Know Your Limit
Editor:
I agree with your decision to exercise restraint regarding the release of immaterial and prejudicial information regarding an electoral candidate (“Town Dandy,” June 10). Your argument was well reasoned and well expressed.
My only qualm with your column is the phrase “double the legal limit” in the first graph. This perpetuates the myth that the “legal limit’ for a driver’s blood alcohol is .08 percent. In fact, in California the legal limit is 0.0. Read California Vehicle Code section 23152 (a) and (b). The (b) section refers to .08 - if proved, it requires the DMV to suspend a driver license.
The (a) section includes the words “under the influence,” and that condition can occur at very low BAC for some people. What is the proof of “influence?” Bad driving, crashes, poor performance during field sobriety tests. A low-blow may allow a driver to successfully plea to VC 23103.5, the so-called “wet reckless.”
In fact, a driver can be charged with a felony (VC 23153) with a very low BAC if there is a crash and there occurs a consequent injury (even complaint of pain) to any involved party except the driver with the detectable alcohol. Testing equipment can detect alcohol at .01 percent. Alcohol is considered a primary collision factor in a crash.
Please help to squash the myth that a couple of drinks - about .08 for some people - is within a legal limit.
Ted Ostrow, Fortuna
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THREE Comments
Comment / By Mitch / June 17, 7:16 a.m.
Congratulations to the Journal. You’ve found someone from outside the fifth district to agree with your reasoning that fifth district voters should not be provided with public information about our candidates.
Mr. Ostrow, like your editor, is as wrong as wrong can be.
If a candidate is found to like smearing butterscotch over himself, your editors’ argument would be reasonable.
But no, the argument is not just wrong but completely wrong when it is applied to a candidate who has endangered lives, been arrested for it, failed to make his court appearance, and declined to tell the public during the five months that all this was public record.
I’d have expected better from the Journal. Hell, I’d have expected better from Pravda. Live and learn.
Comment / By brian / June 17, 9:26 a.m.
Oh the humanity. If you don’t like the NCJ, then don’t read NCJ. Or start your own paper.
Comment / By Mitch / June 17, 3:36 p.m.
Your point being?