De Blasio Slammed For Characterizing Drunken Driving As Minor Offense Not Warranting Deportation

[alp227]

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Mayor Bill de Blasio’s credentials as an advocate for safe streets have been called into question after he said drunken driving could be a minor offense.

As CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported, it was less than a week ago that Mayor Bill de Blasio crossed a busy Brooklyn intersection with a teenager who had been hit by a car to highlight his Vision Zero plan for safe streets.

But now, he has been excoriated for a remark that suggested drunken driving could be considered a minor crime.

“I was shocked,” said Richard Mallow, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “Mayor de Blasio comes out with, you know, Project Zero, you know, where he wants to stop, you know, the traffic issues in New York — in the five boroughs — and then he has the audacity to come out and say drunk driving is a minor issue?”

full:L http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/01/31/de-blasio-dwi-minor-offense/

[yeoman6987]

1. Not his brightest moment to say the least

He did so well last week explaining sactuary cities. He should have stuck with those talking points.

[Renew Deal]

2. Drunk Driving probably shouldn't cause people to be deported

At least not in most cases.

[Jersey Devil]

3. A distortion of his remarks I believe

Of course he was comparing a DUI, which is most cases is in reality a traffic offense and not a crime, with crimes that constitute felonies. A traffic offense isn't a criminal offense, not a misdemeanor and not a felony.

When someone is killed during a DUI and the person is charged with a felony, that is a totally different story.

[Idoru]

4. Exactly

A DUI is a traffic offense. Since when does DUI=murder=deportation?

[alarimer]

6. I agree, especially in cases where no one was injured and no property was damaged.

I really think deportation goes overboard.

[meow2u3]

5. Drunk driving is generally a misdemeanor

It's only a felony if the drunk driver is either a repeat offender (multiple DUI/DWI convictions) or caused an accident waiting to happen.

Generally, they don't throw you in jail on the first DUI offense.

[Jersey Devil]

7. It depends on the state

In NY it is a felony under some of the circumstance you mentioned. In NJ it is never a felony. If you kill someone in a DUI you would be indicted for homicide but the DUI itself is never elevated above a traffic offense. Laws vary from state to state, but generally a DUI is not in the same category as a crime. If, for instance, there is a question, "Have you ever been convicted of a crime", you could lawfully answer "no".