How much did cops drink, Al (Sharpton) demands

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/482903p-406352c.html

The Rev. Al Sharpton blasted authorities yesterday for revealing how much alcohol was in Sean Bell's bloodstream when he was shot dead by cops on his wedding day.

"The only toxicology report that is relevant is the toxicology report of the people that were shooting on that day," Sharpton said at his weekly rally in Harlem.

Toxicology tests done during Bell's autopsy showed he was twice the legal limit when he left the Kalua Cabaret in Jamaica, Queens, early Nov. 25.

The information is being used by the cops' defenders to argue that Bell recklessly backed his car into a police vehicle before the 50-shot barrage that killed him and wounded two buddies.

For those who don't know to maintain their cover the cops are allowed 2 drinks.

[OnyxCollie]

1. Two drinks should push an average person over .08.

If a citizen can't drive at that limit, why should cops be able to carry (and fire) weapons?

[sofa king]

6. Because a person is still sober at .08.

The purpose of the .08 limit is to make mad mothers and insurance companies happy. It took MADD and the NHTSA ten years of massaging statistics in order to show that a .08 limit had any safety benefit at all. It also took ten years of creative stats juggling to show that there was any sort of driver impairment at the .08 level. The General Accounting Office, on the other hand, noticed that more drunks were wearing their seatbelts, which what was really was saving lives:

http://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/rc99179.pdf

That's not to say that the .08 limit fails to serve a purpose as a deterrent (and much more importantly, as a revenue generator for states and insurance companies). However, if you're going to deter people from driving drunk, why sell them an Iraq war's worth of horseshit to do it? Why not instead be straightforward about it like many European countries are, set the limit at the ridiculously low .05 limit (which really is two drinks in an hour), and punish the hell out of people who do it the first time?

The answer, I suspect an honest MADD lawyer would tell you, is that it's easier to get to .05 from .08 than it is to get to .05 from .10. Give it another ten years of airbags, and NHTSA will make it happen.

In the meantime, buckle up this holiday season. I'm sure someone will flame me for this, so before the fun begins let me point out that I don't drink or drive. I just hate it when my government lies to me.

[OnyxCollie]

11. I see. Thanks for the info, and I concur with your opinions (regarding the

deception and kindling potential.)

[Bluzmann57]

2. The cops were wrong

Period. However much alcohol Bell had in his system is irrelevant. My take is that he was probably loaded and that's why he hit the police car. It has happened before and will probably happen again but people aren't getting shot because of it. Having said this, Sharpton may just need to shut up. He will accomplish nothing by yakking constantly and pissing off the NYPD.
edited for lousy typing. As usual.

[acmavm]

5. Why should Sharpton shut up? He's the one who's in the right

here.

Fuck the NYC police department. It would be different if this was the FIRST time they've shot an unarmed person to death. How the hell many bullets does it take to make sure someone is dead? And because he ran into a cop car, he deserved to die?

[earlybelle]

12. The main point is that the cops were not in uniform and did not identify themselves

The young men probably thought they were being attacked themselves by some thugs with guns.

[jarab]

3. Looks like bartenders will testify ...

since apparently no sobriety checks were performed on the actual culprits.

...O...

[Solo_in_MD]

4. Amazes me with his track record that Sharton has any credability

This case is a bad one in many ways. Al is just making it worse

[Name removed]

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[pennylane100]

10. Somebody has to keep the spotlight on this case.

Al Sharpton has spoke only the truth in this incident. Regardless of his history, he has helped this family seek accountability for the death of this man. What can be wrong with that?

[earlybelle]

13. I believe Al's track record is much better than the NYC police's record.

[JetCityLiberal]

14. please explain you definition of his track record

thanks in advance.

[Imagevision]

9. When in New York? - DO NOT BACK-UP INTO A NEW YORK POLICE CAR!!

BOOM! 50 shots minimum!!