Comment on Why in America is .08 the legal limit for drunk driving? How come it's not an even 0.10? Who decided at what level being drunk starts? Then 4 beers of 12oz's is 0.08 why is it that small?

aburrito@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

• iocase@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  The answer for why is MADD and the reason it’s illegal to drive above zero is MADD. They lobby hard for zero tolerance whatsoever. They want the criminal limit to be zero as well. Once they get that they’ll try to ban cars entirely.

  BTW I don’t drink so I don’t necessarily care. My criticism is about the goalpost moving of a successful non profit after it gets what it wants. You change the goal to keep your org and funding. They’ll never ever go “mission accomplished, let’s wind this down”…

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  • aburrito@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    This is one of those “idk man I think it depends”. I think the average median person probably should not drive, let alone drink and operate 2 ton vehicles near where people walk. But the law is bs and clearly isn’t nearly effective enough for what the policy it sounds like they advertise for. But on the surface level I’m like 🤷‍♀️ maybe it should be lower, but everything related to the enforcement of the law is so fucked idek

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    • iocase@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      My gripe is MADD’s original sole goal was getting a legal limit for drunk driving and an appropriate consequence for it. They succeeded, and each time they succeed they change what their mission is. Here in Canada they’re part of the reason liquor stores close so early or aren’t open on weekends in different provinces.

      Again, I don’t drink so whatever, but my complaint is they just don’t stop and go “ok we won let’s shut it down” instead they change the goal and keep pushing harder. I think they might reach a crisis point if they manage to prohibit alcohol again, but I guess then they just start lobbying for harsher laws on other drugs.

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      • aburrito@sh.itjust.works ⁨11⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago

        Thanks for more of the background esp with Canada. Yeah fuck them

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• darreninthenet@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  What’s the practical difference between illegal and criminal in the US? To me, a Brit, they are the same thing.

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  • iocase@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    I think it’s misdemeanour and felony probably? Like the difference between petty theft and theft over $5000

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