I am going to be busy with a project for several days so I thought I would add an extra post for the weekend. I also decided to post because so many of you have contacted me about this drunk driving incident. I know "Matt" from Seymour wrote that he thought the whole legal process with DWI’s is too lenient. I sort of agree, but as you know, people are entitled to Due Process under our Constitution. That is why the driver’s license is not taken away on the spot.

If you remember the Michael Badnarik posts about Civil Liberties that I ran under the "Featured Video" section of the blog, there was a section where Badnarik spoke about Due Process and that people have the right to this protection because Americans cannot be deprived of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

This right also extends to search and seizures. i.e. when law enforcement arrests a person for alleged drug dealing or drug possession, if the suspect is in their car, the police usually impound or seize the car on the spot. This is a sticky situation, as Badnarik pointed out, because technically, that tactic is unconstitutional. An American citizen MUST have his or her due process rights afforded to them before they can be deprived of property. So take note of that.

Now I was going to name this post "Different Strokes for Different Folks" because that really is the topic. Speaking of DWI, when I was younger, I knew a man whom people called "The General."

He drove a BIG yellow Cadillac. He was nice guy, but there was ONE problem, he was intoxicated most of the time his eyes were open.

If "The General" called and said he was coming by to visit, you always knew when he arrived–you would hear the sound of metal crunching and glass shattering. Yes, there were VERY FEW times when "The General" drove his car, it did not end up smashing or crashing into some innocent persons vehicle or property or both.

I remember "The General’s" favorite saying: "It’s just another piece of metal."

Well you know, people that were around The General laughed and joked about it in front of him, but behind the scenes people knew he had a big DRINKING problem. This man must have smashed that Cadillac at least a dozen times in the several years I knew him. There was no way in hell, you could drink "The General" under the table and believe me, I knew some HEAVY drinkers in my day. Hence the nickname.

I don’t know how people could admire this person, but they did. I didn’t. What got me even more upset was the fact that he GOT AWAY with countless drunk driving accidents. Why? Because his father was in law enforcement. Now I know a lot of you will say that should not matter and it did not matter in your circumstance. But unfortunately in "The General’s" case, IT DID.

I mean these events happened in the 70’s when there was not such an outcry and awareness against DWI as there is today. But even so, the laws still are not as strict as they should be.

I did contact the Cheshire Police Chief today and he seemed concerned but the law still ties the hands.

And I am hoping that unlike the case of "The General" this other person because of his supposed association with jurisprudence, will not be treated lightly.

I really believed this person should have been jailed until his trial date, taking into consideration this person MAY have committed two DWI offenses within a month, if this IS the SAME person.

"Oh we can’t hold him until the trial date" said the Chief. Well that is too bad. You know why? Because this person might just be driving again as we speak. What will it take, another innocent death before someone gets the message.

Back to "The General." He never got the message and neither did the authority.

I remember the day "The General" was driving down Park Avenue in Bridgeport by Sacred Heart University. This was over 30 years ago, but still, I remember getting a call from one of my relatives who told me that they were hanging curtains in their house on the corner of Park Avenue and Old Town Road in Bridgeport,

There was also a four way intersection and a traffic signal. Well, she told me, and I will always remember what she said, that she had no sooner gotten down off the step stool with my uncle from hanging curtains in their living room, when all of a sudden–CRASH!!! A yellow Cadillac had lost control ran the red light and smashed right through their living room. The crash was so violent that the house was literally KNOCKED off its foundation!! GUESS WHO!!! YEP!!

Another time, "The General" was going down Park Avenue again, lost control and this time, crashed into Sacred Heart University for God’s sake. Another time, he hit a carload of people head on. In God’s name I don’t know how this man NEVER killed anyone–it was a miracle.

I lost contact with "The General" after that, but I heard several years ago, he was still alive and living somewhere down South. God help them!!

This man NEVER got arrested, never even got a ticket, never went to court. I wonder what would have happened if he did not have the connections he had then. Different Strokes for Different Folks? I wonder.