Montana State Rep. Hale Defends Drunk Driving

Talk about "impaired" logic...

The new face of the Republican party.

You guys are just wasting your time. I got a dui, and I went ot all the classes about it. The "Victim Impact Program" that I was mandated to take really exposed the true side of the law.

The person giving this talk was an ex-police officer who had been hit by a drunk driver, yet didn't blame him or the alcohol for what happened to her. She said she thinks the laws are more destructive than constructive and that it is really only about money for the states. Not only do the cops get thousands directly from DUI's but the Fed's Highway department also gives states millions for roadwork if they have less accidents and more dui convictions.

She had everyone in the class (about 30 people) raise their hands if they were involved in an accident. Nobody raised their hands. She said that approximately 42% of fatalities are caused by dui related accidents, but went on to say that approximately 35% of people on the roadways are drunk at any given moment (I've tried looking for these statistics before, but nobody will publish them). Texting while driving is much more dangerous and is surpassing DUI's for causing accidents. This woman even told us about a guy getting a DUI because he had been up for 36 hours and told the officer he had drank about 20 redbulls. The DUI laws are such that he was under the influence of something and his driving was impaired, so he got a DUI. Problem is, this guy is working 2 full time jobs to support his wife and metally handicapped child, so the DUI just made his life worse and kept him from getting even more sleep which was the real problem here.

If you beleive the crap they feed you about how dangerous driving under the influence is, you are just sheep. Driving has nothing to do with walking a line, standing on one foot or breathing into a machine. If people can't drive while under the influence, they will get in an accident and then they can be prosecuted. We are locking up DUI drivers and letting violent criminals out because the prisons are getting too full. We need harm based punishment for crimes, otherwise the prohibitionists will find a way to make this substance illegal all over again in this century. The MADD motto of "All drunk driving accidents are preventable" is absolutely idiotic. Every accident is preventable, but we only seriously punish those who are drinking, even if they didn't cause an accident. Oh yeah, and if someone else hits you while you are drunk, their insurance will not pay for the accident. You must pay for the accident because you were doing something illegal, even if you didn't do anything wrong.

Fine repeal your DUI laws, but put the taverns and bars on Bank time, 9-5, and let your liquir stores stay open 24/7, let these people get thier socializing out while the sun is up and thier drinking done at home.

I must say I have never heard this used as an argument. Novel indeed. I don't hnk I can sigh up to support him on this one. This one really strains credibility.

Wow this guy is really a piece of work. I bet he's on a bar stool right now fumbling with his car keys in his pocket. Scary!

Alcoholics will always defend other alcoholics.

They have laws in Montana?

Hm, destroying small business? Seriously? If I were him i would be more concerned about the family heading to the grocery store that gets wiped out by a goddamn drunk driver.

Yeah, forget how many people drunk drivers kill in auto accidents, that's good for business, too.

What a warped perspective this man has.

"These DUI laws are not doing our small businesses in our state any good at all. They are destroying them..."

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On the other hand, for some people planning vacations--when there are so many opportunities for low-cost vacations in the U.S. now--the fact that Montana endorses coddling drunk drivers may be the tipping point to vacation in another state.

Well, look at it like a kind of "natural selection" process...

No great surprise there. The whole state is drunk on stupidity. Montana is where they send those too stupid for Idaho. Yes, evev we have standards.

Is it me, or does he kinda look like he's been hitting the sauce?

Apparently, he is a member of DAMM.

Drunks Against Mad Mothers.

If the center of community life is a bar then the community is already dead.

RE: Leen61 "This just made my Top 5 List of the stupidest things Reps say. So driving drunk and possibly killing someone is a way of life just to get to and from a bar?"

Obviously you've never spent time in the many of the Great states of the Republic Syndicate.

It may just be written in each state constitution, but I believe that you ARE Required, by law in each of these states to have an open bottle and a gun beside you on the car or pick-up you're driving.

have seen it Many, many times in Texas, Okla, Neb, Mo, Ks, Miss

Oh good lord, ya know I grew up in a small town in Montana, and the bars are no community place, its just where all the men go to drink. Anyone who knows anything knows all the real decisions in Montana are made at the church with all the women, they just let the men think the bar is important.

Sounds about right! Business before lives. Churches, cafes, coffee houses can't be community gathering places. No vested interest here. Its enough to drive you to drink! (Sarc)
Responsible people should know when to quit and know when patrons should be cut off. That is the community thing to do!

" Drinking & Driving is a way of life in Montana - because bars & taverns are a place for people to connect? "

2 other great places to connect in Montana -
Emergency Rooms & Funeral Homes

You guys are missing the point. The repugs are tying everything that they want to "small business job-creation". Want to kill someone? Just incorporate yourself into a "small business" entity and they will fight for your rights to create jobs ie. hireing hitmen to work for you.Problem solved.

Yee Haw, this calls for another round at the Saddle Bar and Café....give me a break....

Hey, as long as the GOP is means testing everything on the earth, um, do we think that we should consider supporting those efforts in regard to Hale? I'd test him to see if he has the means to be aware of what's really going on in society. And, given that necktie he's wearing, I know what his grade would be.

MADD will be mad.

OMG, I think Rep. Hale was drinking before he made that statement. #facepalm

This just made my Tip 5 List of the stupidist things Reps say. So driving drunk and possibly killing someone is a way of life just to get to and from a bar? I had to comment on this because this could be a WI story. WI has a drunk driving problem. We just can't get a handle on it. In my state, if you are caught drunk driving for the first time and happen to kill somebody while doing it, you do not get jail time. If you get caught a SECOND time and kill somebody, then you go to jail. So much for life having any meaning. That's because according to our Republican AG, J.B. Van Hollen, drunk driving doesn't make you a criminal. His exact quote is this: "I have friends who have been picked up for drunk driving and they are not criminals." (Totally missing the point that while driving drunk you can kill somebody.....which goes on alot here in WI) What an asshole! Just another douchebag that represents WI.

These republicans got to stop drinking before they make a speech.

who knew that driving around drunk was a way of life
learn something new everyday