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Forum: Polls
Thread (Discussion): Poll 1036 - Would you like the United States government to implement a national sex offender registry?
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Message 127547 (In Reply to Message 127410)
DUI death fueling calls for database
Posted by Navigatr1
on Feb 19, 2004 09:58 AM | Also by Navigatr1
| Gender: N/A,
Age Bracket: N/A,
State: N/A,
Country: United States |
Posted on Wed, Feb. 18, 2004
SAFETY
DUI death fueling calls for database
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/7977325.htm
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
GULFPORT - DUI fatality arrest
James T. Thomas Sr., 43, of Gulfport, remains in custody on charges resulting from the death of his daughter, Jade. The 9-year-old died in a crash Saturday night in Lafourche Parish, La. Details:
Charges: 10th offense driving while under the influence with child endangerment, negligent homicide, negligent injuring, driving with a suspended license and improper lane usage.
Detention: Bond at Lafourche Parish jail in Thibodaux, La., set at $350,000. However, he's being held without bond on a probation violation involving a drunken driving conviction.
- LOUISIANA STATE POLICE
A national registry could help identify repeat offenders such as a Gulfport man suspected of being intoxicated in a crash that killed his 9-year-old daughter.
Authorities believe that James T. Thomas Sr. has at least 11 drunken driving convictions in several states including Mississippi. Police, prosecutors and judges had no way of knowing about the other charges until Thomas wrecked his vehicle Saturday night in Lafourche Parish, La., killing his daughter, Jade, and injuring his 8-year-old son.
The FBI maintains a criminal records database for law enforcement agencies. However, the system, known as the National Crime Information Center, or NCIC, is used primarily in apprehending fugitives, locating missing persons and stolen property. NCIC is not a repository for lower-level charges, such as DUIs, which are classified as misdemeanors.
Police and public safety groups support the creation of a national database for DUIs, saying it would identify habitual offenders and lead to stiffer penalties.
On the other hand, states are reeling over federal intervention that threatens to withhold highway funding for those that don't lower their legal blood alcohol limit to .08 percent, said Beau Gex, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor.
Taylor was out of the country on business Tuesday.
"A national registry is a good idea," Gex said, "but unless all 50 states agreed to participate, it would be less effective. You would have to set standards and define how far back it would go."
U.S. Sen. Trent Lott and his spokesperson did not return calls for comment.
Police rely on state drivers' records and phone calls to other law enforcement agencies to identify prior DUI charges. In Mississippi, a third DUI arrest following two convictions in five years is a felony. In Louisiana, a third offense in a 10-year period is a felony.
In New Mexico, even the public has access to a statewide online drunken driver registry. The registry, unveiled in 2003, is similar to a sex offender registry, but drivers aren't required to register. DUI arrests and convictions are updated nightly, with records dating back to the 1970s.
New Mexico's system took three years to compile at a cost of $155,600, according to The Albuquerque Journal.
"A central repository for DUIs is the future of law enforcement," Barnes said. "We've got to be able to tap into other state's records."
Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the idea of a national database to include records from arrest to disposition in court. It's only a matter of time before it's a reality, said Wendy Hamilton, MADD's national executive director.
"We've got to get a better handle on these individuals who drive drunk," she said. "It needs to be looked at seriously in every state, and some states need to do a better job at their own tracking. With technology, there's no reason why we can't make these records available nationwide. It's very frustrating for police and prosecutors. It could save lives."
Robin Fitzgerald can be reached at 896-2307 or at rfitzgerald@sunherald.com.
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Message 127410
Why should it be limited to sex offenders?
Posted by Navigatr1
on Feb 16, 2004 11:01 AM | Also by Navigatr1
| Gender: N/A,
Age Bracket: N/A,
State: N/A,
Country: United States |
Thread
127095, admin, Feb 09, 2004 10:50 PM [Introduction]
127151, orolan, Feb 11, 2004 02:24 AM [What is a "National Registry"?]
127248, Silverthorne, Feb 12, 2004 06:55 AM
127369, dp1, Feb 15, 2004 04:27 PM [Orolan]
127431, orolan, Feb 17, 2004 02:06 AM [2 & 3]
127435, steve, Feb 17, 2004 03:16 AM
127517, orolan, Feb 18, 2004 07:47 PM [Steve]
127521, steve, Feb 18, 2004 08:25 PM
127552, orolan, Feb 19, 2004 03:58 PM
147548, kb2005, Mar 18, 2005 09:59 PM [[quote]An opinion that if...]
147674, orolan, Mar 20, 2005 04:23 AM [kb2005]
159897, ann018, Aug 27, 2005 10:27 PM [kb2005]
159896, ann018, Aug 27, 2005 10:14 PM [Steve]
127440, dp1, Feb 17, 2004 06:19 AM [That's Ridiculous]
127518, orolan, Feb 18, 2004 07:53 PM [DP1]
127522, dp1, Feb 18, 2004 08:28 PM [Just An Example]
127554, orolan, Feb 19, 2004 04:09 PM
127410, Navigatr1, Feb 16, 2004 11:01 AM [Why should it be limited to sex offenders?]
127424, marta, Feb 17, 2004 12:55 AM [Don't be absurd]
127433, orolan, Feb 17, 2004 02:12 AM
127488, marta, Feb 18, 2004 01:55 AM [Mimic]
127519, orolan, Feb 18, 2004 08:14 PM
127538, marta, Feb 19, 2004 01:40 AM [Hysteria, all right, but your...]
127557, orolan, Feb 19, 2004 04:20 PM
127585, marta, Feb 20, 2004 03:49 PM [Yeah right!]
127590, orolan, Feb 20, 2004 07:53 PM
127606, marta, Feb 21, 2004 01:43 AM [Oversimplifying]
127622, orolan, Feb 21, 2004 03:57 PM
127664, marta, Feb 22, 2004 07:40 PM [The poor c...]
127719, orolan, Feb 24, 2004 12:07 AM
127727, marta, Feb 24, 2004 02:19 AM
136360, wifey, Jun 21, 2004 04:41 PM [Registr...]
136368, steve, Jun 21, 2004 06:50 PM
139728, wifey, Sep 14, 2004 07:52 AM [L...]
147759, wifey, Mar 21, 2005 03:48 AM [N...]
159899, ann018, Aug 27, 2005 10:54 PM [Marta]
167009, june5, Nov 09, 2005 07:26 PM [What state?]
127478, Silverthorne, Feb 17, 2004 03:40 PM [Marta question]
127432, orolan, Feb 17, 2004 02:09 AM [NCIC]
127441, dp1, Feb 17, 2004 06:24 AM [NCIC]
147544, kb2005, Mar 18, 2005 09:30 PM [Heres why not to open NCIC to the gene...]
127477, Silverthorne, Feb 17, 2004 03:39 PM
127520, orolan, Feb 18, 2004 08:18 PM [Silver]
147763, wifey, Mar 21, 2005 04:04 AM [DUI/DWI Recidivism rates]
127547, Navigatr1, Feb 19, 2004 09:58 AM [DUI death fueling calls for database]
127558, orolan, Feb 19, 2004 04:23 PM
127578, Silverthorne, Feb 20, 2004 05:36 AM
147882, Navigatr1, Mar 23, 2005 05:35 AM [I agree, needs teeth]
127548, Rejected
132863, scarlett, May 07, 2004 11:12 AM
127820, twisted420, Feb 27, 2004 09:37 PM [I realy feal this should be done!!!]
128819, Silverthorne, Mar 18, 2004 02:02 AM [Question for Twisted]
147926, monkey4u, Mar 24, 2005 04:24 AM
159849, craigd, Aug 27, 2005 08:10 AM [yes there should]
159901, ann018, Aug 28, 2005 02:00 AM [craigd]
159960, ann018, Aug 28, 2005 04:43 PM [correction]
165596, momhelpingbyherself, Oct 27, 2005 02:53 PM [goverment offender registry]
167007, june5, Nov 09, 2005 07:22 PM [NO]
167036, orolan, Nov 10, 2005 02:40 AM
167038, anti, Nov 10, 2005 02:55 AM [yes...]
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