RE: Principles and Predictions
A drunk driver does not pose an immediate threat to you unless they are headed toward you with their car. Stopping them would only be self-defence if they were about to hit you. I'm not supporting drunk driving but, if someone makes the decision to drive drunk and makes it home without incident, there was no harm done. The real problem is they may not have the mental ability to make the right decision because of the alcohol and should be stopped because of that, with no penalty. Just send them home safely. Not because they "may" hurt somebody. Fining someone and sending them to prison because they were using the only drug they were allowed to use is just hypocritical. Especially, if that drug takes away your ability to make proper decisions.
Again, you're claiming you can only use self-defense when it's already too late (e.g. a car's careening towards you.) This is analogous to having someone point a gun at your head, but you don't do anything defend yourself until after he's pulled the trigger. After all if he's just pointing a gun at you and then doesn't pull the trigger no harm was done.
Not the same thing. If someone points a gun at you, they are threatening your life directly. Someone driving drunk two streets over does not pose an immediate threat to your life.
Am I allowed to protect anyone else in your world? For instance if I see someone pointing a gun at the back of someone else's head?
ran out of replies so i'll reply to this one. I'm not sure what you are getting at.
Of course you are. And, you should try and stop someone that is driving drunk. But you don't have the right to imprison or fine them for doing so. How can you give that right to a cop?Why don't I have the right to imprison someone who's about to shoot another person in the head? What do I have the right to do? Kill them to prevent a murder? Beat them up? Shout a useless warning?
Furthermore, why are you deciding what rights I have in terms of defending myself or others in the first place?
@telos , I already said drunk driving is not the same as pointing a gun at someone's head. I said you don't have the right to imprison someone for drunk driving. If you think you do, go "arrest" a drunk driver yourself and lock him up in your basement. See how far that gets you.
I agree with everything you've said, up until the very end here. No drug takes away a person's ability to make proper decisions. Also, the person CHOSE to take that drug, so they would still be responsible for their behavior even if their reaction time and inhibitions were... inhibited.
Actually most illicit drugs do exactly that... Which is why you should plan responsibly ahead of time.
Sure, a drunk persons ability to make the right choice is affected. They may know it's still wrong but might just say "Fuck it" and do it anyway. That is the alcohol affecting you. Yes they would still be responsible if someone dies. But, if they make it home safe with no incident, what is the harm? They made a choice and, although not the right one, didn't cause harm to anyone.
Drunk driving is a problem for sure but a cop should just be getting that person home safe if they get caught. Imprisoning them is not the solution. Maybe making taxis and uber more available instead of banning them would help too.