Judges often say during sentencing that drunk driving is not like a lot of other crimes. The reason for this is because it is a serious crime that can, and often does, result in the death of innocent victims that is often not taken seriously and often committed by a person who is otherwise not a typical criminal. Not only that, it is one of the few crimes that a person who otherwise has no issues in their life will commit multiple times, even though it is costing them everything they have worked for.
There are a variety of reasons for this. In many cases, especially with younger people, it is often seen as not a big deal, and something that everyone does. In some cases, a drunk driver is someone who makes bad decisions, but not necessarily someone who made a bad choice, and was negligent, but is not what we would typically describe as an alcoholic. However, in other cases, the drunk driver is an alcoholic and drives drunk on a regular basis, despite the tremendous risk to themselves and others. Continue reading