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School bus wrecks, kids injured ...
... driver charged with DWI..
It happened in Mecklenburg County this morning.
The Charlotte Observer reports.
The driver was hauled off to jail. I'm not sure she ought to get out.
Update: Police say alcohol was NOT involved. The driver was allegedly under the influence of prescription medication, according to the latest Observer story.
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Comments (9)
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Seems the story is a little vague. Is she being charged with DWI because prescription medication caused her to become intoxicated?
It would be interesting to know how long she's been driving a school bus too. She apparently has a clean record.
Must be more to the story.
Posted on March 10, 2009 11:33 AM
I'm updating with the prescription medication info. We've all been zonked out on meds at one time or other. They can have the same effect as alcohol.
Posted on March 10, 2009 11:38 AM
"We've all been zonked out on meds at one time or other. They can have the same effect as alcohol."-Doug
But were you driving a school bus? Read the label on the Rx bottle! And throw the book at him/her!
Mad Dog
Posted on March 10, 2009 12:10 PM
I wasn't trying to call you out - just trying to get a better feel.
She certainly should have been cognizant of the fact that any prescription medication that might jeopardize clarity could very well endanger others and she should have acted accordingly.
Devils advocate:
However, if the prescription was required - what is she to do? Particularly if she was required to take that medicine indefinitely - should she be expected to give up her job?
Posted on March 10, 2009 12:14 PM
The driver was hauled off to jail. I'm not sure she ought to get out.* Doug
Wow! You sound like a former Soviet Union Judge who can't find the constitutional right for a individual or a citizen to have bail!
Posted on March 10, 2009 12:29 PM
I would say if your medication creates an impairment, you need a different job.
What job, I don't know.
Posted on March 10, 2009 12:46 PM
By the way, please take note of the advertisements for DWI attorneys at the bottom of this page.
Even drunk drivers deserve a good defense.
(End of unpaid ad)
Posted on March 10, 2009 12:49 PM
This new information puts a completely different spin on this story. Drunk driving is completely inexcusible and drunk drivers should serve stiff jail sentences, in my book.
But prescription medication can be a funny thing - you may feel nothing at all from one dose, but the same amount can knock you off your feet the next day. Maybe she just had a bad reaction. I don't know that she should be lumped in with someone who downs a pint of Jack Daniels and gets behind the wheel of a car, particularly if she has no prior record of misconduct.
Posted on March 10, 2009 3:27 PM
If she goes to court, the prosecutor won't have an open-and-shut case. With DWI, he would just have to show a .08 BAC. The standard of proof in this case would be more subjective.
Posted on March 10, 2009 5:50 PM