If you continually break the law, it will catch up to you. Nobody can escape the long arm of the law. The question is, do our laws help prevent dangerous behavior. Also, would harsher punishments for offenses help deter recidivism?
Third Time Caused Death
Tania Cederholm had a serious drinking problem the first time she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). Her drinking problem had progressed the second time she was arrested for DUI. The third time her drinking and driving killed someone!
Last week Cederholm was sentenced to eight years behind bars for killing David LeJune of Rockford, Illinois. She was convicted of one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death (Class 2 Felony). At the time of the accident in 2007 Cederholm already had 2 DUI convictions under her belt (pun intended).
Obviously the punishment for the first 2 DUI offenses was not strong enough to deter her from operating a vehicle after drinking alcohol. Cederholm was almost incoherent at the time of the accident, swerving her vehicle right in front of LeJune’s causing him to swerve to miss her. Cederholm blood-alcohol concentration at the time of the accident - .246 – more than three times the legal limit.
What is it going to take to curb drinking and driving? For those of you who read my blogs and reply, I think we all agree that tougher laws combined with technology will be the answer.