Why does high range drink driving have such a low range punishment? Have your say.

For anyone who has had a loved one hurt, or even killed in a drink driving incident, the court’s decision on Jodhi Meares high range drink driving incident will no doubt have you shaking your head.  But worse than that, it leaves me worrying that if this is how we punish serious drink-drivers in our country, famous or not, then what is going to deter them from doing it?  The times have well and truly changed since the era when people hopped behind the wheel of a car and rolled home fully charged with alcohol.  Yet the punishment for such a severe flaunting of the laws that ensure people’s safety seems small, incredibly small to me.

43 year old Jodhi Meares pleaded guilty to one count of high-range drink-driving,  after hitting three parked cars and rolling her Range Rover, and being found with a 0.181 blood alcohol reading on the 21st June.  Ms Meares was allegedly, at the time driving with a suspended license although the two charges relating to this were later dropped.

And in court yesterday the final result of the incident was heard.  She was fined $1,100 and had her driver’s licence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of drink-driving.

It leaves me a little despairing that a person, famous or not, can think it is OK to have five drinks then get behind the wheel of a car and drive. What of the other innocent people on the road who are following the rules?  Should their lives be risked because someone thinks they don’t have to follow the rules.  And if the punishments aren’t severe enough, will it fail to discourage people from pushing the limits for their own convenience?

Our government spends millions each year trying to reduce our road tolls and discourage people from drink driving.  And for those who have lost a loved one, this will seem like a blight on the justice system.

But today I want you to have your say… Should  high range drink driving have a higher range punishment than this?   This is something that could affect any of us or any of our loved ones.