The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-20
Leniency To Drunken
 Drivers Should Stop
Motor Vehicle Commissioner in Talk Here Yesterday
 Urges Change-Arresting Officers Given Tip

1t, and the additional penalty re- quired by the statutes of suspend ing the right to operate for Q year as well as requiring proof of finan- cial responsibility ct the end of such time, should take effect with out review of any kind.
 On the contrary, if the charges cannot be Substantiated, the penal- ties should not be imposed because the penalties are quite severe and frequently work out considerable economic as well as social loss.
 Borderline Gases
 There has developed Q type of court decision for this particular law that carries considerable mis- chief in 1t. That is the so.called ''borderline case" where tho police and the courts apparently cannot be convinced of the guilt of the per- son arrested, and yet feel that some punishment should be rneted out because of the operators action. I believe this borderline case should be eliminated, and positive convic- tions of some sort, according to law, meted out. As you probably know, on the conviction of persons driving under the influence of liquor, the courts send us an abstract or card showing disposition of this case, and persons license is immediate ly suspended and should stay gus- pended for Q year, but because the courts remit part of the line and suspend the prison sentence, 1ndi- eating extenuating circumstances and calling for leniency, or because they may be borderline cases, the department of motor vehicles is called upon to restore the license before this year is up, 50 that the operator may earn c livelihood that would be impossible without the use of his operator'S license.
 Education
 The other way of attacking this problem Is by education, and l mean education in its broad sense. The inotorist must be told of the loss to his mental and physical ability to operate Q car after taking alcohol. This can be done through the raed- ium of the temperance organiza- tions which have at their disposal the information and the subject material regarding the use of alco- hol and it's effect in general on the human system, and particularly as 1t applies to the operator of an au- tomobile.
 What ever agency can be used to attract public attention to the ser- iousness of this problem, and by whatever means we can use to bring about c public disapproval of this practice should be used to the &ull- est extent.
 The governor recently appointed c safety commission, and l am quite sure that this matter of driving uil. der the influence of liquor will be given more consideration than any other phase of our accident prob lem. The public attitude of being lenient or excusing individuals must be changed. Public ofiicials, the DO. lice, the prosecutors, the judges, and VtkkGE 8J4V V0A4t8 VA Vs4V kssbssS es~NS to deal in any way with this prob | lem, should be backed up morally in their attempt to punish violators of this lew. I am quite sure that the police will do this job effectively # they can be publicly supported. We must convince the influential people | in our state, whether they derive their influence from wealth, social ] or political position, torcfuse to aid lin preventing the application of strict disciplinary measures on the person who insists on driving under the influence of liquor. It can De done by. Q general community de- termination to bring about the change.
 The elimination of driving under the influence of liquor will result m | e 30 to 36 per cent decrease in our accidents and injuries alone, as well i as make motoring more enJoyaple and pleasant for ones fellow trav- eiers. r