In 1946, my father was killed by an automobile driven by a drunken woman. I was 10. My recollection is that the driver did not receive much of a punishment.
In 1973, my parked car was totaled by a drunken man. His car had been reported stolen by the driverโs father, a report he later withdrew. The driver had had multiple DUI convictions, his license had been revoked permanently and he had a metal plate in his skull, the result of surgery needed from an earlier drunken driving accident. His punishment? Merely a fine.
In April 2018, Tyler Shaw, 20, is killed by Joseph Leonard Jr., who was driving while drunk and was arrested for the third time for DWI.
A plea deal for Leonard apparently will result in five to 10 years in prison for negligent homicide and concurrent time of 3ยฝ to seven years for aggravated DWI. Negligent? Absolutely not. He was fully aware that he was driving impaired by alcohol.That was purposeful homicide.
This man, and other drivers such as he, are predators. This is not unintentional. This is not negligent. They care not. How is it that we do not require convicted drunken drivers to register as such for whatever period of time?
His punishment is nothing. It needs to be harsher. However, mild or harsh, he eventually will be out of prison. And he still will be capable of drinking โ and driving โ licensed or not. So the question is: How do we prevent DWI offenders from driving? Obviously, punishment doesnโt work. I have suggestions. One doesnโt want to hear them.
ARNOLD C. CODA
Hopkinton