Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Legal Drunk Driving

That’s one way to approach the issue.

The County Kerry Council in southwest Ireland passed a measure on Monday that allows rural drivers to legally drive while under the influence of alcohol.

The council voted 5-3 – with 12 absent and 7 abstaining – to issue special permits to individuals who live in rural areas and wish to drive home on remote countryside roads after consuming two to three alcoholic beverages. The council will have to rely on Justice Minister Alan Shatter to implement the changes to current drinking and driving laws by issuing special permits.

Councilor and County Kerry pub owner Danny Healy-Rae introduced the bill, arguing that citizens driving while intoxicated in rural areas have never killed anyone. He defended the measure by asserting that it would prevent loneliness and reduce the risk of suicides among those who live in Ireland’s backcountry.

“A lot of these people are living in isolated rural areas where there’s no public transport of any kind, and they end up at home looking at the four walls, night in and night out, because they don’t want to take the risk of losing their license,” Healy-Rae told TheJournal.ie.

(3) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2048 hrs
Foreign Affairs + Law

  1. The Wisconsin Tavern League just drooled.

    Posted by Northern Pike on January 24, 2013 at 1511 hrs


  2. The pub in Ireland is a social gathering place especially for the rural folk, besides the farmers being afraid, which is bad enough, the pubs are closing left and right, making it harder for these poor b*astards to get out. The old traditions are being controlled out of business by the socialist wave, I say thank God some one is giving these rural guys a break.
    Cheers,
    Brian.

    Posted by Brian on February 04, 2013 at 1326 hrs


  3. We all know the consequences of drunk driving, it could lead to fatal accidents. I understand that rural areas are far different from urbanized places but this is way better than legalizing harmful drugs.

    Posted by Brett on February 07, 2013 at 2247 hrs


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