[mywittyname]

I can't see a situation where a DUI isn't your fault. I guess there's probably edge cases or whatever, but I think the vast majority of the time, it's your fault.

That being said, I don't think I'd hold a DUI against a person, mainly because the system is set up to fuck you. If you decline a breath-a-lyzer, then you suffer nearly the same fate as failing it. At minimum you lose your license, at worst you get arrested and they get a warrant to take a blood sample. It's completely possible to get punished for drunk driving without ever touching the stuff. I've been pulled over at night and experienced an officer absolutely trying to pin me for DUI despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Police love to brag about how expensive DUIs, I've seen lots of anti-drunk driving billboards that reference cost in some way. And knowing police forces in the US, well all know they are pocketing a healthy chunk of change from each DUI.

Now, if you have nine DUIs, that's a different story...

[ashtonkem]

That would be a good argument if DUIs were a victimless crime, but DUIs regularly put innocent bystanders into an early grave. It serves the public interest to treat DUIs very seriously, as they have a measurable impact on everyone.

Now if you want to argue that the system is ineffective at reducing DUIs, that’s a different argument.

[LeoTinnitus]

Yes absolutely and nobody is arguing that. What is an issue with the US is that we're a motor vehicle country and there is virtually no public transportation. Hell even cabs or ubers are non-existant in a large portion of the rural areas. So DUI's are kinda you're only option.

I actually live in Wisconsin where I probably can't count how many times I've seen on the news someone getting pulled over for their n'th DUI. It doesn't even phase me and the funny part is they never get jail time, major fines, or felonies.

[Normal_gaussian]

The option is not to drink.

[baud147258]

Or carpool and have the driver not drink

[cafard]

US 11/15 along the Susquehanna upriver from Harrisburg has a stretch where there are at least a couple of billboards from lawyers advertising "aggressive DUI defense". These have always seemed to me to be good indicators I don't want to drive that stretch of road on Friday or Saturday nights.