  I also think that those convicted of DWI should get stiffer sentences.  There was one guy here who was finally put away after 10 (TEN) DWI's, several with a suspended licence.
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Don, do you think stiffer penalties will work? I think of drunk drivers as being one of two types of people. 1) Those who do not realize they have had too much, and make a mistake of driving, and 2) Those who are alcoholics. I do not think stiffer penalties will work for either group. Those who make a mistake will be very embarrased at the first offense and will be scared straight, so I do not see what a harsh penalty will acomplish. For those who are alcoholics, no punishment will do. Alcoholics will throw away families, jobs, everything for a drink. We need treatment centers for them. I do not think you could punish someone for having a mental illness. If you want to get drunks off the road, I would strongly penalize the bar where they got the drinks at. Teach the bartenders to recognize when someone has had too much and call a cab.

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Don, do you think stiffer penalties will work? I think of drunk drivers as being one of two types of people. 1) Those who do not realize they have had too much, and make a mistake of driving, End Quote

Speaking as some who is in the process of recovering from alcoholism, I agree with you on that.

I recall when I was a drinker, I would often mentally deny the fact I was drunk.  And I would stumble to my car and drive home.

Thinking back to what I once was, I was everything I now despise.  But when I was in that state.  I simply didn't care.

Quoting:and 2) Those who are alcoholics. I do not think stiffer penalties will work for either group. Those who make a mistake will be very embarrased at the first offense and will be scared straight, so I do not see what a harsh penalty will acomplish. For those who are alcoholics, no punishment will do. End Quote

I agree, somewhat, however...

Thinking back, despite what many think of alcoholics, I would have done almost anything to get cuaght, arrested, and thrown in jail.  I know it sounds wierd, but I wanted to be changed.  I just didn't have the willpower to do it myself.  I know in my heart that a stiff dose of reality would have prevented me from spinning into the deep depths of alcoholism that I once was in.

Quoting:Alcoholics will throw away families, jobs, everything for a drink. End Quote

That is true for the most part.

Alcoholism takes total control of every aspect of your life.

Quoting:We need treatment centers for them. I do not think you could punish someone for having a mental illness. End Quote

But like I said, deep down, I wanted to be arrested and scared straight.  Simply to get me off the bottle.  I didn't look at being arrested as being punished.  I looked at it as a "forced treatment" for a problem I had.  

Quoting:If you want to get drunks off the road, I would strongly penalize the bar where they got the drinks at. Teach the bartenders to recognize when someone has had too much and call a cab. End Quote

Disagree.

I don't think it should be the bartenders job to determine ones limits.

If you walk into a bar, you are immidiately at risk of doing something dangerous, like driving drunk.  And Nobody knows your limits, like you do.  Its not too hard to hide your "drunkenness", and placing the responsibility on the bartender is just displacing the blame, in my opinion.

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Don, do you think stiffer penalties will work? I think of drunk drivers as being one of two types of people. 1) Those who do not realize they have had too much, and make a mistake of driving, and 2) Those who are alcoholics. I do not think stiffer penalties will work for either group. Those who make a mistake will be very embarrased at the first offense and will be scared straight, so I do not see what a harsh penalty will acomplish. For those who are alcoholics, no punishment will do. Alcoholics will throw away families, jobs, everything for a drink. We need treatment centers for them. I do not think you could punish someone for having a mental illness. If you want to get drunks off the road, I would strongly penalize the bar where they got the drinks at. Teach the bartenders to recognize when someone has had too much and call a cab.
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I agree with this, mostly.  In Vermont, bar tenders can, and have been held liable for over serving.  I think you are right about the # 1 category, but think that more could be done about the # 2 category.  Get then in jail quicker, and treat them.

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I have seen first hand of what the ugliness of this disease can do to a person. The denile that goes with it. Everyone else has the problem, not the alcoholic. It is ALWAYS everyone else's fault. No, I am not an acoholic but I used to be married to one. I had to watch him throw EVERYTHING away for that drink. I did try to help him as much as I could (i.e. get him into treatment centers-yes, that is plural.) but he didn't want the help. He was still in denile. That was when I realized that I could not fight the disease for him, he had to do that and I left. I couldn't live like that anymore.

80's, I have said this before and I really do mean this. I think it takes a termendous amount of courage to admit that you have this disease and are doing something about it. I know it is not easy and I truely wish you all the best in your fight.



Cat
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Hay 80's. DITTO

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Hay 80's. DITTO
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Thanks! :)


But I still have a big problem with bartenders being held responsible for the bad decisions of their patrons.

Like I said, its very easy for a lot of people to be completely drunk, yet not show any signs whatsoever.  

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Thanks! :)


But I still have a big problem with bartenders being held responsible for the bad decisions of their patrons.

Like I said, its very easy for a lot of people to be completely drunk, yet not show any signs whatsoever.  
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Here is my logic. The people who make the beer and whiskey KNOW they are making a product which causes harm to a good number of people, and that it is addicting. They should have some responsibility in how it is distributed and how they advertise. I do not think they should be allowed to sell alcohol the same way hamburgers are sold. If anything, I think advertising for alcohol should be banned, and not be considered the "cool" thing with beautiful people being lascivious in commerials. It should be no more glamerous than a tuna salad sandwich. Like two women fighting over "less filling" or "tastes great". Or in sports where they have beer advertising plastered everywhere.

The other thing which alcohol manufacturers should do, is take part of the profit and use it to fund rehab centers. Most of the people who fall victim to alcoholism lose everything and do not have the money to get help.

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Thanks! :)


But I still have a big problem with bartenders being held responsible for the bad decisions of their patrons.

Like I said, its very easy for a lot of people to be completely drunk, yet not show any signs whatsoever.  
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You'er welcome.

It may be true that some people can be blind drunk and not show it, but, at least in Vermont, there is a specific definition of being under the influence (.08 blood level).  Bar tenders here are trained (in order to be licenced) to guage a patron's weight and estimate how many they can have, and after that, stop serving.  Obviously, a "bar hopper" might be hard to spot, and so here, bar tenders are not held totally responsible by any means, but I think they do have some responsibility to keep an eye on their patrons, even though it runs counter to their interest in selling more drinks.