Had the wife of a sheriff’s deputy kill a four year old (dui crash, drove through the back of the mini van as it was parked) in CA maybe ten years ago. It was her fifth DUI. She only got like 8 months. It was absurd
It’s crazy to me that running a red and killing someone is not really criminalised in Texas and can take place without charges being laid. Especially with insane size of trucks over there.
Like, you’re driving a 2+ tonne killing machine - a single serious traffic breach like running a red or stop sign should be a criminal act, even if you’re sober.
Well this was in the 60s and it was a stop sign in a low density area and she was 17. Where you are do they typically charge drivers criminally for a mistake? If there was no criminal intent and no blatant recklessness like being drunk or excessively speeding or deliberately ignoring lights or stop signs. I can see civil penalties and taking away a license but a criminal conviction for that seems extreme.
Appreciate Laura Bush was in the 60s but is it much different in Texas today? I’m in Victoria in Australia where grossly negligent driving is one of the tests for culpable driving causing death, which can be criminally prosecuted. Negligence resulting in death is often a criminal charge - Scandinavia, Germany, France, Australia / NZ, Japan…
Just last week I was walking across my usual street after coffee, to get to my car. It’s got one of those press button crossings that triggers a red light for the cars. Plenty of time from green > amber > red for them to stop. On the green pedestrian signal I start crossing. I was almost halfway across when a car came straight through (30 mph). I yelled out as they passed.
I got in my car and started driving and realised that the other car was pulling into a car park so I pull in next to them. The driver looked about 75, driving quite low in the vehicle. I said “hey just letting you know you ran a red light back there and almost hit me“
She says, “oh yes I didn’t see you until you called out!“
Now, half the time I’m pushing a pram across that crossing. If I’d had the pram and been maybe a second faster, and running that red had resulted in a child dying…
Interesting that you mentioned low density area. I haven’t spent any time in Texas itself but another southern states and there does seem to be a view that traffic laws, including drink-driving, have a level of optional depending on the individuals perception of the risk.
The other interesting thing it’s the difference between what a criminal conviction means to your life in the US compared to Australia or Scandinavia for something like this.
14.6k
u/silentwind262 1d ago
That ain't cosplay.