DUI BLOG: Legislators Vote Themselves Exempt From DUI Arrest
So….It’s ok for a politician to drive falling-down drunk on his way to work or back home. In fact, he’s given a free ride home — or to the capitol to cast an intoxicated vote. Who makes these crazy laws? Oh, right…the same politicians who are falling over each other to pass tougher drunk driving laws.
I get the distaste of the two-faced attitude of some of our lawmakers in passing laws, but the arrest exemption has a legitimate place in our society. One of the commenters made a point: without it, people could pull all sorts of shenanigans on lawmakers voting against or for certain interests. And if you say, "fine, if you’re a lawmaker don’t drink on the job," you really don’t know the power of an arrest without cause, even if it is called off later (say, after a crucial vote).
I know it doesn’t mean that lawmakers aren’t hypocrites, but there is at least a reason this time.
