Re: this sucks!

Tom chimed in: "Question is, will licensing actually reduce accidents? I'm not sure that is the case. Drunk driving is still a major cause of injury and death in the US." Hear, hear!!! As Connecticut's license program proves, a license is just a piece of paper without the resources and will to enforce it. Even the vaunted motor vehicle driver's license does not mean nearly as much as you think it might; just wait until you get run into by an uninsured motorist, or one driving on a suspended license. (I believe that the majority of people with suspended or revoked licenses keep on driving. What are the courts going to do, take their licenses away again?) Our legislatures - federal, state, and local - are great at passing restrictions and requirements, but not so good at setting up effective enforcement. Those of us who choose to follow the laws - be it MSD regulations or highway speed limits or paying our taxes - may face inconvenience and expense. Those of us who choose to be unencumbered by such restrictions often face little risk at being called to answer for our actions. It sucks, but that's one price we pay to live in this society. For the most part, I'll accept it. Alfred Poor 1969 Cal 29 #132, "Pentaquod"

Alfred Poor wrote: > > > > > Our legislatures --- federal, state, and local --- are great at > passing restrictions and requirements, but not so good at setting up > effective enforcement. T > As I pointed out earlier, Michigan has seen some improvements in the drunk-driving statistics since it began better enforcement by letting a lower drunk-driving blood-alcohol level, making it a lot harder to decline breath tests, and by creating mandatory sanctions. When people started going to jail, others took notice and the designated driver became more common for drinking excursions. It can be done. Of course, there will always be scofflaws. But murder is illegal and that law is usually enforced with some enthusiasm, and people still do it. What the laws can do about lesser bad behavior is to affect the great bulk of us who would prefer not to incur legal penalties. The key is effective enforcement. The laws that get enforced are those that most directly affect people, usually. If you're in a community where boating safety issues are arising often enough to get public attention, the likelihood of enforcement goes up. Enforcement can work. It just takes some political will or political pressure. Chris Campbell