Comments on: Drunk Driving: A Persistent Problem in the US http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/ Author, Designer, Problogger Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:32:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Deborah http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Deborah Tue, 11 Oct 2005 20:39:59 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/?p=189#comment-346 I hope mine don't either. I hope mine don’t either.

]]> By: Obilon http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Obilon Tue, 11 Oct 2005 20:21:05 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/?p=189#comment-345 I think back to my own youthful years and just can't believe I did so many stupid things, like driving while impared or intoxicated. Obviously I never do it as an adult but I consider myself a reasonable guy and if I was doing it I can imagine how many other people did it. I see now that I was extremely unreasonable back then and hope that my own children never make that choice like I did and put many people in danger. I think back to my own youthful years and just can’t believe I did so many stupid things, like driving while impared or intoxicated. Obviously I never do it as an adult but I consider myself a reasonable guy and if I was doing it I can imagine how many other people did it. I see now that I was extremely unreasonable back then and hope that my own children never make that choice like I did and put many people in danger.

]]> By: Blah Blah http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Blah Blah Mon, 25 Jul 2005 02:58:34 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/?p=189#comment-344 What I wrote on my blog was that Martin had 3 prior moving violations and one prior DUI that he refused a breathlyzer and beat it. His previous moving violations were for speeding, going down the street the wrong way and driving without a license. I apologize if the way I wrote it caused you to think it was 3 prior DUIs. I cleared that up when Paul wrote on my blog. I just wanted to set the record straight. But I do believe that Martin's driving history and his previous DUI represents a reckless attitude that ultimately destroyed lives, including his own. I hope others learn from this. That is the only good that can come out of this. What I wrote on my blog was that Martin had 3 prior moving violations and one prior DUI that he refused a breathlyzer and beat it.

His previous moving violations were for speeding, going down the street the wrong way and driving without a license.

I apologize if the way I wrote it caused you to think it was 3 prior DUIs. I cleared that up when Paul wrote on my blog. I just wanted to set the record straight.

But I do believe that Martin’s driving history and his previous DUI represents a reckless attitude that ultimately destroyed lives, including his own.

I hope others learn from this. That is the only good that can come out of this.

]]> By: Deborah http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Deborah Tue, 12 Jul 2005 23:46:12 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/?p=189#comment-343 Hi, Paul, I based my comment on what I read in Blah Blah Freaking Blah about his alleged record. I stand corrected and apologize. My attitude isn't based on what could have happened to me, but what is still happening right now. Every state has its danger spots, some worse than others. I've driven in different cities that had very confusing roads/highways. That heightens the risk of getting involved in an accident. Alcohol and/or drugs makes the situation much worse, as Marty found out. I still believe that we should have harsher punishments for DUI's, especially the repeat offenders. Those cases are premeditated, as far as I'm concerned. I feel bad for everyone involved in that accident, including Marty. This was a tragedy that should never have happened. Whether it was premeditated or stupidity will have to be determined by a jury. Personally, I don't think it was premeditated but a very stupid decision. The fact that a child was killed made my blood boil (as it did with several commenters on Blah Blah's blog). I don't know Marty and therefore can't pass an opinion of what kind of a person he is. I'll have to take your word that he's a good person. My hope is that he'll learn from this and do something positive for the community. Hi, Paul,

I based my comment on what I read in Blah Blah Freaking Blah about his alleged record. I stand corrected and apologize. My attitude isn’t based on what could have happened to me, but what is still happening right now.

Every state has its danger spots, some worse than others. I’ve driven in different cities that had very confusing roads/highways. That heightens the risk of getting involved in an accident. Alcohol and/or drugs makes the situation much worse, as Marty found out.

I still believe that we should have harsher punishments for DUI’s, especially the repeat offenders. Those cases are premeditated, as far as I’m concerned.

I feel bad for everyone involved in that accident, including Marty. This was a tragedy that should never have happened. Whether it was premeditated or stupidity will have to be determined by a jury. Personally, I don’t think it was premeditated but a very stupid decision. The fact that a child was killed made my blood boil (as it did with several commenters on Blah Blah’s blog).

I don’t know Marty and therefore can’t pass an opinion of what kind of a person he is. I’ll have to take your word that he’s a good person. My hope is that he’ll learn from this and do something positive for the community.

]]> By: Paul Hartman http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Paul Hartman Tue, 12 Jul 2005 15:35:41 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/?p=189#comment-342 This is in response to the comment. I worked with Marty Heidgen and he was NOT one who was reckless and careless. He did NOT have DUI's in 3 states. It was one in his hometown of Arkansas and he wasn't convicted of it. Marty is a responsible person and I know his actions on that fateful night are not to be downplayed in anyway. Should he have been drinking and driving? NO. Should someone have taken the keys away from him? YES. I know right now he wishes that it was him who would have lost his life instead of the driver and the little girl to lessen the strain he has put on the families and the community as a whole. Was it reckless or negligent, or even premeditated? That is truly the question. Did he intend to get in his car and cause harm to himself and others? Was it his sole purpose to get on the highway going the wrong way? I know that area of Long Island and even during the day, at lunch time if you are not from the area you can get on the highway and go the wrong way. The signs are horrible, and the only way you will know you are going the wrong way is that you will see cars coming at you. At that time of night when the accident occurred there aren't that many cars to alert you that you are headed in the wrong direction. Marty just moved here to NYC and the accident was out by Freeport, Marty lived in Valley Stream and I'm sure with the level of intoxication coupled with not being familiar with the area he was suffice to say confused. In no way do I condone his actions. He will have to live with this for the rest of his life, and believe me HE WILL. So giving a 24 yr old 10 years in a penitentiary with murderers and killers and rapists and just plain evil people who have intentionally caused bodily harm to their victims is absolutely rediculous! All for something solely based on the fact that you feel it needs to be done b/c of what "could have" happened to you years ago is moot. Peace and love to all families involved. Remember, kiss and hug your children every single day and tell them you love them. We all fall down, but the pain is a little less when we have someone to pick us up. This is in response to the comment. I worked with Marty Heidgen and he was NOT one who was reckless and careless. He did NOT have DUI’s in 3 states. It was one in his hometown of Arkansas and he wasn’t convicted of it. Marty is a responsible person and I know his actions on that fateful night are not to be downplayed in anyway. Should he have been drinking and driving? NO. Should someone have taken the keys away from him? YES. I know right now he wishes that it was him who would have lost his life instead of the driver and the little girl to lessen the strain he has put on the families and the community as a whole. Was it reckless or negligent, or even premeditated? That is truly the question. Did he intend to get in his car and cause harm to himself and others? Was it his sole purpose to get on the highway going the wrong way? I know that area of Long Island and even during the day, at lunch time if you are not from the area you can get on the highway and go the wrong way. The signs are horrible, and the only way you will know you are going the wrong way is that you will see cars coming at you. At that time of night when the accident occurred there aren’t that many cars to alert you that you are headed in the wrong direction. Marty just moved here to NYC and the accident was out by Freeport, Marty lived in Valley Stream and I’m sure with the level of intoxication coupled with not being familiar with the area he was suffice to say confused. In no way do I condone his actions. He will have to live with this for the rest of his life, and believe me HE WILL. So giving a 24 yr old 10 years in a penitentiary with murderers and killers and rapists and just plain evil people who have intentionally caused bodily harm to their victims is absolutely rediculous! All for something solely based on the fact that you feel it needs to be done b/c of what “could have” happened to you years ago is moot. Peace and love to all families involved. Remember, kiss and hug your children every single day and tell them you love them. We all fall down, but the pain is a little less when we have someone to pick us up.

]]> By: blahblahfreakingblah http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/2005/07/07/drunk-driving-a-persistent-problem-in-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-341 blahblahfreakingblah Fri, 08 Jul 2005 02:13:20 +0000 http://www.deborahwoehr.com/blog/?p=189#comment-341 Thank you for writing this after reading my posts about Katie. I agree with you and I thank you for helping spread the word. Thank you for writing this after reading my posts about Katie. I agree with you and I thank you for helping spread the word.

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