Weird-News: $109,000 DWI Fine

[arniejolt]

I think he didn't go to jail, guess he got off easy...

A rich Norwegian has been ordered to pay a 700,000 kroner ($109,000) fine after driving his car 400 yards while drunk. Police stopped the 49-year-old man in October near the airport for southern Norway's Kristiansand. Tests showed he had a blood alcohol content of .188 percent. Norway's maximum is .02 percent.

The man pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday.

Norwegian courts set drunken driving fines based on income and personal wealth. Tuesday's ruling said the man's income is 751,769 kroner ($117,000) and personal wealth is 228 million kroner ($36.6 million).

It also revoked his license for two years and three months.

From Guardian UK:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8504090

[hawkofva]

.18? How the **** did he even get the key in the ignition?

[VicinityOfObscenity]

.18? How the **** did he even get the key in the ignition?

I have no idea. Lol, awesome avatar. :D

[FloodOne]

.18? How the **** did he even get the key in the ignition?

.18 isn't that wasted, I had a friend who got arrested for drunk in public with a solid .2 BAC, and though I'm glad he wasn't driving, he could have easily started a car

[hawkofva]

.18 isn't that wasted, I had a friend who got arrested for drunk in public with a solid .2 BAC, and though I'm glad he wasn't driving, he could have easily started a car

It really depends on the person, but most are pretty sloppy by the time they get into the upper teens. The average drunk at .2 can't even stand up without help and may not remember anything the next day, but someone like my sister completely passes out at .15.

[FloodOne]

true... back then we had a pretty bad alcohol schedule... getting plastered 4-5 nights a week... I'm glad those days are behind me... that sh*t was just stupid

[moose39]

I'm never drinking and driving in Norway, that's for sure.

[xXjAmEZXx]

being that drunk, im surprised he could even find his car

[Samuel346]

In this age of hating people that have money... and blaming all of life's problems on them... I'm sure most support this.

I think it's a little much.

When are we going to grow up and stop forcing people into prisions and jails? And assigning ridiculous fines...


Let's fix the problems instead of ignoring them. [I agree that SOME people are not fixable, but that's about 1%]

[whofan]

I'm never drinking and driving in Norway, that's for sure.
Unless you are really rich, I don't hink you have anything to worry about. As the story said, it was based on the guy's personal circumstances.

Actually, I really agree with this. Fines based off of the circumstances of the people involved. That way the rich are fined for their stupidity (because they're rich enough to know better) and the poor aren't hit with unpayable fines.

Samuel346, I think you're being a little too simple about it. While I do agree with you that jails and fines are not the answer, there's quite a few more than 1% of that population that has things hardwired.

Regardless, Governments do need to get off their asses and start funding programs to help people but I don't see that happening anytime soon (The Conservative government got into power up here due to their "Tough on crime" stance and they have immediately slashed a tonne of funding to Open Custody Facilities which offered programs to juvenile offenders to help them get back on their feet (and these programs really worked too, I saw the results first hand)).

However, Fines are a perfectly acceptable way to punish people (especially for problems like this). If you're going to do something like this, then you should pay for your stupidity, plain and simple. If you have a problem (drinking, drugs, etc), it is your responsibility to get yourself into a program, not the State's.

[kiggidykev]

When are we going to grow up and stop forcing people into prisions and jails? And assigning ridiculous fines...


How about when people stop doing stupidly dangerous things like driving under the influence of alcohol? Short of removing all alcohol or cars from the world, or somehow completely convincing everyone on the planet that driving while intoxicated is wrong, I don't see how getting rid of the punishment would help.

[whofan]

How about when people stop doing stupidly dangerous things like driving under the influence of alcohol? Short of removing all alcohol or cars from the world, or somehow completely convincing everyone on the planet that driving while intoxicated is wrong, I don't see how getting rid of the punishment would help.
What Samuel346 is saying though is that we should be focusing our efforts on attacking the problems, instead of throwing people in jail.

While I do agree with his idea, I think he's being too simplistic about it. It's true that there are many societal problems that lead to crime (poverty, pre-disposition (due to environment), etc), there are some crimes that do not have this and just leave you scratching your head, thinking "why would someone do this?". The only way to deal with these crimes is to impose punishment in the hopes that the person will learn not to do it again.

I think what Samuel346 is implying (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that the State should be sending drunk drivers to something like AA classes to attack the problem. I disagree with that completely. AA classes HAVE to be a concious decision by the offender in order for them to get anything out of it. Someone being sent there against their will will being a waste of time and resources.

[kiggidykev]

AA classes HAVE to be a concious decision by the offender in order for them to get anything out of it. Someone being sent there against their will will being a waste of time and resources.

Now that I can agree with. No sense sending someone to make up for something they don't even want to fix.

[Samuel346]

How about when people stop doing stupidly dangerous things like driving under the influence of alcohol? Short of removing all alcohol or cars from the world, or somehow completely convincing everyone on the planet that driving while intoxicated is wrong, I don't see how getting rid of the punishment would help.

Everyone breaks the law daily, no matter what law it is, or how significant we see that law versus other laws. Should they go to jail for it? Why don't we just throw everyone in prison now? That way, you never have the ability to commit a crime or do something wrong.





What Samuel346 is saying though is that we should be focusing our efforts on attacking the problems, instead of throwing people in jail.

While I do agree with his idea, I think he's being too simplistic about it. It's true that there are many societal problems that lead to crime (poverty, pre-disposition (due to environment), etc), there are some crimes that do not have this and just leave you scratching your head, thinking "why would someone do this?". The only way to deal with these crimes is to impose punishment in the hopes that the person will learn not to do it again.

I think what Samuel346 is implying (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that the State should be sending drunk drivers to something like AA classes to attack the problem. I disagree with that completely. AA classes HAVE to be a concious decision by the offender in order for them to get anything out of it. Someone being sent there against their will will being a waste of time and resources.

There's more too it, and more simplistic things, than that.
What do you think jail does? Jail does nothing but breed more criminal activity. If you're sentenced to jail/prison in this country, you're something like 80% more likely to commit another crime than if you were sentenced to a program, or probation.


An alcohol tether is a good way to help compliment AA. It helps to use the tools we have intelligently, instead of piling someone into a nasty jail all the time and forgetting about them- like we love to do.


[It's my personal opinion that judges should have to go to jail for a year as a part of the requirement to become a judge. I wonder what kind of system we would live in once they actually realize what it's like]

[FloodOne]

There's more too it, and more simplistic things, than that. What do you think jail does? Jail does nothing but breed more criminal activity. If you're sentenced to jail/prison in this country, you're something like 80% more likely to commit another crime than if you were sentenced to a program, or probation.


Prison is necessary in every civilized nation. What burns me, is when someone serves their prison sentence and they are continually sh*t upon by society.

Take sex offenders for instance. Despicable people, but some of them are a victim of poor circumstance. (I said some, not all, don't freak out) After serving a three year prison sentence and a year of parole, they are still required by law to expose themselves for a crime they already paid their debt for. Alot of them give up on themselves, and relapse.

Our justice system has flaws in it, no doubt, but it isn't just the prisons, it's the rehabilitation that is fundamentally flawed as well

[kiggidykev]

Everyone breaks the law daily, no matter what law it is, or how significant we see that law versus other laws. Should they go to jail for it? Why don't we just throw everyone in prison now? That way, you never have the ability to commit a crime or do something wrong.

Then who watches the watchmen, right? ;) I appreciate what you're saying about no one being innocent, and without getting into a discussion of morality and ethics, I'll try to be brief with a response.

It's true that crimes against laws occur everyday by a lot of people that won't go to jail for them, but I think it's important to keep in mind the severity of these crimes. A teenager that downloads MP3's in their basement does not directly or physically hurt anyone, but a drunk behind the wheel of a car is like an enormous bullet, and can and in all likelihood will hurt or kill people.

While I agree that people should be held accountable for their actions (no matter what they are or how they directly or indirectly hurt other people), I also realize that it is difficult and impossible to police everyone's actions at all times. At least until society starts to become like that movie Minority Report ;)

[Samuel346]

Prison is necessary in every civilized nation. What burns me, is when someone serves their prison sentence and they are continually sh*t upon by society.

Take sex offenders for instance. Despicable people, but some of them are a victim of poor circumstance. (I said some, not all, don't freak out) After serving a three year prison sentence and a year of parole, they are still required by law to expose themselves for a crime they already paid their debt for. Alot of them give up on themselves, and relapse.

Our justice system has flaws in it, no doubt, but it isn't just the prisons, it's the rehabilitation that is fundamentally flawed as well

Let's not even get on that subject.

The Sex offender bullsh*t in this country is the biggest injustice in the history of any civilization.

Yes, if you physically molest/rape someone- there's a problem. I completely agree. No question.

However, if a kid walks by your window and you are walking in your house naked... say you forgot a towel while in the shower[IT'S HAPPENED, NOT KIDDING]... that makes you a sex offender. If you've ever looked a porn of any person under the age of 18... you're a sex offender.

Give me a f*ckin' break.

In the state of Michigan, the age of consent is 16. But if you have a naked picture of a 17 year old you're a sex offender. Excuse me?


They did a study... 15 - 19 year olds use Picturemail to send naked pictures of themselves to others. It's a fact, some HIGH percentage... I don't remember... I wish I still had the article... it's ABOVE 90%!

I mean- you can't tell me you're a sex offender because someone decides to send a ****in' picture to you. Sorry. No.

[FloodOne]

Let's not even get on that subject.

The Sex offender bullsh*t in this country is the biggest injustice in the history of any civilization.

Yes, if you physically molest/rape someone- there's a problem. I completely agree. No question.

However, if a kid walks by your window and you are walking in your house naked... say you forgot a towel while in the shower[IT'S HAPPENED, NOT KIDDING]... that makes you a sex offender. If you've ever looked a porn of any person under the age of 18... you're a sex offender.

Give me a f*ckin' break.

In the state of Michigan, the age of consent is 16. But if you have a naked picture of a 17 year old you're a sex offender. Excuse me?


They did a study... 15 - 19 year olds use Picturemail to send naked pictures of themselves to others. It's a fact, some HIGH percentage... I don't remember... I wish I still had the article... it's ABOVE 90%!

I mean- you can't tell me you're a sex offender because someone decides to send a ****in' picture to you. Sorry. No.

I'm with you man, I have a family member serving a five year sentence on some bullsh*t.... I respect his privacy, i won't go into details