The roads are not payed for solely by gas and car taxes. Property taxes pay for more than half of MN road and bridge costs.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressreleasels85.asp?district=29B&pressid=2998&party=1

That’s still pretty shocking — a half million drunk drivers in Minnesota. Wisconsin’s numbers are even higher, I believe.

Yikes! Hurry, Northstar and Central Light Rail! I’ll be taking a long drive to Renville on Friday for the opening of the latest E85 station (#335!). Only the truck will be filling up with alcohol….

It’s actually 1 in 8 licensed Minnesota drivers — or about 500,000. That info is from a press conference I attended last week at the MN Dept. of Public Safety (they were announcing the 15 deadliest counties for drunk driving).

(This pretty much never happens anymore as I travel for work and rarely go out anymore, but was a common occurence back in the day.)

and yeah, i live just a few blocks from broadway/quincy. although i stopped going to uncle franky’s once that cute broad quit working there.

Because they’re addicts, and consequently don’t always make the most logical choices. Same reason thieves and prostitutes re-offend at such high rates.

A defense attorney told me, “Anyone can get one DUI. If that experience doesn’t alter your behavior, then you’re an alcoholic.”

Of course, MADD will only be happy when we the death penalty for DUI. Last year, inattentive/inexperienced drivers killed approximately 230 drivers in the state, Drunks killed about 180. All tragedies, but these numbers are a fraction of what there was 20 years ago.

I know friends who have had their 2nd and third DUI and none of them spent 30 days in jail. With an expensive lawyer you can decrease the punishment quite a bit. Within 1-2 months they were driving again.

I know this is anecdotal, but if DUI laws are harsh already, why are there so many repeat offenders?

Careless driving or DUI is a good way to show a person is not responsible enough to use a car. Aside from other punishment, why not just revoke their license for a LONG time I am talking years here not weeks.

Of course, drivers will sympathize and say that people NEED a car to continue their lives. Lame excuse.

The way I see it is simple:

Demonstrate irresponsibility behind the wheel = have your driving rights removed for several years.

I am not even going mention the comically easy driving tests which allow you to get a license without knowing english although there are so many signs with words on them….

Of course, MADD will only be happy when we the death penalty for DUI. Last year, inattentive/inexperienced drivers killed approximately 230 drivers in the state, Drunks killed about 180. All tragedies, but these numbers are a fraction of what there was 20 years ago.

I heard the same thing recently — but this just cannot be correct. Think about it a minute . . . there’s no way that is an accurate statistic.

No, pretty close though @ Summer and Jefferson.

I didn’t say I disagreed with you, I was obviously mis-informed. I am not one of those drivers who carelessly disregards the safety of bicyclists. In fact, I have a strange admiration for anyone is is hearty enough to ride all winter.

I am glad to hear not all drivers are out to get us.

Biking in the winter is not as hard-core as it seems. My motto is if I can do it, most people can too.

Snow is rather challenging, but the cold not too bad. Your body warms up wuite a bit and you just need a balaclava to cover your face and good gloves and ski socks. Everything else is the same.

This is what MN is about, the strong can take the cold, the lazy pussies go to warmer climates.