Welcome to my site. The intent of this site is two fold. First to bring attention to the epidemic of drunk driving and how devastating its effect is on our society. The second intent is to create a discussion blog so as to discuss possible remedies to the problem of the drunk driver. The creator of this site (me) has had 4 DUI's in the past with the last one being 14 years ago in October of 1995. I, as a result of these 4 DUI's , I have lost my drivers license for life. Trust me, I would have rather this to have happened than to have ever taken the life of another person, which thank God never happened. None of my DUI's ever resulted in any loss of life, personal injury to others, no traffic accidents or any property damage of any kind. In the least, I was very fortunate and so were the occupants of my vehicle on these occasions.
As a result of my DUI's, I caused myself a lot of legal and financial problems to say the least. It has certainly effected my self esteem and how I look at the world and how the world looks back at me. I went through some extreme depression and serious doubt as to whether life was even worth living. But, by the grace of God I finally found my way into recovery and got sober on December 15th, 2002. My life completely changed and I actually learned how to love life again and do it with sobriety in my life for the first time in 35 years. I decided that if I could do it then anyone could and that maybe I could help others do the same thing. So, I tried to teach by example and I have been able to help a lot of people go through the 12 Steps of Recovery successfully in the past 7 1/2 years.
I then decided to take it a step further and in January of 2003 I started my own business which I named Tampa Recovery House, Inc. located in Tampa, Florida. It has been very successful and I continue to show people that a sober life is possible if they are willing to be honest and go through the 12 Steps of Recovery. I have had to make my amends to people in my family and I have also had to learn how to forgive people for things done to me. My life has been able to take on a major turn for the better as a result of my sobriety and by learning the gift of helping others.
Upon going through my new experiences of learning how to forgive others it dawned on me that maybe the State of Florida might see its way of forgiving me for my past indescretions of my history of 4 DUI's, which I have recently come to find is not the case. You see when I received my 4th DUI in 1995, the law at the time allowed for a hardship license to be granted after 5 years of time elapsed but 3 years after I received my last DUI the State of Florida legislature passed a new law in July of 1998 that imposed a lifetime revocation of ones driving privileges on there fourth DUI. I was not given the benefit of being grandfathered in and the new law went back retroactively and disallowed my getting a hardship license ever again. I tried to appeal this at the cost of $15,000 dollars and lost the appeal. This case was decided by the outcome of James Lescher vs State of Florida Dept. of Motor Vehicles. This case can be viewed on the internet by simply googleing the afore mentioned case reference.
Anyway, the point of all of this is to address the DUI laws of the State of Florida and whether or not they are too harsh in regard to certain sets of circumstance. I firmly believe that people should not drink and drive but at some point I believe that it can be considered that someone has paid their debt to society. I also know from my own personal experience in recovery that people can change and become productive members of society.This DUI situation has become a political football with our law makers being afraid to do anything close to what could be considered as being to lenient on DUI laws because of lobbying pressure from special interest groups such as M.A.D.D. Let it be understood that I am totally supportive of M.A.D.D.'s reasoning for a call for action but I also feel that something can be taken too far and sometimes lose its ability to accomplish what it is that they were originally trying to accomplish. I don't consider it being lenient to reinstate someones driving privileges if they can show and prove that they have totally rehabilitated themselves and have truly accomplished sobriety. I further submit that maybe it may be very helpful to M.A.D.D.'s primary objective of removing all of the drunk drivers off of the road, by taking a new approach to remedying this very serious problem of paramount importance. I suggest that with education of our children while they are still young and haven't reached the age of being allowed to drive, is the best time to start to impress upon them the detriments of alcohol and drug abuse and drinking and driving. My other idea is to pass new laws making it mandatory for installation of a Interlock Breathylizer Unit in all vehicles owned by a second time DUI offender. This would catch the problem drinker early on and teach the first time offender how not to become a second, third or fourth time offender. I wonder how many lives could have been saved with such a program. Certainly, nipping the drunk driving problem in the bud early on is a good way to get control of the problem. Education is the key by catching children when they are still learning their life habits that they will carry through life. Teach them in the formulative years, not when they are already potentially alcoholics that are driving around drunk.
A better DUI offender program is definitely in order and with the use of the Interlock devices for first time offenders. They would be forced to have the device on their car with also the requirement of AA meetings with a required number of meetings to be attended, to be determined by their alcohol counselor at their counseling meeting with the DUI school. The money generated from the Interlock Device Systems could be used for more educational programs in the schools as well as to support victim impact meetings which brings up another point. That point being that the offenders like myself who have had a lifetime revocation be allowed one last chance to prove their worthiness for a hardship license and only by agreeing to have the Interlock Device installed. There is a pretty sure bet that if someone has maintained their sobriety with some documented proof that they should at least be given one last chance. If they get through a full year without any kind of violations of the hardship program requirements then they could be allowed to have the Interlock Device removed from their vehicle after a hearing. They would still only have a hardship license for the next four years at which time they could ask for a review to get their regular drivers license reinstated. I truly believe that some individual should be given another chance at a hardship license. To reiterate, the use of the Interlock on 1st time offenders would surely determine early on the problem drinker and he could be more quickly directed to rehabilitation if he didn't want to lose his drivers license for a very long time. When people are forced to get involved by doing service work such as helping to educate our youth, participating in victim impact groups, visiting people who have lost family members from DUI deaths then you will start to have some strong positive results on the learning curve of rehabilitation and a better understanding of all at what a serious problem it is that we can't ignore another second.
Frank M.
May 17th, 2009
I welcome all of your comments.
UPDATE: PLEASE READ THIS UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2010- Governor Charlie Crist (along with the backing of M.A.D.D.) signed the newly proposed House Bill HB971 into effect as a law.
As of October 1, 2010 the new law will go into effect that allows people that have at least 10 years of time passed since their last DUI and at least 5 most recent years with no traffic infractions of any kind. In other words you weren't supposed to be driving at all! This being said, this will help a lot of people that have paid attention to the law and haven't done any illegal driving or illegal drinking or drug activity a chance to drive again under the guidelines of the new hardship restricted permit. If anyone thinks that they may qualify for this hardship license then it is suggested that they give the DMV a chance to get geared up for this rush of applicants that they will have and contact them at least 30 days prior to the Oct 1, 2010 date of the acceptance of application. This new law will help people who can abide by it responsibly and it will require that an interlock device be installed in your vehicle. You can't drive a car unless it has the Interlock device. DMV can provide information as to what fees and paperwork is necessary to allow getting the hardship permit privilege granted. Interested in seeing the then go to HB 971. Here is the link:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/publications.aspx?PublicationType=Session&DocumentType=End%20of%20Session%20Summaries&SessionId=64&Session=2010
The actual section pertaining to hardship permits is as follows:
DUI Permanent Revocation Law Ammendment as per HB 971
This bill allows a person whose driver’s license has been revoked because of four or more DUI
convictions to become eligible to petition DHSMV for reinstatement of his or her driving privilege after
waiting 10 years from the conviction (this is changed to five years effective October 1, 2011). The
person must not have been arrested for a drug-related offense for at least five years prior to the
hearing; must not have driven with a suspended or revoked license for at least five years prior to the
hearing; must have been drug-free for at least five years prior to the hearing; and must have completed
a licensed DUI program.
If the DHSMV reinstates the person’s license, the l
icense must be restricted for employment purposes
for at least one year, and the person must be supervised by a DUI program and assume all costs of
supervision. Also, the person will forfeit the license if subsequently convicted of an offense requiring
mandatory revocation; and must have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle for no less
than five years.
Good Luck to all who can benefit from this new law change! And please don't forget, If you drink then don't drive!!! Thank you Gov. Charlie Crist and M.A.D.D. for their reconsideration of this subject. I feel they made a very humane move in standing behind this sub section of HB 971.
Thanks,
Frank M.
June 16th, 2010
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| Posted by Ned S. on Aug 28, 2010, 02:06 PM EST |
| I am extremely pleased that Gov. Crist and MADD had the sense to pass H.B.971. It will make Florida money, while giving those of us who were senseless in our younger days and drove while drinking. I have been sober since 2000, and life has gotten better. I do not miss getting up in the morning shaking, unable to brush my teeth, until I slammed a couple of beers...I do not miss getting the DT''S in hospitals where once they had me on the critical list with a BAC of .54 and telling my family I might not make it or may have severe brain damage if I do...I really do not want to think about, but I do so, to remind myself that I never want to go back there ever again. The period since I was permenently revoked ''98, I had had two forms of obtaining money, one selling on Ebay and the other doing some guitar session work in Ohio. But since the economy went south in Sep. 2008, I have been out of work for 2 1/2 years. Ebay increased their costs and sales slowed to nothing, and the guitar sessions dried up as they used guitar players in Ohio, instead of paying for my plane fare and studio time. I live in a somewhat rural area, and have checked every business within bicycling distance for employment, with no luck. In Hernando county the bus system is skeletal at best and the nearest stop is five miles from my home. So now, this new Bill is good news, but I still do not have a form of employment, which I hope does not negatively affect whether I get a restricted DL. I do not think I am alone in this situation, and I would think the DMV might expect it. I guess we will get more info regarding the program as the DMV prepares and sets the rules, the ones that make this whole operation workable. The law just passed and I do not think the DMV was prepared for this Bill 971 to pass. If I come upon any further info, I will post it here. Best to all. |
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| Posted by curt bowling on Aug 11, 2010, 06:01 AM EST |
| this is great news if the bill passes,unfortunately for me i still have to work[therefore drive]i lost my license in 94,they say it is a priveledge to drive,i disagree,i gross about 2500 per week on averageof which i''m lucky to bring home 1500 then pay motel food gas ect,i maintain power plants,these taxes are supposed to main tain our infrastructure.i''ve been sober since 03,almost 8 years and i agree you should not d and d,thank god i never hurt anyone,i''ve several tickets for d.u.s.maybe in 2011 this law will apply to me ,thanks for addressing this issue and god bless.curt |
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| Posted by Georgi on Jul 15, 2010, 02:28 AM EST |
| Hi Frank, this is Georgi.. I had been corresponding with you about my husband, we live in California. Just wanted to let you know that my husband finally got his license reinstated after 16 months of hell.I wrote to all the legislators here in Calif. and only one senator responded and finally forwarded my concerns to the director of DMV in Calif. They researched it and finally agreed that the statute was way over it limitations. What I found out is that my husband did not have 4 DUIs in Florida He had 2 here in 1984 and 1985 and 2 in Florida 1989 and 1991 charging him with the 4 and sending him to prison for it. I have a ton of letters I wrote to Florida DMV and they will not budge, they do not care.He will always have the revocation for the state of Florida and will remain on the National drivers registry but we do not plan on ever going to Florida.. Are you still fighting the fight or did you move????? I hope you never give up--- All the rude employees at DMV both here and Florida, all the unanswered letters,all the doors slammed in our faces but I was not going to give up. I hope all is well with you I know what a huge big black cloud that is hanging over everyones head that are going through this. Maybe in your web site you can advise everyone to write their legislators over and over again. Have a great Day and god bless |
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| Posted by Ed S. on Jun 29, 2010, 03:15 PM EST |
| I lost my license in 2005 permanently also for my 4th D.U.I. and have been clean and sober ever since. And my D.U.I.''s didn''t cause any deaths either only by the grace of God and I too have recovered through the 12 steps of A.A. and have found a life without alcohol that I never knew was possible. I am active in A.A. service to help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. These 4 D.U.I.''s are what it took for me to get to the point to take the necessary action to stop drinking and become happy within myself through the practice of A.A.''s 12 steps. I can''t explain why it took 4 D.U.I.''s to get to this point all I know is that it did and this is the only time I feel that I can go on without alcohol. After my 1st 3 D.U.I.''s I didn''t. |
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| Posted by Frank Mulder on Jun 28, 2010, 12:55 PM EST |
| PLEASE TAKE NOTE: Frank M., the manager of this website, may be contacted at 813 410-5276 or you can email him at fmulder30@yahoo.com 6/27/10 |
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| Posted by Frank M. on Jun 13, 2010, 09:13 PM EST |
| Dear Governor Charlie Crist and M.A.D.D.,
I would like to express my appreciation for the inclusion in House Bill 971 of allowing the reintatement of the hardship drivers license for individuals who have had 10 years of time lapse since their last DUI in and who haven''t had any other driving or drug or alcohol related arrests in the past 5 years. This revision of the law is going to help a lot of people such as myself to live a more productive life by being able to commute to work, school, religious services and Alcoholics Anomynous meetings. This has been a long time coming but hopefully everyone who benefits from this law change will treat it responsibly and never drink and drive ever again. I myself have chosen to simply not ever drink at all. Thank God for second chances. On October 1, 2010 anyone that can prove the afore mentioned by a 5 year clean driving record (which includes not driving while license was suspended) since after there last DUI of at least over 10 years ago will under the new law as explained in HB 971 that was signed June 5th, 2010, be allowed to schedule a hearing for the purpose of obtaining a hardship restricted drivers permit. They new law also states that the driver will have to have an interlock device installed on their vehicle for a minimum period of at least 5 years which they will pay for and also have monthly visits to a designated monitoring center for ongoing evalutation of their compliance with the hardship restricted permit rules and regulations. I can''t speak for anyone else but coming from me this is an absolute miracle that will be respected to the maximum. This is such a huge thing for M.A.D.D. to support this and for Governor Crist to sign the bill. I can''t thank M.A.D.D. and Governor Crist for realizing that people who are willing to tow the line and show that they can be responsible and who get help for themselves do indeed deserve another chance. THANK YOU M.A.D.D. AND GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST. I hope and pray that anyone who is able to benefit from this law change will cherish it hold on to it responsibly. This is HUGE!!! Anyone who has questions about the new law can GOOGLE HB 971 and around line 105 or just past it they will see mention of this change in the passed bill. You may contact me at fmulder30@yahoo.com with any comments. |
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| Posted by Jcat on Feb 28, 2010, 08:41 PM EST |
| People from madd are the ones out for vengence.. They control the state. The problem is that there are people drunk and driveing with out any insurance or license. That are going to get more than 5 dui''s even kill. There are over 2 million drivers without a license from dui''s in florida right now, They have no way of getting a Job or keeping a family, without a license. I would say the interlock device for the 21st centery is the best way, Not the vengence route. And if you quit drinking what is the problem with the state letting a person get his license back. not say screw him will get even with you and give you a life sentence. What''s wrong with that picture..That is unlawful if any thing ever was. |
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| Posted by Steve H on Feb 07, 2010, 05:39 PM EST |
| I too am suffering the effects of the 4th DUI law and have been sober since the last one on January 29th 2005.
It just does''nt seem to matter that 2 of them were for sleeping in the car before I was 21 years of age (when the legal drinking age was 19) So am I a victim of a bad law that was eventually changed?
I too support ignition interlock devices for 1st time offenders for the reasons you mentioned.
It just seems unlawful to give someone a life sentence for misdemeanors. (all of my DUI''s are misdemeanors and have 0 other traffic infractions.
With technology available today,the law needs to be changed.
Non-alcohlics just don''t understand that if an alcoholic starts to drink and has a need(more alcohol)and access(a vehicle)that all the knowledge of prison or death won''t even enter his mind to stop them from driving (I don''t even remember driving on my last DUI) Only an ignition interlock can.
P.S. I have a vehicle legally in my name right now! |
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| Posted by Frank Mulder on Sep 07, 2009, 10:39 PM EST |
| Mark,
I would really enjoy hearing back from you. I’m sure we have a lot of things that we could talk about in regard to whether any driving clemency actions could be agreed upon at all. I would like to hear your response on my response to you when you left your comments on my blog. I am only trying to do the right thing with my quest and I would like to hear all sides. I hope you aren’t one of the family members of a drunk driving incident but if you are then my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I understand what you said about how I could have taken a life with a fifth DUI but thank God that didn’t happen and it may be because my wings were clipped. Please understand that I totally agree that anyone with an active alcohol consumption problem shouldn’t even be allowed to ride a bicycle, much less a motor vehicle but if someone can prove that they have rehabilitated themselves then why not give them a chance to prove themselves if the proper precautions are taken. These precautions would be of course alcohol detection anklets along with alcohol interlock breathalyzers that would be installed at the drivers expense, along with a mandatory on going prevention program. Think how valuable it would be if previous offenders had to go into schools and speak of the detriments of alcohol and drug abuse. I’m sure if we have an educational campaign aimed at our youth that we can’t help but benefit society. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thank you,
Frank Mulder
813 841-1980 cell |
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| Posted by FRANK M. on Aug 28, 2009, 04:56 PM EST |
| Mark,
I truly do appreciate your comments. I do understand your stand and it is not my intent to argue with your line of logic but it is my intent to illustrate that change is possible. I hope you read my opening in regard to the ignition interlock device concept. It would certainly offer some new ways of handling things and would probably get peoples attention as to the need of stamping out drinking and driving activity. This behavior is running rampant on our roads and there are a lot of people still involved with the bad behavior. I don’t know if you are a consumer of alcoholic beverages or not but if you are and if you drive then I would be willing to bet that you have at some time in your life driven while under the influence. I’m not pointing a finger at you but if someone drinks and if they drive a car, then there is a very high probability that they have done both at the same time. If you don’t drink, then more power to you. I am only trying to give back to society by trying to find a better way of dealing with this problem of epidemic proportions. If I never drive again it will not effect my decision to not drink, and to not drive until I can legally. Change is possible and my approach to this whole thing is only that if a person can prove that they have changed their life then they should be afforded another chance. If you haven’t read my opening on my blog then I hope you will take the time to do so. I really do appreciate your post on my site and I intend to leave it up. I feel it is very important to hear from all sides. I welcome you to correspond with me directly. I sincerely feel that my interlock promotion will not only help people like myself but more importantly will save a lot of lives because it will put a needed control on the problem at a much earlier period of someone’s driving indiscretions. Please feel free to respond to me at fmulder30@yahoo.com . I am proud to say that this December 15th will be my 7th year of total sobriety.
God bless,
Frank M. |
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| Posted by Mark L. on Aug 28, 2009, 01:38 PM EST |
| 4 DUIs? You obviously didn''t learn your lesson. You stated that you lost your license in 1995 but didn''t get sober until late 2002. What would have stopped you from getting a 5th DUI? That 5th DUI may have been the one that killed someone. You probably didn''t have a car because you couldn''t drive it. That''s probably the only thing that kept you from getting a 5th DUI. Why should we trust you with a license now? What''s to stop you from getting hammered again and driving drunk? Your word? That''s not enough. You''ve already showed that you couldn''t be trusted to respect the lives and well being of other people with your 4 DUI offenses. The passage of time doesn''t matter, so we''ve revolved around the sun a few times since your last DUI, big deal. You and people like you are a danger on the road. Too many lives have been cut short by people like you. Just because you didn''t kill anyone with your DUI''s doesn''t make you better than the people that have. You were just lucky that no one was in your path. |
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| Posted by Patrick M. on Aug 20, 2009, 12:08 PM EST |
| Frank,
You night owl, I guess we''re all a-like!! Unable to sleep w/ such dilemma facing us.
Fortunately I let any hostility & bitterness escape me, a long time ago. I believe that''s what they want us to feel.Life''s tough enough w/ or w/ out a license. Think of licensed drivers that jump off the Skyway Bridge annually.Every body''s got some kind of dragoon to slay!
My family expects & deserves the best I''ve got to give regardless of what the state believes.I love Florida, I just can''t stand the Bureaucracy that we''re govern by.
I do look forward to meeting w/ you. I can tell you''ve got Heart!!! Stay fired up, my friend. Best regards, Patrick. |
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| Posted by Frank M. on Aug 20, 2009, 03:11 AM EST |
| Patrick,
Please keep the comments coming and try to spread the word about our cause. I truly feel if we keep the conversations of our situation out there that it will eventually get to the ears of people that do have some common sense. When you look at the finality of what has been imposed as punishment on people with 4 DUI''s you have to realize that every situation should be looked at on its own merit. Not everybody is a life threatening drunk that is out to hurt others. Many, many people have been under the influence of alcohol while driving but simply weren''t caught. Judges, Lawyers, Police Officers, State Legislatures,our teachers and principles as also our priests and ministers have all been behing the wheel while under the influence if they drink alcohol. Let''s face it and be totally honest, if you drink alcohol and you drive a motor vehicle, then you have most definitely been under the influence while driving a motor vehicle. If you say haven''t then you are as they say " IN DENIAL OF THE TRUTH ". This would be like going swimming and not getting wet. It just doesn''t happen. I''m not saying that all that do it have been in an accident or killed or injured someone but I am saying that I got 4 DUI''S and I never killed or harmed anyone nor was I ever in any kind of traffic accident my whole driving career, but how am I punished? I am punished by having a lifetime revocation placed on me by an unconstitutional law that as you mentioned was ran through the Florida State House of Representatives at the pushing of M.A.D.D. Did you know that the lady that started M.A.D.D. in California eventually got a DUI after she had been the acting president and now she is a public spokesperson for Seagram''s Liquor Company. She lobbies for safe drinking. Is there any kind of safe drinking in reality. What a CROCK!! This nations laws are passed by lobbyists who represent different money making factions and private interest groups that have power over our political figures and use that power to basically blackmail them into doing their bidding. If someone with a brain larger than a rhesus monkey were to analyze the statistics about drunk driving then they would find that the current laws and statutes are not serving any purpose to squash the nationwide epedemic of drunk driving in the United States. Education at a very young age just like teaching anything else in young people is obviously better served if training before practice is implimented. This law of Lifetime Revocation is the biggest unconstitutional travesty that has come down the pike in a long time. It is nothing less than taking a man''s or woman''s sight from them, not allowing them to work so as to feed their families. If you take away someone''s ability to drive in this state then you might as well cripple them while you''re at it. It totally effects your ability to make a living. Now, I know here that a lot of people would then say "how can we protect ourselves against the drunk driver"? Well, I would answer that question by saying that if we were to give the people that proved themselves worthy of reconsideration by proving that they are rehabilitated and can show that they no longer have a dependance or addiction to alcohol, then that should be considered. This could be easily monitored by the Interlock Ignition device that would be installed on previous habitual offenders cars. This would be a strict program that would have zero tolerance for noncompliance. A program like this could do a great public service by generating funds for the education of our youth as to the dangers of drunk driving. Come on Lawmakers, if you are not careful the laws that you have passed could end up effecting you and your livelihoods. The pendulum has swung all the way to the right on this one and it has become such a political football that lawmakers have become conditioned to do the private interest groups bidding because of fear of loosing their bid for reelection. I submit that the politician that brings some logic and true understanding of the real problems should certainly prevail over antiquated, old fashioned logic and the sentiments of people that want everybody else to believe exactly as they do or be branded a free thinking individual. Imagine that, if everyone actually was free thinking and not a scared robotic puppet of this society. Stay tuned for future comments. Please keep them coming in. |
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| Posted by Patrick M.. on Aug 20, 2009, 12:25 AM EST |
| Frank,
Thanks for the thoughtful note. Ironically I was in court today, Pinellas Co.DWLS... fantastic judge (Carassas)he encouraged me to try for the hardship. I explained I''ve spent tens of thousands of dollars. (like yourself) I''ve never been granted even a hearing, all they have ever done is a review of record. As much respect as he deserves, the judge still insisted I try again. I believe he doesn''t even understand the true position of our fine state. The bill they p-assed on 4-or more was illegaly done. The Orlando Sentinal wrote it was on the back of another bill, snuck through.
The officer that stopped me just wrote me the ticket. I like you never ran, never caused any damage,unfortunately never had an attorney. All of my dui''s happened out of state, but on a Fla. license.Everyone from judge to clerk of the court couldn''t believe I didn''t get arrested. The officer appreciated my honesty, said I looked responsible & CLEAN CUT. Plus I was out working and not coming from a bar. I asked why he would say that, and he responded, most people in your situation are repeat true offenders.
I''ve been w/out a license for over 24yrs. 2-x wifes, three children. That''s what keeps me going. I will be eager to monitor this cause, and help champion in any way I can!!!
Stay well, best regards, Patrick. |
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| Posted by Frank on Aug 19, 2009, 01:22 AM EST |
| Hello Patrick,
Thank you very much for your comments. Yes, I too think that 16 years is way to long but if you could get it after 16 years it would be more than we can do now with the current lifetime revocation laws that are in effect. I well remember the Brandon incident. That’s very interesting about him getting his license back. I wonder what would happen if he was driving in Florida with the out of state license. Would they upon running the license at a traffic stop see that he has the Florida suspension and arrest him? Please feel free to contact me. I am trying to get a grass roots movement going in order to go to Tallahassee, Florida and try to enact a repealing of the current laws. Even if it takes involving the interlock devices I think it would be certainly worth it. Don’t you think? At least it would be a step in the right direction to get us back to some normalcy and allow people to at least carry on with their lives. The way it is now in this society you simply can’t function normally as a contributor to society with the current restraints and laws of lifetime revocation. I haven’t had a drink or a drug in almost 7 years but at this time there is no way that I can legally drive. Things really do need to change. This law is not keeping drunk drivers off of the road. Education is the key and some relaxing of the current punishments certainly need to be revised so that they serve society as a whole and not to just appease non-drinkers at election time. Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks again,
Frank P. Mulder
813 841-1980 cell |
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| Posted by Patrick M. on Aug 18, 2009, 07:31 PM EST |
| Unbelievable as it is Florida has over 40,000 suspensions.I too am a true Floridian in the same boat. Rember back in the late eightys when Bruce Kimball ran down a street in brandon killing and maiming several party goers. The state of Illinois has given him the right to drive in their state just about three years ago.
I believe a maximum of 16 years revocation is more than sufficient! That''s how long one waits to obtain it in the first place. Take care, stay positive I''ve dealt w/ this since 1985!!!! |
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| Posted by FPM on May 16, 2009, 09:02 PM EST |
| Governor Charlie Crist should take a look at this. The laws in Florida are not very logical in regard to this problem. Education is certainly the key. Not lifetime revocation except for when lives were lost. I know of many people that have more than 5 DUI''s in the state of Florida and they still have their drivers license. Many of our law makers and law enforcement officers drive under the influence and they simply don''t have to pay the consequences of their breaking of the law. It''s not what you do anymore but who do you know that can get your ass out of a legal sling if you have the connections and can afford it. I assure you that every legislature and every politician in our good ol'' boy State of Florida has driven drunk more than 4 times in their lives but they didn''t get a lifetime revocation did they. A lifetime revocation of someones ability to work and support their families is certainly over kill, unless that person has killed someone. Why not make it a mandatory law to require the interlock devices to be put on someone''s vehicle even after the first DUI that they get. Don''t you think that individual would think more than twice before they took a chance to drive again? Lets get with it Florida Lawmakers. Get your heads into the year 2009 and wake up. Quit reacting to the wants of special interest groups just so you can keep you office. Politics is a dirty business and when the few star serving the few then the meaning of the word constituent takes on a new definition. Are our lawmakers serving the wishes of all or are they just trying to keep their jobs. If the interlock device requirement was to be put on the books then people would immediately take notice at the dangers of Drunk Driving. Right away the education of the offenders and the education of our school children could take immediate effect and be put into motion. What is currently being done to EDUCATE anyone? NOTHING!! Unless you think tougher laws are doing the job, because they are certainly, absolutely not doing anything to stop the epedemic of drunk driving or drug abuse. Let''s wake up and smell the coffee Florida Lawmakers and look to some better solutions. Protect our population on the roads to the best of your ability. Do what you are being paid to do, protect your citizens of the State of Florida. It is your responsibility!! Education, not tougher laws, that aren''t working, is the solution.
FPM |
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| Posted by Frank Mulder on May 16, 2009, 08:36 PM EST |
| Go on the internet and google state dui laws. You will see a site that breaks down each individual states individual requirements. What I am unfortunately finding is that I am in Florida and if Florida doesn’t release my lifetime revocation hold, then whatever state I go to will honor Florida’s ruling even if the new state has lesser penalties or even if they themselves don''t have a lifetime revocation law on their books. I think I’m totally screwed. I could go to Washington state who doesn’t have a lifetime revocation but they have a 10 year suspension I believe and even though I got my last DUI in 1995 and was given a lifetime 3 years later, I still can’t get a license in Washington until Florida gets off their unconstitutional violation of expost facto where they are incriminating people that were allowed to at one time drive after 10 years with 4 dui''s if they could show that they hadn''t broken any driving laws in thatperiod, and allows me to. I haven’t been able to drive legally since 1995 so I feel your pain. I am currently trying to write my Florida state legislature and my governor, Charlie Crist on the subject. I only get back the prior scripted letters that state until the law is changed then that''s the way it is. How an unconstiutional law like this was changed in the first place is a violation of law. See Lescher vs Dept. of Motor Vehicles State of Florida. Here you will see the case that I personally spent $15,000.00 to be listed as a As I’m sure you understand it is an up hill battle. Keep me posted and please put your comments on the Blog http://floridadriverslicenserevocation.talkspotblogs.com/ . Please feel free to contact me at anytime. You can email or call me at 813 841-1980 cell.
Take care,
Frank Mulder |
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| Posted by James on May 16, 2009, 08:17 PM EST |
| Hi frank,
I came across your link on the Web......I''m as little lost here in Oregon. I was wondering if you might know how I can get a licsense in another state? My situation is I recieved my fourth duii in a life time but this would be my second within 10 years. I thought they can only go back 10 years not life time. Is there states that only look at going back for so long, Not looking at the life time suspenions?
I look forward to hearing from you.
James |
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| Posted by Michael Birnbaum on May 16, 2009, 07:52 PM EST |
| Hello lets get some laws passed to make the interlock required from first DUI. Driving is a privilege not a right. Let the offenders learn not to do it by better education. Don''t have lifetime revocation as a penalty. How does that help educate the person driving drunk at this moment. Catch them and require they comply with a interlock program. This would be the best way to get their attention and save lives while raising revenue for the education of our kids to not drink alcohol or take drugs. |
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