Ava's Law - Please Read & Sign Fellow Officers

[Laww]

Greetings All,

I know this seems strange to see this here, but I am "asking" for all of my fellow LEOs in joining me to sign what I believe to be a very worthwhile cause.

No one should ever have to go through what baby Ava and her family is enduring.

Stricter laws should be brought against those who drive while impaired everywhere in the United States.

Those who drive impaired are at risk of hurting not only themselves but others, as what happened in baby Ava's case. This man was able to walk away from the accident he caused while high on PCP with cuts and scrapes, while Ava and her mother were not so lucky.

It is disgusting that our judicial system will allow this man to walk away from this to only be caught again a short time later committing a similar act.

It is my hopes that we as a community and a nation can help keep people like, Andre James Kaczynski, in jail where they cannot be allowed to hurt anyone ever again.

Stricter laws need to be in place for those who have a blatant disregard for themselves and others around them.

This family is asking for a change. One that I know that I personally have often wondered, and I can't help but believe I am not alone in thinking that. We all have seen the destruction impaired drivers bring to families on a yearly, monthly and sadly, even daily basis. They are asking to feel safe again when they put their children in the car. I passionately enforce the impaired driving laws in the State of Maryland, and I hope that I can get support from my brothers in arms from across the country and around the world for this very worthwhile cause.

Here is the link: Criminal Justice Petition: Ava's Law | Change.org

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Laww

[icu650]

...let me stop you right there, sir. There's only two of us standing here and only one of us cares anything about what you have to say.

I would like the new people to this forum to know that these random quotes that appear at the bottom of the post are just that--random quotes and it has nothing at all to do with the post or any response. Thanks

[CPL1897]

At least it was in fine print, had to put on my old age goggles to figure out what you were talking about....On his post, we all can agree the judicial system is flawed, some get FUBAR for minor offenses while
others get a slap on the wrist for major offenses...The thing is PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES! Its called being human, and some have worse judgement than others obviuosly....I strongly believe in the "Three strike rule" kinda like my personal two strike rule of "Fool me 1 time shame on you, fool me again and shame on me"....I dont drink and became a cop at 19 so I never experemented with any drugs etc. but I dont think someone who simply drives after "a few" should become a convicted felon...Of course if theres injury or death etc then by all means, but like I said people do make mistakes, its when they continue to do the same thing its no longer a mistake...Over my many years of LE Ive seen many carshes that would have occurred even if alcohol wasnt a factor, but blood was taken and if iether driver is .08 or higher then its automatically alcohol related and results in arrest etc...Many may not agree with my views and I assure you I've made just as many DUI arrests over the years as the next guy but we all have our "personal opinions".....I will have to research the case your referring to before I can give you my opinion/signature, I was simply responding to the little information you wrote...

[retdetsgt]

I couldn't find the text of the petition. Not that the governor or Maryland gives a rat as to what someone on the left coast thinks anyway.

I Googled Ava's Law and it talked about he committed a second offense while out on bail. It said nothing that he walked after being convicted. Bail is rarely denied to anyone in cases other than murder. Being out on bail doesn't translate into "walking" IMO.

If this is to hammer first offenders, I agree with CPL1897. A whole lot of people get one DUI and it scares the hell out of them and they never do it again. Second, third offenders are a new ball game, perhaps. In Oregon, at some point you got to prison, but I have no idea what the criteria is unless there is a fatal wreck and/or hit and run involved.

[Laww]

I completely agree that we all have our own personal opinions and experiences when it comes to Driving While Impaired (regardless the method). While "Ava's Law" may be a bit on the extreme side of things, a random traffic stop with the driver telling about his ninth DUI charge in 10 years is quite to the other.

Perhaps this (or something like it) is the catalyst needed to have Driving While Impaired laws or how they are dealt with analyzed again. More and more frequently it seems, it is the drug impaired driver that we are dealing with and not the alcohol impaired one.

More disturbing to me is the lack of a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program in some states and their inability to do anything to that driver if not impaired by alcohol. Virginia who kicked off the DRE program on the East Coast is down to just one active DRE if I am not mistaken, so that state's program is in jeopardy of becoming non-existent.

I'm not one that abstains from alcohol, so I am not standing on that soapbox, but when I drink I do it responsibly, and that isn't very hard to do at all, and requires little effort.

Not trying to push an agenda on anyone, was just using this as a tool to get a message out. Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not the intent of this.

Laww

[retdetsgt]

I completely agree that we all have our own personal opinions and experiences when it comes to Driving While Impaired (regardless the method). While "Ava's Law" may be a bit on the extreme side of things, a random traffic stop with the driver telling about his ninth DUI charge in 10 years is quite to the other.

It definitely needs to be tightened up if that's the case. I read recently here that some guy got 5 years in prison for his 5th DUI in 6 or 7 years.

Is there a link to the text of the petition?

Edited to add: Is MADD very active there? They played a huge role in getting tougher DUI laws here, some a little over the top, IMO, but good for the most part. It's odd though, if it's a first offense, you can get diversion and the conviction will go away. However, my dumb@ss stepson had DUI and the other driver belatedly claimed whiplash. Up until then, he was headed for diversion, but that changed everything and he did a mandatory 2 weeks in jail.

[Laww]

It definitely needs to be tightened up if that's the case. I read recently here that some guy got 5 years in prison for his 5th DUI in 6 or 7 years.

Is there a link to the text of the petition?

Edited to add: Is MADD very active there? They played a huge role in getting tougher DUI laws here, some a little over the top, IMO, but good for the most part. It's odd though, if it's a first offense, you can get diversion and the conviction will go away. However, my dumb@ss stepson had DUI and the other driver belatedly claimed whiplash. Up until then, he was headed for diversion, but that changed everything and he did a mandatory 2 weeks in jail.

RetDetSgt,

I will check and see. Admittedly, I posted this in spport of my wife who is close to the family that was affected. I know the story and personally know some of the people affected. So my ability to remain completely unbiased is somewhat lacking at this point in time, and I can't help think of my own daughter who is of a similar age and the "what ifs" and "hows" of what I might be going through. I know that is sort of a "no-no" in this profession, and it is a necessary evil...but all of us are human, so at times, these things can run away from us before we have a chance to put them in check.

MADD does do some things here, how active they are compared to other states I am not sure of, but I will look into that.

Thanks,

Laww

[retdetsgt]

I would definitely recommend contacting MADD. They have money which is the key to most drives.