Summary: A Drunken Ride

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A Drunken Ride The article, “A Drunken Ride” brings to light many questions about the legal system of our country and its apparent leniency. In the article, a boy makes the decision to drive intoxicated with four other friends in his vehicle. As the night progresses he ends up in a collision and as a result, many people loose their lives. One of the biggest issues here is to what end do we need to punish our children when they make mistakes. Are their minds still open to change? Are they able to recognize that they made a mistake and make amends, or do they need to be punished long into their adult life for a mistake that was made while the law still considered them unable to make decisions for themselves? The law does not…show more content…
There were a total of eight people in the SUV, including the driver. All seven passengers got into the vehicle willingly, knowing that the driver himself was intoxicated. Does this make them in any way to blame for their demise? All but one person were ejected from the vehicle upon the impact, which more than likely implicated them of not wearing a seat belt. Does this affect their share of the blame? Would they still be alive had they been wearing a restraint? There was one person who managed to remain in the vehicle afterwards, and physically, he only suffered a broken ankle. Emotionally, the cost may never be totally…show more content…
There is absolutely no way that Baxter could ever make up for the wrongs that he committed that fateful night. How, then, should he be punished? He was a teenager when it happened, but at an age where a person is expected to act more mature and responsible in order to prepare them for when they come of age. So what is a fair and just punishment for the boy? The incident happened on the evening of September 13, and at the end of the month, Baxter returned to school at his parents urging. Was this fair? Was it fair that Baxter was able to attend school events, sports games and the likes while others were in graves because of his actions? In the end, he was charged with twenty counts of vehicular manslaughter, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, and two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. The punishment? He was found delinquent and sentences to a stay at a rehabilitation center beginning December 23, community service upon his release and a suspension on his driver’s license for an unspecified period of time. He was also placed under court jurisdiction until he turned
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