Is this old news? Detroit councilman charged under Michigan's super drunk law

[Dan Wesson]

Passed out on the X-way??!!

http://www.freep.com/article/2014082...I-Scott-Benson

[sumas]

New news to me. Assuming, he pleads guilty, the penalties seem fair except for the jail time. Seems to me an in-house rehab center at his expense would be more productive and cost the state nothing.

[ismoakrack]

^^ Disagree. .244 is indeed super drunk. That is scary. Not to sound like a grandma, but I could have killed someone, or himself. And awesome he's on the city council. Same old bullshit.

[Dan Wesson]

^^ Disagree. .244 is indeed super drunk. That is scary. Not to sound like a grandma, but I could have killed someone, or himself. And awesome he's on the city council. Same old bullshit.

Hmmmm....

Mining some info, ripped this from Clemson Redfern Health Center.

==================================================
BAC Effects

Even small amounts of alcohol in the system affect judgment and coordination. Increased amounts affect the body and mind more dramatically. Large amounts can kill.
The following approximate effects of different levels of blood alcohol concentration [[BAC) are estimates only. Individual reactions vary, sometimes widely.

• BAC .02 percent to .04 percent
  You may feel mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded. Your inhibitions are slightly loosened, and whatever mood you were in before you started drinking may be mildly intensified.
• BAC .05 percent to .07 percent
  You may feel warm and relaxed. If you’re the shy type when you’re sober, you would become more outgoing. Your behavior may become exaggerated, making you talk louder or faster or act bolder than usual. Emotions are intensified, so your good moods are better and your bad moods are worse. You may also feel a mild sense of euphoria.
• BAC .08 percent to .09 percent
  You may believe you’re functioning better than you actually are. At this level, you may start to slur your speech. Your sense of balance is probably off, and your motor skills are starting to become impaired. Your ability to see and hear clearly is diminished. Your judgment is being affected, so it’s difficult for you to decide whether or not to continue drinking. Your ability to evaluate sexual situations is impaired. People may jokingly refer to this state of mind as “beer goggles,” but this blood alcohol concentration can have serious repercussions.
• BAC .10 percent to .12 percent
  At this level you lack coordination and balance. Your motor skills are markedly impaired, as are your judgment and memory. You probably don’t remember how many drinks you’ve had. Emotions are exaggerated, and some people become loud, aggressive or belligerent. Men may have trouble getting an erection when their blood alcohol concentration is this high.
• BAC .14 percent to .17 percent
  Your euphoric feelings may give way to unpleasant feelings. You have difficulty talking, walking or even standing up. Your judgment and perception are severely impaired. You may become more aggressive, and are at increased risk of accidentally injuring yourself or others. This is the point when you may experience a blackout.
• BAC .20 percent
  You may feel confused, dazed or otherwise disoriented. You need help to stand up or walk. If you hurt yourself at this point, you probably won’t realize it because you won’t feel pain. Even if you are aware that you’ve injured yourself, you probably won’t do anything about it. At this point you may experience nausea and start vomiting. Your gag reflex is impaired, so you could choke if you throw up. Since blackouts are likely at this level, you may not remember any of this.
• BAC .25 percent
  All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. You’re emotionally numb. There’s an increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falling or other accidents.
• BAC .30 percent
  You’re probably in a stupor. You have little comprehension of where you are or what’s really going on around you. You may suddenly pass out and be difficult to awaken.
• BAC .35 percent
  This blood alcohol concentration is similar to the physical effects of surgical anesthesia. You may stop breathing.
• BAC .40 percent to .50 percent
  You are probably in a coma. The nerve centers controlling your heartbeat and respiration are slowing down, and it’s a miracle if you survive.

Scientists use the term “lethal dose” [[LD) to describe the blood alcohol concentration that produces death from alcohol poisoning in half the population. Most authorities agree that BACs in the 0.40 percent to 0.50 percent range meet the requirement. Since studies of lethal dosage cannot be empirically tested in the laboratory, scientists estimate the LD for alcohol from post-mortem cases in which alcohol poisoning was the primary cause of death. Cases of fatal overdoses from alcohol at BACs lower than 0.40 percent have been documented, as have cases of survivors at BACs higher than 0.50 percent. To place this in perspective, a 100-pound woman or man who consumed nine to 10 standard drinks in less than one hour would be in the lethal dose range.

[EastsideAl]

Passed out on the X-way??!!

Well, actually on the service drive apparently.

Michigan is pretty damn soft on drunk driving. Even a ridiculous blood alcohol like this guy had only gets you 6 points. In most states now you get an automatic suspension with any DUI conviction. When I lived in New York it was 6 months for the first offense [[at a .08 level). In a lot of places a judge would likely just pull your license entirely for trying to drive as crazy drunk as that and passing out at the wheel.

[Danny]

Oh Oh! Another crooked Detroit city councilman. It's time for a recall.

[FormerDetroiter]

Oh Oh! Another crooked Detroit city councilman. It's time for a recall.

Why bother his replacement might end up being worse.

[Hypestyles]

re: drunk driving-- it's reckless, it's idiotic, it's deserving of sanctions, but is it "corrupt"? Did he attempt to bribe the arresting officer? Did he try to pull a VIP-status pitch?

[Honky Tonk]

re: drunk driving-- it's reckless, it's idiotic, it's deserving of sanctions, but is it "corrupt"? Did he attempt to bribe the arresting officer? Did he try to pull a VIP-status pitch?

Totally agree.

[Scottathew]

re: drunk driving-- it's reckless, it's idiotic, it's deserving of sanctions, but is it "corrupt"? Did he attempt to bribe the arresting officer? Did he try to pull a VIP-status pitch?

I'd say morally bankrupt.

[Wesley Mouch]

Oh Oh! Another crooked Detroit city councilman. It's time for a recall.

Nah, let this go -- and let's all fight a barn on the Detroit GPP border. That's a real problem.

[poobert]

Terrible. This city is infested with amoral criminals, from top to bottom. There is no hope for this city except to escape it.

[canuck]

Terrible. This city is infested with amoral criminals, from top to bottom. There is no hope for this city except to escape it.

Boopert, You're a zoober guy. Tell 'em the way it is man.

Something about your logic tells me you are either a very straight arrow Jehovah's Witness in a white shirt and pen in pocket, or you are walking around in a drungen zdupor. Which is it?

[Honky Tonk]

Nah, let this go -- and let's all fight a barn on the Detroit GPP border. That's a real problem.

..........

[motz]

Nah, let this go -- and let's all fight a barn on the Detroit GPP border. That's a real problem.

Yep, focusing on more than one issue might confuse those poor Detroiters. Better let them focus on the barn so they still have time to protest that water is a basic human right, am I rite?