May 18, 2010
This Isn't the Wild West
Every day law enforcement work to do their jobs only to have a gun pulled on them. Not all of the time, but this time, an alleged drunk driver decided it was time to start shooting the messenger. Not good. Protect the roadways. Don't drive drunk. Protect law enforcement trying to keep all of us safe. Don't drive drunk and certainly, don't shoot the messenger.
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3 comments:
Law enforcement are doing their best to get drunk drivers off the road. We need to crack down on the prosecuting attorney and the judges especially in Winnebago County to make sure the sentences are tough and there are stiff reprimands when the sentences are not followed. Even if the person is part of the SSTOP Program.
I know of one case where the woman received her 2nd DUI. At her initial appearance signed a $500 signature bond and was instructed not to driver without a valid driver's license. (5) days later she received a traffic violation in Fond Du Lac County for driving with a suspended license due to nonpayment of traffic violations. Then (12) days later received a traffic violation for operating a vehicle without wearing a seat belt. In Winnebago County at the time of her sentencing they did nothing to pursue the violation of her bond on these (2) occurrences in Fond Du Lac County. She was sentenced to a fine, 7 days in jail, DDVIP, and SSTOP.
She has not appeared at the (2) DDVIP hearings. She missed the first one and missed the one rescheduled. She has violated several of the SSTOP Rules as well.
When you talk with the prosecuting attorney he tells about the economic situation with the state and the necessity for furlough days which causes them not to research or follow up on the small cases, but to concentrate only on the larger ones. Plus he says because this woman is part of the SSTOP program only her case manager can pursue anything - WHAT??????
When you talk with the SSTOP case manager he can only talk in general terms due to the confidiality of each individual, but gives you an "I hear you". Yet nothing.
I personally believe that Barbara Hart Key and Scott Woldt take it easy on individuals if they are part of the SSTOP Program on any subsequent cases.
Therefore, we need to concentrate on stiffer sentences, follow up to ensure the sentence is being carried out, plus a smaller range that the judges can choose from when sentencing.
I am sure the woman above is not the only person out there that has done this stuff, but we need to teach them a lesson that they will learn from.
I agree that drunk driving needs to stop, but law enforcement in my area does not. Late on a Friday night a friend called and said the police, who had been called because of domestic violence, told her to find a safe place for herself and her kids, she ask me if she and her kids could stay at my house. Her husband who is only violent when he is drunk called my phones all night Friday into Saturday morning. Sunday he showed up at my house with my friends cat. He left, called back and said he had another cat of her's and was going to kill it. I called 911. When the police came to my house they were told of his violent history as well as what he had done that weekend. They pulled in over, he blew a .10, the police told him he was too drunk to drive and walk home. He got home, got into another vehicle, drove it through my sliding glass door into my livingroom. He then attacked me with a hatchet. The officer involved is saying he did not have probable cause to arrest! The officer's reason for not arresting was "he is probably an alcoholic and always over the limit".
Mcpavlik refers to a woman in Winnebago county that sounds very familiar. Case facts are identical. Sorry to say that if it's the same woman she just received her 3rd DUI! She thinks her lawyer will be able to get her the GPS and she won't serve any jail time. This is ridiculous - Wisconsin is supposed to have mandatory minimums. I see that a "Victim Impact Statement" was filed in this case. Hopefully that will have some impact with the DA and the judge upon sentencing.
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