I got nailed for DWI back in 2000, I was in my early twenties at the time, it would have been a full-blow DUI (my BAC was .088) but the national limit was not set until months after my sentence. I was sentenced to community service (40 hours, and fun times, a couple campus cops both pulled guns on me my last day as I was making my way to my car, case of mistaken identity), a mandatory MADD meeting, and alcohol education classes. All of it I found to be extremely helpful and educational, frankly it should be mandatory to attend all these things before you even get your license. Statistically the number of people who drive impaired/drunk on average is quite alarming.
I also have a long history of addiction/alcoholism in my family, drinking killed my great grandfather and nearly killed my grandfather. That incident scared the living shit outta me and I've since worked to keep the drinking to a minimum since then, and most times I don't even bother getting behind the wheel after even one.
All that said, I simply cannot generate sympathy for this jackass. It's clear as day he has a major drinking problem and regardless of his addiction made the conscious decision to not only get behind the wheel (with a goddamned open container no less) after several beers, he drove super-aggressively at night on a rural, unlit road. And now two young men, one a father of two and one a father to be, are dead as a result.
I nearly caused an accident the night I was busted, and admittedly it was not the first and only time I drove under the influence. If I had killed or even injured someone I would not have expected an ounce of sympathy for me and the most severe of punishments would have been apt. Thankfully no one was hurt and the punishment I DID receive was enough to ensure I didn't do it again.
Throw the goddamn book at this guy. Make an example of him, and HOPEFULLY some other idiot may think twice before doing it themselves. He should go away for a long, long time.
