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J. Tillman at the Mohawk - Giveaway
Back in December of 2003, washed-up country singer Gary Gibbs was arrested in nearby Georgetown for driving while severely intoxicated. You can see a video of the field sobriety test here.
A year and a half later, Gibbs was finally convicted of drunk driving and using his car as a deadly weapon. Yesterday, during the sentencing portion of the trial, it took the Williamson County jury just over an hour to reach their consensus: in a singular voice they declared that what Gibbs deserved was a one-way ticket to the state penitentiary. Austinist, for once, believes wholeheartedly in the Texas judiciary system.
But why such a harsh punishment?, you might ask.
It was hardly Gibbs' first conviction. And it wasn't his second, or third. No, keep counting.
It was his eighth.
It turns out Gibbs had been locked up twice before, and even underwent substance abuse counseling, but obviously this wasn't enough to convince him to end his dumbass ways. Maybe by the time he's up for parole in thirty years, he'll be better able to think things through. But likely not.
Austinist absolutely despises drunk drivers, although we can't say why exactly. Perhaps it's their disgusting lack of self-control, or their blatant disregard for other drivers and pedestrians. Or maybe it's because they're responsible for nearly half of all traffic fatalities in Texas.
Austin has its fair share of measures to curb drunk driving, combatting it with dual efforts of Enforcement and Prevention. Random DWI screening zones are set up throughout the city; this helps alleviate the immediate problem of drunkards on the roads, but seems to do little in the long-term. On the Prevention side, the city is trying out a new program at a local bar to encourage and reward designated drivers.
Personally, when Austinist predicts a night of heavy drinking on the town (we like to call them "Saturdays"), we'll leave the car keys at home and call a cab instead. We've found them to be fairly cheap and surprisingly clean inside.
Austinist would like to invite our readers to solicit suggestions in the comments below as to how we should combat the scourge of drunk driving.
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What cabs are cheap?! As far as suggestions, some kind of party shuttle bus would be cool. Or just a bus system that allowed one to get from say, South Austin to Downtown Austin in less than three hours would be nice. We car-pool on the rare occasion that we go downtown-splits the price of parking, too!
I don't despise the guy, I feel sorry for him. After eight convictions and multiple jail terms, he still couldn't get a grip on his problem. That doesn't say "stupid" or "lacking in self-control", that tells me that he's really really sick. Alcoholism is powerful powerful stuff, and not everybody is lucky enough to find a treatment that works. For some people, no treatment would ever work. Self-control doesn't even enter into it; an addict by definition is controlled by something other than his own self.
I'm not saying I disagree with the sentence. I just feel a little pity for the guy.
Unless people live close to the city, a cab is like over $20 to get anywhere (Hell, it costs $10 from where I live near Central Market to get downtown). The commuter rail might be able to help out (but people will have to drive from that to their homes).
i say make a cab tax, make all cabs free and have the city pay their hourly wages, you can tip if you want or something.
i say just move closer in and walk/ride the bus, and if you get fucked up enough you will never remember it took you 2 hours to get home.
i feel for the guy , too. he is very sick (but still kinda stupid) the sickness comes from having to dirnk, the stupidity comes from not realizing, "hey, i like to get real shitty, so maybe befor ethe FIRST beer, i should set-up a plan whereby i will be able to get home, cuz i know i am a drunk and wil be drunk in short order" first things first, then go pound the boone's
It seems futile since people will always think they're ok to drive, or will bitch about cabs being too expensive (meanwhile blowing hundreds on the liquor), or will be too drunk to think, or have friends that don't care. Without some kind of enforcement outside of stopping those already IN the act of drunk driving, it will just keep happening. Isn't that funny? They can ban smoking in bars, but that 38th tequila shot for the alcoholic slumped over in the corner is A-OK! Also, there's the Moonlight & Starlight Dillo's that run late, and they're free. Or just do what I do and sleep in one of the comfy bushes in front of a respectable looking building.