New Ohio DUI scarlet letter

[2LEYS]

New Ohio law mandates special yellow and red DUI license plates


MARIETTA - A new Ohio law taking effect today will change traffic law terminology and the color of some license plates across the state.


When Senate Bill 123 went into effect at midnight it changed the terminology for operating a motor vehicle under the influence and driving under the influence to "operating vehicle under the influence" (OVI).

The bill also updated a 1967 law requiring judges to now issue yellow restricted plates to all first time OVI offenders who have been granted limited driving privileges. The older version gave judges the option of issuing the plates. Julie Hinds, public information officer for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said good drivers in Ohio will not be affected by the new law.

"They are used as a deterrent for people not to drink and drive or use drugs and drive," she said. "Everyone will know now that this license plate is associated with drinking and driving or drug use and driving. Everyone will know."

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. M.A. Pfeifer said she supports anything that saves lives.

"We certainly support anything that would reduce the amount of property damage, injury crashes and fatalities. If that's a tool that we are given from the Legislature, we will use it."

Troopers will not use the plates to profile vehicles on the highway, instead Pfeifer said troopers will use the same patrolling methods they always use.

"It doesn't matter what color the plate is or what state it is from, we going to look for behavioral characteristics of somebody under the influence of alcohol or drug," she said.

BMV data shows 833 sets of restricted plates have been issued statewide, but none of the plates have been issued by Washington County or Meigs County judges. One set of plates has been issued in Athens County.

With the law in effect, Hinds expects Ohio drivers will notice the yellow plates more often.

"If everything works as it is suppose to, there will be more plates out," she said. "Agencies that have never issued them will begin issuing them."

Prisoners in Ohio began making more restricted plates in November, Hinds said.

Since then the BMV has shipped 5,400 sets of restricted plates to the state's 216 BMV offices. When those sets have been used, another 12,000 sets are in the BMV's Columbus warehouse awaiting delivery.

[DanS]

I'm all for it.

[1pump]

This is way over the top.

Troopers will not use the plates to profile vehicles on the highway, instead Pfeifer said troopers will use the same patrolling methods they always use.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Yeah, right. Then what's the point of a special plate?

"They are used as a deterrent for people not to drink and drive or use drugs and drive," she said.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">We have plenty of deterrents already.


What about the families who only have one car for several drivers to use? Now the innocent drivers have to drive around with a humiliating sign on their car?

[Silver Hilton]

Unfortunately, deterrence only works with people who are in the habit of making good judgements and decisions. If they were capable of making those decisions, they wouldn't be in court for DUI, would they?

Add this to the list of laws that we know won't work, but we'll enact anyway.

[Firedog]

I see no problem with it, after having seen two peolple killed just last week by a Drunk driver and plenty before that. If this makes someone think twice about getting behind the wheel than it is a good thing. If they don't want a yellow plate than don't drink and drive. Pretty simple.

I know Bernie does not drink but an anchor warning sign on his boat would be very helpful?

:grin: :grin:

[Stratocaster]

I think a tatoo on the forehead that reads DUI in two inch block letters along with a strobe light on top of the car that flashes when the odor of alcohol is detected sounds better. Bring back tar and feathering. :grin: For repeat offenders i might agree.

[ 01-15-2004, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: fisherdan ]

[El-Kabong]

This is a silly waste of taxpayers money. Cars do not drive drunk, so what is the point of labeling a car?

fisherdans suggestion would actually stigmatize the correct person.

I give this about 30 seconds before it is challenged and stricken in court.

[ 01-15-2004, 02:04 PM: Message edited by: El-Kabong ]

[Lured In]

Let's go ahead and enact special colored plates for all driving infractions. Speeding, running stop signs/lights, illegal turns, wreckless driving, etc.

That way we know who are the really the safe drivers.

While there are many DUI related accidents, I would be suprised if even 50% of them were by an individual with a prior DUI arrest. If an officer sees a vehicle and suspects the drive is under the influence of intoxicants, he won't be looking at the plate. Additionally, I believe their is likely a right to privacy issue with this.

The intent is good, the results will be bad. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[TheTexan]

Do you support printing the pictures of prostitutes and their John's in the local paper? This seems to be the same sort of 'embarassment' law.

I am glad someone or some state is trying something. Embarass them and their families! We all know that peer pressure makes huge influences.

[24 on/ 48 off]

We all want to "Get tough on crime".

Why not give this a chance? If Ohio sees a 1% drop in DUI arrests next year, I'd say its working... Several more years will be needed to see a true statistical picture. Let's try it!

Anything that may reduce the potential is well worth it. There is no loss of freedoms here.

Do something stupid, then something stupid happens to you.

--spud-- :smile:

[Birdnest]

1Pump,

I would like to respond to a couple of areas in your reply.

With or with out marked plates officers will profile. They will look for things that send up red flags based on their past experiences. If you are a person with a "yellow plate" you probably will get a second look, but that will not be the only criteria officers will be looking for.

I give no slack to a yellow plater complaing of unfair treatment/invasion of privacy. I would say the innocent victims of drug/alcohol related incidents are the only one with room to complain.

If you have a family member that has to drive one of these yellow plates, it sucks to be them. Not because of the embarrasment, but because they have a loved one that has so little regard for his/her family that they will drink and drive.

It is not my intention to flame you 1pump. I just feel that a crime against society vs a drunk driver's individual rights are no contest. I worked on a paramedic unit and now in a trauma center, so unfortunately I have toooo many memories to worry about drunk drivers being embarrased.

Joe

[jokester]

I'm all for this. I can also see profiling going on with the different colors of plates, but who's to say if they did it once that they wouldn't do it again?? It'll make them think twice next time.

With or with out marked plates officers will profile. They will look for things that send up red flags based on their past experiences. If you are a person with a "yellow plate" you probably will get a second look, but that will not be the only criteria officers will be looking for.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Birdnest, we would all like to think that it happens that way, but take a person with a regular license plate, and then a person with a yellow license plate. Have them do the same things, and see which gets pulled over! [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

-jokester

[24 on/ 48 off]

Big deal. If that person isn't drunk, then 2 minutes out of their life (just like being screened at the airport) is worth it.

Why do we not worry about the "CAPPS II" system at the airport, and yet we raise such a big stink over this? Ask Dave Nelson about this. Who is Dave Nelson? He is anybody with that name on their ID. Because that name is in the system, they get major hassles at the airport. Marge Boule did a story about this not too long ago.

--spud-- :smile:

[Freighter Bait]

No pity for drunk drivers here. No mercy should be given. Ask the victims. The family of the drunk who died when he almost killed my parents and changed their lives forever. The family of the drunk who took the life of a passenger in his vehicle, and critically injuring my son, an innocent victim changing his life forever. Ask the victims what rights they have and tell me we all don't pay extra costs associated with and directly related to drunk driving. Your right, a yellow licence plate is wrong. A yellow bicycle would be much more appropriate. But that's just me.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Originally posted by ******:
I know Bernie does not drink but an anchor warning sign on his boat would be very helpful?

:grin: :grin:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Okay, just a little more to the left....ok....DROP IT!!!!!!!! Opps....... :blush:

Oh yeah, bite me Rick

[ 01-15-2004, 05:41 PM: Message edited by: CATCH AND EAT ]

Bernie cussed' at me! :shocked: :shocked:

I'm telling. :tongue:

Alert plates would let me know to stay away from them. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[Snapset]

I am all for tougher drunk driving penalties, but the stigma from this kind of punishment will extend to the children and spouses of DUI's. Even if this kind of labeling helped deter the drunk in the short term, I can't help but think that when the next generation of the DUI's family is making their choices, if they have already been labeled as drunks by the state because "Dad" was a DUI, they might feel that they have no pride left to lose, so why not do the wrong thing?

[Birdnest]

A yellow bicycle would be much more appropriate. But that's just me.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Well said. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[foxer]

I say it would be a good idea for those that eith er are repeat offenders or do not complete diversion. Just so you know, when they say a guy gets his second duii, its usually his third. The very first one is generally deleted if they complete diversion.

[2LEYS]

I kind of agree that if you will lose your liscense, get fined and pay high insurance rates when you do get your liscnse back and that doesn't deter you then I don't see anyone going,

"Gee I think I will call a cab because I don't want a yellow liscense plate."

[CATCH AND EAT]

good, I like it too. Dan S.

[Stratocaster]

The very first one is generally deleted if they complete diversion.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">On the contrary. Its usually bounced back up to a full DUI (the 1st) after a second. Its a stipulation when going deferred. At least in Washington.

[2LEYS]

But on that note I do think it will deter repeat offenders. Embarassment goes a long ways. It really effects people.

[24 on/ 48 off]

That is good stuff. I support it.

--spud-- :smile:

[CATCH AND EAT]

Here in Portland I think they should have a sever penalty of which the punishment would be to spend the day with VERA KATZ. :shocked: [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]