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  • Perhaps that's a difference between the countries. Here, any money raised from fines related to motoring - speeding, parking, DUI etc - can only be reinvested in things related to motoring, like road maintenance and things like that. So you can't really skim very much if any off the top.

    @gftchris said:

    Perhaps that's a difference between the countries. Here, any money raised from fines related to motoring - speeding, parking, DUI etc - can only be reinvested in things related to motoring, like road maintenance and things like that. So you can't really skim very much if any off the top.

    That's how it should be, and in some cases, how it is here in USA. The key difference is in USA since we have states with their own governments, much of it is left to the individual state. Here is an article on it, which also states $3 billion dollars per year are raised in the USA due to traffic violations.

    https://exploreb2b.com/articles/where-does-your-traffic-ticket-money-go

  • @westside-steve said:

    Really? I haven't got the exact numbers what do you have any idea but the repeat rate is for DUI? Any idea how much it costs in fines and legal fees and how much of that money in the pockets of the attorneys and townships?

    WSS

    Steve's cynicism is warranted. I don't think DWI laws are made for the expressed purpose of profit, but I DO think whenever money is involved, someone will subvert it's original purpose to be about making money. I read here that in Minnesota 1 in 7 drivers will be convicted for drunk driving. First time offenses lead to suspension, with a license reinstatement fee of $700. Furthermore, the insurance premium will go up, creating profit for insurance companies.

    None of this means the laws don't work. According to the same link, "DWI activists say [they work], and point to a 38 percent drop in the number of alcohol-related fatalities on Minnesota roads in the last 25 years."

    @osiris said:

    Steve's cynicism is warranted. I don't think DWI laws are made for the expressed purpose of profit, but I DO think whenever money is involved, someone will subvert it's original purpose to be about making money. I read here that in Minnesota 1 in 7 drivers will be convicted for drunk driving. First time offenses lead to suspension, with a license reinstatement fee of $700. Furthermore, the insurance premium will go up, creating profit for insurance companies.

    None of this means the laws don't work. According to the same link, "DWI activists say [they work], and point to a 38 percent drop in the number of alcohol-related fatalities on Minnesota roads in the last 25 years."

    Let's say it is a year in jail for first offense and make it zero tolerance. What percentage do you think it might be then?

    Maybe 95% as opposed to 38?

    Now I have no idea as to how many human lives that would equal but why wouldn't that be an acceptable goal? Lack of profit?

    WSS

  • http://money.msn.com/auto-insurance/dui-the-10000-dollar-ride-home.aspx

    A little more than 700 bucks? And 38%. Is that the number you would be happy with?

    WSS

    @westside-steve said:

    http://money.msn.com/auto-insurance/dui-the-10000-dollar-ride-home.aspx

    A little more than 700 bucks? And 38%. Is that the number you would be happy with?

    WSS

    The law was introduced in the UK in 1965. They began keeping records in 1979, for some reason, meaning we can't accurately measure the impact since inception, but I'm willing to bet the number was higher in 1965 than 1979. Anyway...

    Drink-Drive Deaths (UK)

    1979 - 1,640

    2012 - 290

    That's a reduction of 82% in a little over 30 years - that's probably an acceptably fast rate. In fact, taking a simple line of regression (using the intermediary data I haven't shown, but will if you want) puts it at declining around 36 deaths per year - to zero by 2020. Obviously it won't ever be zero, it won't decline linearly, it'll approach zero asymptotically, eventually, but the point stands. In 2012, there were slightly over half the deaths by drink driving than in 2006.

  • @osiris said:

    Steve's cynicism is warranted. I don't think DWI laws are made for the expressed purpose of profit, but I DO think whenever money is involved, someone will subvert it's original purpose to be about making money. I read here that in Minnesota 1 in 7 drivers will be convicted for drunk driving. First time offenses lead to suspension, with a license reinstatement fee of $700. Furthermore, the insurance premium will go up, creating profit for insurance companies.

    None of this means the laws don't work. According to the same link, "DWI activists say [they work], and point to a 38 percent drop in the number of alcohol-related fatalities on Minnesota roads in the last 25 years."

    Let's say it is a year in jail for first offense and make it zero tolerance. What percentage do you think it might be then?

    Maybe 95% as opposed to 38?

    Now I have no idea as to how many human lives that would equal but why wouldn't that be an acceptable goal? Lack of profit?

    WSS

    @westside-steve said:

    Let's say it is a year in jail for first offense and make it zero tolerance. What percentage do you think it might be then?

    Maybe 95% as opposed to 38?

    Now I have no idea as to how many human lives that would equal but why wouldn't that be an acceptable goal? Lack of profit?

    WSS

    That would probably reduce the amount of DWI crime and increase general unrest (leading to other crimes) because the punishment has to fit the crime. A first time DWI offense, assuming nobody was injured, shouldn't be punished by taking away a year of someone's life. Maybe make them spend a night in jail and perform a week of community service. Like I suggested earlier, I don't think these laws are created with profit in mind, but rather opportunists find ways to later make money off of them.

  • @westside-steve said:

    http://money.msn.com/auto-insurance/dui-the-10000-dollar-ride-home.aspx

    A little more than 700 bucks? And 38%. Is that the number you would be happy with?

    WSS

    The law was introduced in the UK in 1965. They began keeping records in 1979, for some reason, meaning we can't accurately measure the impact since inception, but I'm willing to bet the number was higher in 1965 than 1979. Anyway...

    Drink-Drive Deaths (UK)

    1979 - 1,640

    2012 - 290

    That's a reduction of 82% in a little over 30 years - that's probably an acceptably fast rate. In fact, taking a simple line of regression (using the intermediary data I haven't shown, but will if you want) puts it at declining around 36 deaths per year - to zero by 2020. Obviously it won't ever be zero, it won't decline linearly, it'll approach zero asymptotically, eventually, but the point stands. In 2012, there were slightly over half the deaths by drink driving than in 2006.

    @gftchris said:

    The law was introduced in the UK in 1965. They began keeping records in 1979, for some reason, meaning we can't accurately measure the impact since inception, but I'm willing to bet the number was higher in 1965 than 1979. Anyway...

    Drink-Drive Deaths (UK)

    1979 - 1,640

    2012 - 290

    That's a reduction of 82% in a little over 30 years - that's probably an acceptably fast rate. In fact, taking a simple line of regression (using the intermediary data I haven't shown, but will if you want) puts it at declining around 36 deaths per year - to zero by 2020. Obviously it won't ever be zero, it won't decline linearly, it'll approach zero asymptotically, eventually, but the point stands. In 2012, there were slightly over half the deaths by drink driving than in 2006.

    Pretty remarkable considering the UK population has grown by about 10 million people in that span of time.

  • @gftchris said:

    The law was introduced in the UK in 1965. They began keeping records in 1979, for some reason, meaning we can't accurately measure the impact since inception, but I'm willing to bet the number was higher in 1965 than 1979. Anyway...

    Drink-Drive Deaths (UK)

    1979 - 1,640

    2012 - 290

    That's a reduction of 82% in a little over 30 years - that's probably an acceptably fast rate. In fact, taking a simple line of regression (using the intermediary data I haven't shown, but will if you want) puts it at declining around 36 deaths per year - to zero by 2020. Obviously it won't ever be zero, it won't decline linearly, it'll approach zero asymptotically, eventually, but the point stands. In 2012, there were slightly over half the deaths by drink driving than in 2006.

    Pretty remarkable considering the UK population has grown by about 10 million people in that span of time.

    @osiris said:

    Pretty remarkable considering the UK population has grown by about 10 million people in that span of time.

    Yeah, we did ok on that one!

  • Or perhaps the death rate is lower because of much better safety equipment in cars.

  • If that's true diehard why not support better safety technology in firearms?

  • While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

  • While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

    @gftchris said:

    While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

    One issue is compliance. I've been to some countries where most people don't use the seat belt that is readily available to them. Kind of mind-boggling.

  • @gftchris said:

    While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

    One issue is compliance. I've been to some countries where most people don't use the seat belt that is readily available to them. Kind of mind-boggling.

    @osiris said:

    One issue is compliance. I've been to some countries where most people don't use the seat belt that is readily available to them. Kind of mind-boggling.

    Yeah, that's pretty mental.

  • I'd bet that a 10 minute ritual to unlock and activate a weapon would cut down on shootings that arose from a spur of the moment break with sanity.

    WSS

  • While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

    @gftchris said:

    While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

    Well developed world is probably the key. Have you ever been to mexico? They're recklessly driving 70s vw bugs there.

  • I'd bet that a 10 minute ritual to unlock and activate a weapon would cut down on shootings that arose from a spur of the moment break with sanity.

    WSS

    @westside-steve said:

    I'd bet that a 10 minute ritual to unlock and activate a weapon would cut down on shootings that arose from a spur of the moment break with sanity.

    WSS

    It'd also ensure that you are undefended against any pre-meditated attack of any kind, which I'm guessing won't go down well with the 'we need guns for protection from people with guns' crowd.

  • @gftchris said:

    While it's looking exclusively at drink-driving accidents, I'm sure that improved safety plays a factor as well. But then, if it was all down to improved safety equipment, why isn't the rate dropping similarly across the developed world, assuming that this technology is widely available?

    Well developed world is probably the key. Have you ever been to mexico? They're recklessly driving 70s vw bugs there.

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    Well developed world is probably the key. Have you ever been to mexico? They're recklessly driving 70s vw bugs there.

    The conversation started with Minnesota. I haven't been there, and I'm sure there are jokes to be had on the topic, but I'd probably classify it as developed world 😉

  • There's smart gun technologies that allow for the best of both worlds. Rfid seems to me to be the best option

  • The possibilities are truly endless here in the digital age. Home protection weapons that only work in the home becoming as dangerous as a brick outside of its network. Public places that can literally shut off guns inside their proximity. Police that can stop rampages remotely. The benefits outweigh the costs as far as I'm concerned.

  • The possibilities are truly endless here in the digital age. Home protection weapons that only work in the home becoming as dangerous as a brick outside of its network. Public places that can literally shut off guns inside their proximity. Police that can stop rampages remotely. The benefits outweigh the costs as far as I'm concerned.

    @the-cysko-kid said:

    The possibilities are truly endless here in the digital age. Home protection weapons that only work in the home becoming as dangerous as a brick outside of its network. Public places that can literally shut off guns inside their proximity. Police that can stop rampages remotely. The benefits outweigh the costs as far as I'm concerned.

    Absolutely agree, and if we ever got to a point where all guns had that technology inside then that'd be perfect. Unfortunately, there's a whole load of 'low-tech' guns floating around out there that would need to be replaced first, and obviously the people intending to use them for malicious ends won't comply. And then of course you have the 'I don't trust the government' types that assume that the govt will gather all the data about where your gun is and somehow use it against you.

  • @westside-steve said:

    I'd bet that a 10 minute ritual to unlock and activate a weapon would cut down on shootings that arose from a spur of the moment break with sanity.

    WSS

    It'd also ensure that you are undefended against any pre-meditated attack of any kind, which I'm guessing won't go down well with the 'we need guns for protection from people with guns' crowd.

    @gftchris said:

    It'd also ensure that you are undefended against any pre-meditated attack of any kind, which I'm guessing won't go down well with the 'we need guns for protection from people with guns' crowd.

    Again allow me to be the devil's advocate. How many cases of actually fending off an attacker with a weapon V how many cases of someone's pistol being picked up and used against an innocent person or the owner itself flipping out and shooting someone in a fit of rage?

    WSS

  • @gftchris said:

    It'd also ensure that you are undefended against any pre-meditated attack of any kind, which I'm guessing won't go down well with the 'we need guns for protection from people with guns' crowd.

    Again allow me to be the devil's advocate. How many cases of actually fending off an attacker with a weapon V how many cases of someone's pistol being picked up and used against an innocent person or the owner itself flipping out and shooting someone in a fit of rage?

    WSS

    @westside-steve said:

    Again allow me to be the devil's advocate. How many cases of actually fending off an attacker with a weapon V how many cases of someone's pistol being picked up and used against an innocent person or the owner itself flipping out and shooting someone in a fit of rage?

    WSS

    I was just being devil's advocate myself. I suspect there are better methods out there than what you suggested though.