I have had a number of friends that have gotten DUI's in Michigan at a young age. They end up having to go to expensive classes, losing their ability to drive to work and having to pay outrageous fines. It marred their life and did nothing to curb their drinking, and honestly some of them really didn't drink that much to begin with. It made them criminals for being common.

I have also had friends be killed by a drunk driver. Driving "drunk" should be illegal, no doubt about it but I have known good, responsible people that simply became a revenue stream for the state because they were barely over the "limit".

I think the point kb is making is that the law has nothing to do with protecting citizens and everything to do with punishing them punitively through life-ruining, poorly constructed and antiquated methods.

I don't have enough info regarding the situations to ascribe pity or a lack thereof but if they are similar to some of the situations I've witnessed, pity is justified.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

You'll be glad to know that your comment did get me to open a bible :)