Georgia lawmaker who supported drug testing for welfare gets second DUI

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/09/georgia-lawmaker-who-supported-drug-testing-for-welfare-gets-second-dui/



Georgia lawmaker who supported drug testing for welfare gets second DUI
By David Ferguson
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 13:16 EDT

Georgia state House Rep. Chuck Sims (R-Amrbose) was arrested last week and charged with Driving Under the Influence, his second such arrest in the last three years. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday that Sims was arrested and taken into custody shortly before midnight on April 2.

An officer in Coffee County reportedly observed a motorist driving erratically who then accelerated, plowing their vehicle into into the highway shoulder. Sims was arrested and booked into the Coffee County Jail in Douglas, Georgia, then released on $1,487 bond.

In a statement, Sims said, “Just as I do not intend to seek any special treatment, I hope that I am not unfairly pre-judged based on rumor and speculation. I am confident that as facts of this situation are revealed, the interests of justice will be served.”

Sims was arrested for DUI in 2010 by Atlanta police. He is among the state lawmakers who voted in favor of House Bill 861, which mandated drug testing for all Georgians seeking public assistance funding.

[groundloop]

1. Confident that as facts are revealed justice will be served huh?

It seems pretty clear what the facts are (unless 2 different police officers on 2 separate occasions are making this stuff up). And for justice to be served Sims needs to spend just as much time in jail as any other repeat offender.

edit to add:

It's pretty apparent that Sims has a serious problem (other than being a repub). One would hope that his experience would get him to support funding for substance abuse counseling in state prisons so that at least a few who are imprisoned because of similar addictions can receive treatment and hopefully return as productive members of society.

[liindy]

2. Punish vs. Rehab

It is sad that in general, this country focuses on the punishment of criminals more so than the rehabilitation of them. Changing how we treat prisoners would probably help to fix several social problems. Unfortunately, mandatory minimums, lack of rehab programs in prison and criminalization of drug offenses prevent any sort of progress from being made within the criminal justice system.

[hrmjustin]

3. Welcome to DU Liindy!

[liindy]

5. Appreciate it!

[dballance]

4. I Think it's Our Puritan Roots

Nasty lot that bunch.