The Woodward family may need to add a keg to their family crest. Three members of the family — Nicholas (right), 19, Joshua (left), 22 and father Brian, 46 — were all arrested on the same day in Vermont on separate incidents of driving under the influence. Perhaps we could call this an intervention for the family? The successive arrests occurred when family members allegedly drove drunk to the scene of an accident involving the first family member.
The drunken chain reaction began when a Vermont Fish and Wildlife Game Warden found a car rolled over around 7:50 p.m. Police found that the driver, Joshua Woodward, had a BAL of about three times the legal limit. After that crash, Joshua’s young brother Nicolas drove to the scene and exited the truck to check on his brother. His father, Brian, then slipped over to the driver’s seat. The warden believed Brian was impaired and ordered him to stop. He was found also to have a BAL that was three times the limit. As troopers arrested Brian however they say that the observed Nicholas drinking intoxicating beverages. He was then arrested as well.
This was the second DUI for Nicholas as well as Joshua. Joshua was also charged with driving with a suspended license.
Source: CBS
I recall reading about an informal study done over a century ago about crime running in families. I can’t remember all the details, so this is an approximation:
There was an appalling number of members of the same family in an English prison, so a professor did some genealogical research.
Around 150 years previously, he started with two lines: one descended from a preacher, and one descended from the town drunkard. Out of the preacher’s line, there were many professors, preachers, professionals, and even a couple of American presidents. Out of the drunkard’s line, there was rampant alcoholism, drug abuse, murderers, and a great many served prison time.
He concluded that families pass down their values, for good or for ill. Their children paid the price for their own bad decisions. A father’s criminal acts served as a bad role model for his children, and his family suffered financially, which caused further risks for criminal behavior. In essence, the children, generation after generation, were taught to be self destructive, and fight with their hands, not their words. Becoming a criminal sentenced all future descendants to higher risk of becoming so themselves.
How many times have we heard that the sons of wife beaters become abusers themselves? They model after the parent perceived to have power.
Any program that can interrupt the inter-generational pattern of abuse, criminal behavior, and addiction can be so vital.
Apples falling close to the tree… *burp*
Who in the family remained to bail ’em out?
Will the judge grant a group rate for three? Three times the limit are you sure there not from Kentucky?
Darren, Bingo. Most cases only get press when there’s a death. That’s why I applaud the Madison paper for publishing stories on all the chronic DUI’s.
Nick.
In our state Vehicular Homicide (death resulting from DUI / Reckless Driving / Disregarding the Safety of Others) in my view is punished strangely.
There is a sentencing grid that one must navigate for the sentence but for VH it is generally this.
Assuming no other crimes committed outside the below, the sentence for Vehicular Homicide involving DUI is as follows:
1st offense: (Offender score 0 + Seriousness Level XI) 6Y 6M to 8Y 6M
2nd offense: (Offender score 2 + Seriousness XI + Title 46 enhancement) 9Y 11 M to 12Y 5M
Having convictions for DUI outside the above raises the offender score and subsequently the sentence. But you are correct, someone has to die before drunk drivers are put away for a long time.