-- Teresa McCarthy
Leesburg
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In their otherwise excellent article on the costs of driving under the influence, Lena H. Sun and Carol Morello too readily accepted the consumption reports of intoxicated drivers. For an 85-pound woman to have a 0.09 blood alcohol level at 4:30 a.m. (hours after closing time), she would have had to have consumed three shots of cognac between 12:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. or four shots between 9:30 p.m. and 4 a.m., not the reported single drink.
-- Ted R. Miller
Calverton
The writer is principal research scientist for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
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Are we supposed to believe that those arrested for driving under the influence are victims? Virginia's DUI laws exist as a deterrent to driving while intoxicated and as a safety net for sober individuals who do not drive "erratically," or through yellow lights, or "with a broken taillight and no headlights on."
To expect law-abiding citizens or those affected by the irresponsible behavior of a drunk driver to be concerned about the shame such drinkers experience is very hard to swallow. Perhaps such shame will deter them from putting their lives and the lives of others in danger again.
-- Rhonda Yanosky
Herndon
