December 16, 2009

Tax Court Lets DUI Driver Write Off Car Damage

Today's Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. Tax Court last week allowed the driver of a car to write off thousands of dollars of damage after he totalled it while under the influence. The reason? Driving after drinking doesn't amount to willful negligence in itself.

Excuse me. Repeat that again.

Driving after drinking doesn't amount to willful negligence in itself.

What could be more negligent than getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated? And willful ... well unless that gentleman was forced at gunpoint to get behind the wheel of the car and drive, then his actions seem awfully willful.

Nearly 30 years after our battle began, this attitude remains prevelant in our justice system. Make a difference now. Join MADD's battle to eliminate drunk driving once and for all. We need your help to stop injustices like this from continuing in courtrooms across the country.

5 comments:

RDSGHG said...

I hope everyone will take time to read this article. The more I think about it the angrier I become. I wonder if all of the EMS people who sweep up body parts can write off damages, the victims even years later who were left without family members or the cars that were wrecked, funeral services, medical services. Our expenditure was $997.50 *just* for the helicoptor for Life Flight to push the button after our son-in-law's body was loaded, and that was only the beginning of *that* invoice. To make matters worse, OUR insurance fees went up -- we were the VICTIMS left with huge expenses while the illegal alien with no driver's license, no insurance certainly didn't pay a dime. This really makes me angry! ANGRY!

RDSGHG said...

hope everyone will take time to read this article. The more I think about it the angrier I become. I wonder if all of the EMS people who sweep up body parts can write off damages, the victims even years later who were left without family members or the cars that were wrecked, funeral services, medical services. Our expenditure was $997.50 just for the helicoptor for Life Flight to push the button after our son-in-law's body was loaded, and that was only the beginning of the invoice. To make matters worse, OUR insurance fees went up -- we were the VICTIMS left with huge expenses while the illegal alien with no driver's license, no insurance certainly didn't pay a dime. This really makes me angry! ANGRY!

Lynne Leahy said...

Why stop at being upset about drunk drivers. Everyone who texts, uses the phone or eats while driving is just as dangerous!! Get all these people some manslaughter charges!!

Lynne Leahy said...

Why stop at being upset about drunk drivers. Everyone who texts, uses the phone or eats while driving is just as dangerous!! Get all these people some manslaughter charges!!

beth said...

my daughter was killed by a drunk driver on march 16th 2008 and we are still paying for her college education that she was never allowed to take advantage of. the courts need to start considering victims and their families and start ordering damages to be paid