So......should Paris go to jail?

[Mike Veitch]

Item the first: Paris Hilton should be in Jail because no one is above the law, especially if they are spoiled rich kids who think they are (do I sound enough like the Virginia Tech shooter yet?). Honestly, she'll be the most popular girl on her cell block.

Item the second: The latest first-time penalty in Japan for DUI, as of 2005, is a 100,000 JPY (about 800 USD) fine for EACH LICENSED DRIVER IN THE CAR, passenger or not, as well as POSSIBLE license restrictions on the driver. Don't forget that public transportation is pretty good here and taxis are a viable option for those late nights out. Still, there are many many drunk drivers. The police are only recently starting to crack down with checkpoints (always in the same spots), etc.

Item the third: That's right. Japanese women are completely sexless so all other foreigners stay out. I'm only here to teach...repeat: There is no interest in sex here so stay away...it's a waste of your time. If someone really wants to hear a dissertation on This topic, best to start a seperate thread, but there's really no need since Japanese women don't have sex...really...none of them....they just don't so stay away, repeat: STAY AWAY!!!

Sidebar: Viagra took two months to be approved here...The Pill took 20 years. Hmmmmmm?!

lets see here..

Yap to Tokyo, via Guam...

Flight leaves in 16 hours...

See you there

 

[dlndavid]

he said stay out Mike

 

[drbill]

Item the third: That's right. Japanese women are completely sexless so all other foreigners stay out. I'm only here to teach...repeat: There is no interest in sex here so stay away...it's a waste of your time. If someone really wants to hear a dissertation on This topic, best to start a seperate thread, but there's really no need since Japanese women don't have sex...really...none of them....they just don't so stay away, repeat: STAY AWAY!!!

How sad. I guess I'm not going there.

 

[DiverBeth]

Pardon only on one condition....we never hear from her again....otherwise after she's behind bars loose the paper work.

 

[RonDawg]

Some prisons have gone to private contractors. Perhaps Paris can start a chain of upscale Hilton Lodgings in the California system for her celeb friends. The Hilton Graybar Hotel chain.

I read that article and am not particularly impressed by it.

Just because it's not LA County Jail, doesn't mean it's luxurious. Not by a long shot.

Yeah the "pay to stay" program may get you a facility that's newer, and has slightly more amenities (Fullerton allowing iPod's was news to me. It becomes a security headache. They must make their prisoners sign waivers indicating if "Bubba" took it away from them, they're not responsible.) But again it's not like staying at a Hilton. Far from it.

Also, the jail mentioned in this article is not a private contractor. It's run by the Santa Ana Police Department. Since their facility is relatively new, it's built in the "new style" that no longer uses the famous vertical bars and is a lot brighter on the inside. But, it's still a jail. The solid steel door and thick glass will remind you of that.

Santa Ana is Orange County's seat and has a major gang problem. So, unlike Sean Penn serving time in Mono County with the beautiful Sierra Nevada in the backdrop, you'll be rubbing shoulders with some pretty hard core gang members.

California's jail and prison system is normally a burden, albeit a necessary one, to the taxpayer, with relatively few opportunities to pay their own way. If this helps to pay the bills, and shift more burden to the offender and less on the taxpayer, I see no problem with it.

Also remember that in many states, California in particular, "jail" and "prison" mean two different things.

For misdemeanors, defined in CA as any crime whose punishment includes incarceration for one year or less, you are sent to "jail" which is run by a county government. Jails also hold those who are awaiting conviction and sentencing, regardless of whether it's a felony or misdemeanor.

"Prisons" are for those convicted of felonies.

I've heard of privately run prisons but I've never heard of a privately run jail, at least not in CA. I saw an article that says 10 CA cities, primarily in SoCal, have contracted their jail services to private companies, but I've visited many of those facilities and as best I can tell they still appear to be run by the local PD.

 

[RikRaeder]

lets see here..

Yap to Tokyo, via Guam...

Flight leaves in 16 hours...

See you there

Come on, there're only about 71 million women here...Maybe only 70 million are Japanese. I don't need the extra competition, guy! :no

 

[Mike Veitch]

Come on, there're only about 71 million women here...Maybe only 70 million are Japanese. I don't need the extra competition, guy! :no

do they chew betel nut? NO?

Good, 14 hours...

Be a good fella and pick me up at the airport would ya?

 

[Diver Dennis]

The problem with taking away most peoples drivers licenses is you almost force them to break the law. Paris Hilton could obviously afford to have someone driver her around so she really has no excuse. But the average person out there can't afford that. I know two people who have gone through the whole DUI process here and they are fined to the point where they have no money, are put on probation, told they need to hold a job or they are in violation of their probation, and then have their license taken away. How do you expect them to get to work? I am aware there are limited drivers licenses that just allow you to go to work but my understanding is those are also quite expensive. From talking to the two people I know and some quick google research I just did to get an occupational license apparently you have to go to court (court fees), pay a lawyer (lawyer fees), pay a bunch of money to the DPS (our version of a DMV), and then on top of that they apparently they usually require you put a breathalyser in your car which I'm sure is very expensive. I understand the need for punishment but you practically force people who aren't wealthy to drive on a suspended license and then throw them in jail when they get caught doing so. So once you got the DUI it appears you're screwed no matter what you do.

For those that are going to respond with, "well they shouldn't have been drinking and driving", I agree. But what was done is done, now you're forcing them to break the law again which is just stupid. I don't claim to have all the answers but our current way of handling this seems pretty broken to me.

What about Public transportation? Lots of people use it every day. It does take longer and is less convenient but it is a lot cheaper than using a car. Perhaps thinking about the consequences before drinking and driving would be in order. It's no secret what will happen to you if you are caught. Oooops is not a viable defense...

 

[TxHockeyGuy]

What about Public transportation? Lots of people use it every day. It does take longer and is less convenient but it is a lot cheaper than using a car. Perhaps thinking about the consequences before drinking and driving would be in order. It's no secret what will happen to you if you are caught. Oooops is not a viable defense...

What makes you think public transportation is even available? In these cases it isn't as they are in rural areas. I am a big proponent of people taking personal responsibility for their actions, which is a concept lost on oh so many today. But when you put someone into a position where they have nothing but bad choices available, you force them into a bad choice. That's the problem I have with the way we currently do things in this country. There are other and more effective methods of punishment here is all I am stating.

 

[dlndavid]

Tx, Paris can afford limo service, what you are talking about is totally different.