Monday, December 17, 2007

"Shaming" Drivers Charged With DUI, (But Still Presumed Innocent?)

When I read this article about Arizona drivers convicted of DUI being forced to wear pink prison uniforms and work in a chain gang, my first reaction was relief that Canadian authorities wouldn't see shaming as a legitimate strategy in the effort to make our roads safer.
Was I ever wrong.
Yesterday, the Winnipeg Police announced they would publish the names of drivers charged - but not yet placed on trial, let alone convicted - for impaired driving. The list is at the Police web site. It is the 21st century equivalent of locking people in stocks, for public ridicule. You can go look for it if you want, but I won't link to it.
There are answers to the problems of impaired driving, but shaming people and casting aside the presumption of innocence surely aren't among them.

Monday, December 10, 2007

MADD Canada Overreaches With Sutherland Comments

MADD Canada was quick to react to actor Kiefer Sutherland's DUI jail sentence, urging Ford Canada to cancel his contract as a celebrity endorser, but probably didn't expect the backlash:

Give the guy a chance. As the first celebrity in years to face his DUI punishment head on, Kiefer Sutherland is trying to set a new standard in Hollywood with regards to celebrities being above the law. But that apparently wasn’t good enough for Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada CEO Andrew Murie, who today, on the second day served of Sutherland’s 48-day Glendale, CA prison sentence, was all over the Canadian media landscape urging Ford Canada to drop the voice of Sutherland from its TV ads. It’s an appallingly ill-timed PR move that is already getting the thumbs down from many Canadians.

Ford Canada has said they have no immediate plans to end their relationship with Sutherland.