DWI cases are happening every day in Mecklenburg County. Although laws against DWI are tough, and there is so much publicity about DWI laws and punishment, there are still DWI arrests all the time. Why is this so? There are probably many reasons, but we will look at just a couple.
It is simply so easy to get caught. Officers in Charlotte are always on the lookout for people exhibiting signs of impaired driving. They are taught to look for several things, including weaving, swerving, traveling too slowly, remaining stopped at a stoplight after it has turned green, and causing an accident, among others. When people are driving, they are bound to commit some sort of traffic offense at one point or another. These mistakes may draw the attention of the police, and if a person has been drinking, a DWI can result.
The second reason that there are a constant number of DWI arrests is that there are a lot of “drinking scenes” in Charlotte. There are plenty of places for people to get into trouble. There are numerous bars and restaurants in the Queen City, as well as concert venues, sporting arenas, and other attractions. With so many opportunities to drink, it is no wonder that there are so many DWIs.
Let’s face it, when most people go out for drinks, the chance of getting a DWI is one of the last things on their mind. Thus, increasing the penalties seems to have little effect on the number of people who actually commit DWI. This can also be shown through repeat offenders. When a person convicted of DWI, most of the time, they do not have any other problems with a subsequent DWI. However, some people have a long history of DWI convictions that stretches over multiple years. Obviously, the tightening laws have not had their intended effect for some people. Perhaps it would be more effective to give alcohol education, potentially during school. However, this is unlikely, as the plan at this point seems to be to focus on enforcement and punishment. Unfortunately, the plan does not appear to be working. Only time will tell if the rate of DWI arrests will stay the same, decrease, or increase over the next few years. In the meantime, don’t hold your breath. Whether the number of arrests goes up or down, you can be sure that there are people who are exposing themselves to potential legal trouble by driving after having a drink.
