80 years old and doing 70 mph / 115kph in a residential area. What the fuck. Under no circumstances should she have been left with her license. She's a danger to society.
Murder is illegal unless committed with a car. In my country we have "vehicle murder" which carries a shorter sentence than a 1st degree voluntary murder but it's still ≈10 years behind bars. The US should do something similar
We do sort of have that. It's called manslaughter. Under normal circumstances, this woman would have been charged with several counts of manslaughter and would be in prison with her license revoked.
But she didn't plead guilty, according to the article. She pleded 'no-contest' so she didn't admit guilt, just stopped defending herself after she heard that she isn't going to be punished anyway.
She just walked away after the judge said she can do that without consequences.
Pleading guilty would have at least demonstrated some remorse.
I'd rather forgive someone that said "Sorry, I did something bad, and learn from it" then someone that just first say "I didn't do it." and then when informed that they aren't going to be punished say "Whatever." and walk away.
So, she not pleading guilty and still not getting punished, while at fault is more rediculus to me.
If the actual crime was driving when she’s no longer capable, then killing people, any justice needs to start with no longer driving. Plus, aren’t the people not taking her license also complicit with letting her drive when she’s is no longer capable?
no legal definition of "murder" applies to this. if you're going to preach to the choir, at least don't insult our intelligence. probably the word you are looking for is "homicide".
The threshold is way higher for revocation. You have to do something absolutely wild for that to happen, such as pull off of a road without a shoulder and into a parking lot while the police are trying to stop you
old people and people with certain medical conditions should be re-tested at various stages for motor skills and diving ability. they're constantly a danger with their awful depth perception, reaction time, motor skills, and they slow traffic lending to already compounding traffic issues. and I am certain nothing gets done on that front because it's the same old people who are in charge of deciding such laws and lord forbid they do the right thing even if there are inconveniences.
these fucking zombies will be on a laundry list of heavy meds then throw a fit when you suggest they're unfit for driving, fuck outta here
Yeah. One of many reasons why car-centric infrastructure is a problem. It creates a world where If you can't drive you're going to deal with some combination of: significantly less independance, exorbitant amounts of money spent in Ubers/taxis/ect., or a severely limited access to society. Unless you're obscenely wealthy losing the ability to drive significantly lowers your quality of life and ability to support yourself, forcing lots of people behind a wheel even though they really shouldn't be there.
Running into a stationary object that is NOT on the roadway should be an immediate re-test of driving skills. People in the U.S. and elsewhere constantly "forget" that they are driving a 3,000-pound or heavier killing machine. The lives lost is just abhorrent. This woman is getting off easy because of her age is what I see. After her period of probation when she will not be allowed to drive, she should be required to take driving lessons and re-test if she wants her drivers license reinstated. Sounds to me like she can afford it. I hope the surviving family members sue her into oblivion. Killing 4 people not in the roadway with a motor vehicle shows me a lack of respect for the dangers of driving.
Edit: finding it difficult to get raw numbers but I did come across this little nugget:
BMWs are coveted cars, but their owners earned the particularly poor distinction of being most likely to drive under the influence. “BMW drivers had 3.13 DUIs per 1,000 drivers
I think I would curate a bulletproof alibi... and then (definitely not😏😏) go and get my revenge in the middle of the night!
If the justice system lets me down in such a blatant manner then it's time to (definitely not 😏😏) take matters in to my own hands.
A no-contest plea indicates that while a criminal defendant does not admit guilt, they waive their right to a trial and allow the court to treat them as if they were guilty for the purposes of sentencing.
Honestly, what the fuck is that? Shouldn't even be a thing.
I don't really see that it matters. Not so much that it's worth tying up the courts with a bunch of unnecessary trials just because some people are too egotistical to admit fault.
40 Comments
ViatorOmnium@piefed.social · 129 pts · 186d
What remorse, she didn't even plead guilty.
And I wonder how much the victims being Brazilian impacted the sentence.
edgarde@piefed.social · 71 pts · 186d
They were waiting at a bus shelter. She transferred millions of dollars to family members to avoid financial penalties.
I am confident an economic disparity impacted the sentence.
Marthirial@lemmy.world · 46 pts · 186d
victims being poor impacted the sentence.
Good lawyers would have ripped a new asshole to the whole justice system.
khannie@lemmy.world · 92 pts · 186d
80 years old and doing 70 mph / 115kph in a residential area. What the fuck. Under no circumstances should she have been left with her license. She's a danger to society.
tired_n_bored@lemmy.world · 66 pts · 186d
Murder is illegal unless committed with a car. In my country we have "vehicle murder" which carries a shorter sentence than a 1st degree voluntary murder but it's still ≈10 years behind bars. The US should do something similar
Xenny@lemmy.world · 46 pts · 186d
We do sort of have that. It's called manslaughter. Under normal circumstances, this woman would have been charged with several counts of manslaughter and would be in prison with her license revoked.
Warl0k3@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 186d
She was charged with 4 counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and she pled guilty; she just isn't being punished.
cmhe@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 186d
But she didn't plead guilty, according to the article. She pleded 'no-contest' so she didn't admit guilt, just stopped defending herself after she heard that she isn't going to be punished anyway.
She just walked away after the judge said she can do that without consequences.
Warl0k3@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 186d
You're right, I misread - still ridiculous but less so. Thank you!
cmhe@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 186d
Pleading guilty would have at least demonstrated some remorse.
I'd rather forgive someone that said "Sorry, I did something bad, and learn from it" then someone that just first say "I didn't do it." and then when informed that they aren't going to be punished say "Whatever." and walk away.
So, she not pleading guilty and still not getting punished, while at fault is more rediculus to me.
Warl0k3@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
You know that's a damn good point. The what-the-fuck just doesn't stop.
halcyoncmdr@piefed.social · 17 pts · 186d
This is the type of situation that mandatory minimum sentences are meant for.
AA5B@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 186d
At her age that would be a life sentence.
If the actual crime was driving when she’s no longer capable, then killing people, any justice needs to start with no longer driving. Plus, aren’t the people not taking her license also complicit with letting her drive when she’s is no longer capable?
khannie@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 186d
Fully agree. Discretion needs to be removed from those who leave this kind of thing unpunished.
I believe where I live those mandatory sentences are merely guidelines for judges though. Their word is law.
jerkface@lemmy.ca · -17 pts · 186d
no legal definition of "murder" applies to this. if you're going to preach to the choir, at least don't insult our intelligence. probably the word you are looking for is "homicide".
tired_n_bored@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 186d
Where did I insult you?
Lycist@lemmy.world · 50 pts · 186d
Woman ran a stopsign, hit my uncle who was on a scooter. My uncle died, brains splattered all over the road.
She didn't even get a ticket.
ODuffer@lemmy.world · 37 pts · 186d
I think the threshold for licence removal is two families
Bunitonito@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 186d
The threshold is way higher for revocation. You have to do something absolutely wild for that to happen, such as pull off of a road without a shoulder and into a parking lot while the police are trying to stop you
dust_accelerator@discuss.tchncs.de · 21 pts · 186d
When the system fails, delivering justice becomes a duty of the people.
::: spoiler of course In Minecraft :::
MagnificentSteiner@lemmy.zip · 20 pts · 186d
Protected because she's rich it seems. Disgusting.
aeration1217@lemmy.org · 17 pts · 186d
old people and people with certain medical conditions should be re-tested at various stages for motor skills and diving ability. they're constantly a danger with their awful depth perception, reaction time, motor skills, and they slow traffic lending to already compounding traffic issues. and I am certain nothing gets done on that front because it's the same old people who are in charge of deciding such laws and lord forbid they do the right thing even if there are inconveniences.
these fucking zombies will be on a laundry list of heavy meds then throw a fit when you suggest they're unfit for driving, fuck outta here
OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 186d
Yeah. One of many reasons why car-centric infrastructure is a problem. It creates a world where If you can't drive you're going to deal with some combination of: significantly less independance, exorbitant amounts of money spent in Ubers/taxis/ect., or a severely limited access to society. Unless you're obscenely wealthy losing the ability to drive significantly lowers your quality of life and ability to support yourself, forcing lots of people behind a wheel even though they really shouldn't be there.
aeration1217@lemmy.org · 3 pts · 186d
I have no counterpoint or immediate solution to offer and I am glad you covered the greater picture. It sucks.
bassgirl09@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 186d
Running into a stationary object that is NOT on the roadway should be an immediate re-test of driving skills. People in the U.S. and elsewhere constantly "forget" that they are driving a 3,000-pound or heavier killing machine. The lives lost is just abhorrent. This woman is getting off easy because of her age is what I see. After her period of probation when she will not be allowed to drive, she should be required to take driving lessons and re-test if she wants her drivers license reinstated. Sounds to me like she can afford it. I hope the surviving family members sue her into oblivion. Killing 4 people not in the roadway with a motor vehicle shows me a lack of respect for the dangers of driving.
atro_city@fedia.io · 14 pts · 186d
You don't understand, walker, cars have more right than you do. It's their fault for not being born as the advanced race of cars.
olafurp@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 186d
It's a car eat car world
waterSticksToMyBalls@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 186d
What an absolute failure of a judge. Hopefully the family's relatives avenge them.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 9 pts · 186d
im not surprised its a mercedes driver. worst than bmw drivers, they often try to pull insurance fraud scams.
khannie@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 186d
Ah c'mon now. That's going too far.
I'd love to know what the stats are.
Edit: finding it difficult to get raw numbers but I did come across this little nugget:
Link.
wolfeh@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 186d
In the US, if my memory serves me correctly, that coveted title of "Most likely to be DUI" belongs to Dodge Ram drivers.
If it turned out to be BMWs, though, I wouldn't exactly be surprised. 😁
khannie@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 186d
Haha. In the linked article RAM drivers are the most likely to kill so you nearly got the nail on the head.
Marlon_Fraggle@lemmy.org · 1 pts · 186d
HubertManne@piefed.social · 9 pts · 186d
yup. completely legal to kill someone by car unless its ice as they will shoot you dead just for drivng in the same general area as them.
Devial@discuss.online · 9 pts · 185d
boaratio@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 186d
My nephew had his truck destroyed while it was parked on the street by some monster in a BMW who was doing 130+ in a 35mph zone.
Hawke@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 186d
Nice: two birds with one stone.
D_C@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 186d
I think I would curate a bulletproof alibi... and then (definitely not😏😏) go and get my revenge in the middle of the night!
If the justice system lets me down in such a blatant manner then it's time to (definitely not 😏😏) take matters in to my own hands.
chunes@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 186d
Honestly, what the fuck is that? Shouldn't even be a thing.
Bookmeat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 186d
This saves society all lot of time and money. If it works as expected.
chunes@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 186d
My point is if you're going to accept guilty consequences, you shouldn't be allowed to not admit guilt.
OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 186d
I don't really see that it matters. Not so much that it's worth tying up the courts with a bunch of unnecessary trials just because some people are too egotistical to admit fault.