OT: Stallworth to enter guilty plea for DUI

[spacecrime]

I know the law doesn't agree, but to me there is no difference between running someone down while driving drunk, and beating someone to death in a bar fight.

Only if you deliberately run the guy down with the intention to kill him.

You have to ask yourself, what if Stallworth wasn't drunk? Would you still be advocating severe penalties?

Hard to believe. So the issue is driving drunk. That's cool.

Now. Do you want every DUI to spend years in jail, whether he hits someone or not?

There are inconsistencies in the throw the book at a drunk if he is unlucky enough for a guy to run out infront of him on a divided highway (you saw teh accident scene, right?) but give him a lesser penalty if he is lucky enough to be drunik and not hit someone.

There are some thorny issues involved, but saying that accidently hitting a pedestrian darting across a highway is the same as deliberately beating a man to death is just ignorant.

 

[spacecrime]

What's worse about Plaxico's case is -- his gun discharge was accidental too.

But the charge is carrying an unlicensed gun. Had he shot himself in the leg with a licensed gun he would not be in as much trouble with the law.

Carrying an unlicensed gun is the crime with mandatory jail time, and Plax certainly deliberately put that gun in his pants pocket.

 

[WhoaDirty]

Only if you deliberately run the guy down with the intention to kill him.

You have to ask yourself, what if Stallworth wasn't drunk? Would you still be advocating severe penalties?

Hard to believe. So the issue is driving drunk. That's cool.

Now. Do you want every DUI to spend years in jail, whether he hits someone or not?

There are inconsistencies in the throw the book at a drunk if he is unlucky enough for a guy to run out infront of him on a divided highway (you saw teh accident scene, right?) but give him a lesser penalty if he is lucky enough to be drunik and not hit someone.

There are some thorny issues involved, but saying that accidently hitting a pedestrian darting across a highway is the same as deliberately beating a man to death is just ignorant.

I was implying the type of bar fight where two drunk guys get involved in a shoving match that escalates to someone dying from a lucky punch (or head hitting a table, or whatever).

I don't think they should throw book at someone for a DUI, but there should be serious consequences. And yes, there should be escalating penalties - why wouldn't there be? If you are doing something illegal and something loses their life, whether you meant to kill the person or not, you should go to jail for a long time.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I was implying the type of bar fight where two drunk guys get involved in a shoving match that escalates to someone dying from a lucky punch (or head hitting a table, or whatever).

I don't think they should throw book at someone for a DUI, but there should be serious consequences. And yes, there should be escalating penalties - why wouldn't there be? If you are doing something illegal and something loses their life, whether you meant to kill the person or not, you should go to jail for a long time.

In much the same way that throwing a brick at someone is merely assault/battery, but it becomes murder/manslaughter if the brick kills the guy... it's essentially the same with DUI. When someone dies because you did something illegal, then that's a more egregious offense than someone dying due to a freak accident where the driver was acting legally.

If Stallworth had been acting responsibly and legally, the accident would probably have been preventable. Because he chose to drive drunk, he was unable to react and make decisions as a licensed driver is supposed to, and that's probably why the guy is dead.

 

[Sivy]

murdering a human being -- 1 month in jail

abusing a mutt -- 22 months in jail

realizing our criminal justice system is ******* joke, that values the life of a dog more than people -- priceless.

neither is a good thing to do in life. Why cant everyone just be chill? Dont fight dogs, and dont drive drunk. Is it that hard?

 

[Sivy]

Here's a question for all of the Perry Mason's on here that are saying he paid someone off to do little jail time. Do you know the laws down in Florida? I would guess no, because if you did, you'd know why he didn't get slammed with a long sentence.

Stallworth may escape manslaughter charge - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

wow, thats really stupid.

 

[Patjew]

In much the same way that throwing a brick at someone is merely assault/battery, but it becomes murder/manslaughter if the brick kills the guy... it's essentially the same with DUI. When someone dies because you did something illegal, then that's a more egregious offense than someone dying due to a freak accident where the driver was acting legally.

If Stallworth had been acting responsibly and legally, the accident would probably have been preventable. Because he chose to drive drunk, he was unable to react and make decisions as a licensed driver is supposed to, and that's probably why the guy is dead.

That's the (five) million dollar assumption. Those are 2 big "probably"s. If the guy was crossing in the cross walk, it would be more clear cut.

 

[letekro]

6 more weeks....6 more weeks.....6 more weeks....

 

[jmt57]

wow, thats really stupid.

Why is it really stupid? What the article is saying is that the law is based on the cause of the accident, not simply the fact the driver was guilty of DUI.

In other words if a driver who has been drinking is driving along in a straight line, under the speed limit, proceeds through a green light, and is then hit by a sober driver who runs a red light, the law says - correctly, in my opinion - that the driver who ran the red light caused the accident. In this scenario the driver who was hit did not cause the accident, but could still be charged with a DUI.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

from pft

Goodell Cites “Public Confidence” In Suspending Stallworth
Posted by Mike Florio on June 18, 2009, 5:31 p.m.
Plenty of people think that Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth got a slap on the wrist from the justice system, receiving 30 days in jail and two years of house arrest after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter.

The perception that justice wasn’t done apparently fueled Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to suspend Stallworth indefinitely, only two days after the guilty plea was entered. Citing concepts like the integrity of the game and public confidence in the sport, Goodell moved far more swiftly than anyone expected.

“The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable,” Goodell wrote to Stallworth. “While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.

“The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies. Either provides me with full authority to take appropriate disciplinary action against you, including a fine or suspension without pay, and to impose appropriate conditions on your continued participation in the NFL. In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league. Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately. In due course, we will contact your representatives to schedule a meeting with you, after which I will make a final determination on discipline. Pending my final determination, you will not be permitted to visit the club’s facility or participate in any team activities.

“Everyone associated with the league derives tremendous benefits from participating in our game and from the extraordinary support we receive from the public. With these benefits comes, among other things, the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a lawful and responsible way, with no entitlement to or expectation of favorable treatment.”

Wow.

Somewhere, Mike Vick and Plaxico Burress just peed a little.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Your post wasn't bad but it is fatally flawed by the completely erroneous whitewash outlined in bold. (e.g. Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?)

Vick ran the enterprise and was directly and personally involved in every single felony he was convicted for. Clear sociopath behavior.

Vick's involvement was "oblique" in comparison to Stallworth's by definition. Check it out. or use a different word if you'd rather because it's beside the point.

And hold on partner, there's no sense in my post that I'm absolving Vick. I called it dog "torture" to reinforce the depth of his abhorrent behavior. Vick wasn't there every day backing every bet, killing every dog but he was still responsible and deserved to punished. My point is that we went crazy for Vick's head but have largely remained quietly tolerant of another drunk killer of a HUMAN at the wheel of his own vehicle. Clear enough?

The whole idea makes me crazy...and it leaves plain why there are so many drunk drivers/killers on the road every day. I don't mean anything to do with law enforcement's effort, I'm talking about our own tolerance of the problem.

 

[JMarr]

from pft

Goodell Cites “Public Confidence” In Suspending Stallworth
Posted by Mike Florio on June 18, 2009, 5:31 p.m.
Plenty of people think that Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth got a slap on the wrist from the justice system, receiving 30 days in jail and two years of house arrest after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter.

The perception that justice wasn’t done apparently fueled Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to suspend Stallworth indefinitely, only two days after the guilty plea was entered. Citing concepts like the integrity of the game and public confidence in the sport, Goodell moved far more swiftly than anyone expected.

“The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable,” Goodell wrote to Stallworth. “While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.

“The conduct that led to your conviction plainly violates both the Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies. Either provides me with full authority to take appropriate disciplinary action against you, including a fine or suspension without pay, and to impose appropriate conditions on your continued participation in the NFL. In this case, there is ample evidence to warrant significant discipline under both policies.

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league. Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately. In due course, we will contact your representatives to schedule a meeting with you, after which I will make a final determination on discipline. Pending my final determination, you will not be permitted to visit the club’s facility or participate in any team activities.

“Everyone associated with the league derives tremendous benefits from participating in our game and from the extraordinary support we receive from the public. With these benefits comes, among other things, the responsibility to conduct ourselves in a lawful and responsible way, with no entitlement to or expectation of favorable treatment.”

Wow.

Somewhere, Mike Vick and Plaxico Burress just peed a little.

Wow. Unbelievably ironic that it takes someone like our beloved Roger Goodell to have a sack and do the right thing--to actually impose some significant punishment on an NFL player for committing vehicular homicide. People routinely do 30 days in county lockup for things like taking a leak in public, tresspassing, or possession of a joint. Stallworth gets 30 for committing DWI and killing someone in the process.

I was floored when I heard about this. If not for Stallworth's ability to pay off this family to keep quiet about it, this deal never gets done in a million years. The DA and Judge who signed off on this joke should both be sh!tcanned.

It puts the punishment the Pats got for Spygate in a bit of perspective, given the circumstances: the media and the rest of the country were clamoring from the rooftops for Belichick's head. You got the feeling that Goodell didn't have much of a choice but to dole out some serious "punishment" (the loss of the draft pick being the only true hardship for any of the parties involved).

In this case however, there doesn't seem to be alot of public outrage, which is truly sad.

 

[AzPatsFan]

To be taken seriously as a reformed Man, you HAVE to be brutally honest about both your and the counseled shortcomings...

Jim brown has done much for his fellow man and his community.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

People routinely do 30 days in county lockup for things like taking a leak in public, tresspassing.

Where do you live?

I certainly don't want to visit. Thirty days in jail for public urination?

While I know of many people busted for this "crime" I don't know a single one who was ever sentenced to jail time. (I did an internship at city court)

I do know one person who spent one night in the drunk tank after being caught peeing. But her night in jail had more to do with the fact that she was very drunk and obnixious when the cops wrote her up a ticket. She got a bigger fine for "resisting arrest" than she did for the peeing.

Nobody gets sent to jail for taking a leak in public. It is a small fine or community service. The judge I was with most of the time had a standard offer $50 or 5 hours of community of service regardless if first offense or 50th. College kids took the community service, employed folks paid the fine.

 

[Deus Irae]

The folks at Car and Driver Magazine have now documented just dangerous it can be.

Rigging a car with a red light to alert drivers when to brake, the magazine tested how long it takes to hit the brake when sober, when legally drunk at .08, when reading and e-mail, and when sending a text. The results are scary. Driving 70 miles per hour on a deserted air strip Car and Driver editor Eddie Alterman was slower and slower reacting and braking when e-mailing and texting.

The results:

* Unimpaired: .54 seconds to brake
* Legally drunk: add 4 feet
* Reading e-mail: add 36 feet
* Sending a text: add 70 feet

Only a 4 foot difference for those 'legally impaired'. 9 times that distance for someone reading an email, and almost 18 times that distance for someone texting.

Texting And Driving Worse Than Drinking and Driving - Behind the Wheel with Phil Lebeau - CNBC.com

 

[jmt57]

Latest news: Judge will not release video of Stallworth hitting the pedestrian, citing privacy concerns for the victim's family.

Judge won't release video of Donte' Stallworth hitting pedestrian - Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com

A Miami-Dade judge on Thursday refused to release surveillance video that captured NFL player Donte' Stallworth fatally hitting a pedestrian who was crossing the MacArthur Causeway.

Reyes' family members, along with prosecutors, had asked that the video be restricted because its posting on the Internet or release on television would cause emotional trauma, especially for Reyes' 15-year-old daughter.

On a side note the column does have a video of Stallworth's sobriety test.

 

[Wildo7]

Only a 4 foot difference for those 'legally impaired'. 9 times that distance for someone reading an email, and almost 18 times that distance for someone texting.

Texting And Driving Worse Than Drinking and Driving - Behind the Wheel with Phil Lebeau - CNBC.com

This test is deeply flawed. First of all he was more than .08. And second of all being slightly intoxicated and knowing your going to have to brake when a red light you're looking for flashes is different that being intoxicated and not waiting to slam on the brakes.

I'm not in the camp that wants to string Stallworth up by his balls, because we don't know everything and it seems like the pedestrian was somewhat responsible, but flashing your lights at someone instead of braking seems bizarre, and I have a hard time believing that his chances of avoiding this accident wouldn't be a lot higher had he not been drunk.

 

[Deus Irae]

This test is deeply flawed. First of all he was more than .08. And second of all being slightly intoxicated and knowing your going to have to brake when a red light you're looking for flashes is different that being intoxicated and not waiting to slam on the brakes.

I'm not in the camp that wants to string Stallworth up by his balls, because we don't know everything and it seems like the pedestrian was somewhat responsible, but flashing your lights at someone instead of braking seems bizarre, and I have a hard time believing that his chances of avoiding this accident wouldn't be a lot higher had he not been drunk.

The test was the test. The people texting and the like had the same knowledge as the ''drunk".

 

[Wildo7]

The test was the test. The people texting and the like had the same knowledge as the ''drunk".

Right, but they're deliberately distracting themselves. If someone is drunk, I'm willing to bet that they also get distracted easily. Obviously if I drink the minimum and drive for 30 seconds down an abandoned airstrip waiting for a red light to flash then the alcohol is going to have as little affect as it possibly could (still a tangible 4 ft of difference though, which is nothing to sneeze at, there have been numerous times in the past when I've been within 4 ft of hitting the car in front of me). That's not real life, however.

 

[Deus Irae]

Right, but they're deliberately distracting themselves. If someone is drunk, I'm willing to bet that they also get distracted easily. Obviously if I drink the minimum and drive for 30 seconds down an abandoned airstrip waiting for a red light to flash then the alcohol is going to have as little affect as it possibly could (still a tangible 4 ft of difference though, which is nothing to sneeze at, there have been numerous times in the past when I've been within 4 ft of hitting the car in front of me). That's not real life, however.

The test was the test. I'm not going to debate DUI further at this time. It's a waste of time, because people get far too emotional on the topic.