Making drunks pay

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 545, 19 July 1994, Page 4

Making drunks pay

• What a tragic and needless accident in Auckland when the fireman was killed while attending a previous fatal accident. According to the news reports the offender had allegedly been drinking prior to the accident and a truck driver who have been following him for some time had asked the police to stop the man. Unfortunately this tragedy occurred before the police could stop him. If it is true that the offender broke his leg, then I hope that when he was taken to hospital he was not given priority and was made to wait until all scheduled surgeries had been completed. I would be absolutely furious if I was waiting in A. & E. with a very ill child with a severe asthmatic attack (which can be life threatening) or any other emergency, when a drunkdriver was brought in and give priority treatment Make these drunk drivers wait and suffer pain and give them time to reflect on what they have done, although I don' t think it would make any difference at all, they will just do it again. It is probably not feasible but wouldn't it be great if these drunk drivers, provided they ave been tested and proved positive, are made to pay for any emergency operation before they were operated on. Throughout the country these drunk drivers who have injuries caused by their own dri ving and have to be treated in hospital are taking precedence over others requiring medical treatment. Ban these drivers for life, make sure that they are never allowed to own a vehicle again and make them pay for expenses involved. If they have any assets, get court orders to make sure that these assets are sold and the money put towards the victim and/or families' and medical expenses.

Faith

Wise