Editorials / Opinion

Not enough to simply increase penalties

Recently, there has been talk of what to do in Washington to diminish the number of DUIs [“Anti-DUI work group: Yes to random checkpoints, no to alcohol bans ,” Online, Dec. 4].

A recent Times article written by Brian M. Rosenthal included a report that said the way Washington should reduce DUIs is through “increasing penalties and establishing random sobriety checkpoints.” Although this may deter some, I believe this is not the most effective option. Fear of punishment may help to stop people before they consume alcohol. But once the alcohol affects the brain, the intoxicated person can easily forget or at least not care about the punishments of a DUI or the sobriety checkpoints.

Businesses should have Breathalyzers If you and the Legislature really care about stopping the inebriated, why aren’t the ones who sell alcohol required to have Breathalyzers [“Just say yes to tougher DUI laws,” NWThursday, May 16]? A person convicted of a DUI can be sentenced to have a Breathalyzer in their car, but why not make…

Something must be done Olympia should say yes to implement tougher DUI laws. Lately the number of car crashes due to drunken driving has significantly increased. We are not just going to sit back and look at this situation worsening every day. Something must be done, and now is the moment. I agree with Jerry Large when…

Implement tougher DUI laws I am frustrated by the government’s insistence that lowering the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) levels will improve Washington roads and deter potential drunken drivers [“DUI bill clears a Senate hurdle; U.S. panel pushes tougher rule,” NWWednesday, May 15]. Because of the harm it can and often does cause, drunken driving is…

Is alcoholism a disease? Using the “alcoholism is a disease” catch phrase when speaking about drunken driving is insulting and misleading [“Editorial: Proceed with caution on DUI legislation,” Opinion, May 13]. Alcoholism mixed with driving is a strange disease indeed. It kills other people rather than the sufferer. Stephen Gins, Kenmore

Alcoholism must be treated like a disease In my opinion, implementing stiffer DUI penalties, such mandatory jail time, is not the answer for drunken drivers [“Despair. Pain. Resolve.,” page one, May 1]. I want to preface my comments by saying I had a brother who was an alcoholic and ended up committing suicide, and now a…

Schulte family’s resilience doesn’t go without notice Dan Schulte, right, along with his sister, Marilyn Schulte, left, address the media at Children’s Hospital Tuesday. Their parents, Dennis and Judith Schulte were killed last month after they were hit by a driver police say was drunk. Dan’s wife and newborn son were severely injured. (John Lox /…

Do not take away right to buy alcohol Stripping DUI offenders of the right to buy alcohol will be even less effective than the laws banning kids from buying booze and cigarettes [“Editorial: Tighten DUI laws but don’t rush,” Opinion, April 24]. Carding is ridiculously easy to defeat and putting an interlock device on a car…

Sobriety checkpoints are effective In their justified desire to do something to curtail drunken driving, it would be useful if the Gov. Inslee and legislators were guided more by science than emotions in determining which measures to consider [“Inslee, lawmakers plan DUI crackdown,” page one, April 17]. Sobriety checkpoints have been proven to be the single-most…

Legislation could impact families Statistics show that most DUI offenders are male and many are married and old enough to receive Social Security benefits. Proponents of the legislation being considered need to be reminded that jailed DUI offenders will have their Social Security benefits taken from them — and their families — while they are in jail…