Hit and Run

[Mister E]

Andrew Jorgensen wrote:
> On 8/22/07, Mister E <Mister.Ed at agoracart.com> wrote:
>> There is precedent emerging from the judicial side on distracted
>> driving.  One gal in the great lakes area (if I recall correctly) was
>> sentenced to several years in prison for distracted driving.  She hit a
>> child that darted out from between cars.  Normally a hard thing to
>> avoid, but with her interest in attending to her electronic gadgets, the
>> judge felt it wise to send a strong message to the public, using her as
>> an example.
> 
> I strongly agree that distracted driving is extremely dangerous but it
> isn't just to "use [a convict] as an example".  A judgment should
> never be swayed by a need to "send a strong message to the public".
> The thought of a judge doing this makes me sick.  On the other hand if
> the judge's intent was to send this "strong message" to the convict
> herself then more power to him.  We don't (shouldn't) use scape goats
> in the US of A.
  unfortunately it was the version that makes you sick (you, me and others).

ME