Dear Editor:
RE: "Canadian justice does us proud," Yorkton This Week, December 5, 2012
"This kid has a job that requires a driver's licence. So, in addition to future employment ramifications and possible travel restrictions, a guilty plea potentially has very real and immediate life-altering consequences."
What amazes me about this article is that it explains how the person chose to take responsibility for what they had done, chose to admit they had done wrong (at least from what I read, there was no question that he was guilty of the offence) and was going to accept the consequences. However, instead of this being allowed, he was convinced that he should come back and essentially take back the honest plea he had given
Even worse, the writer of the article seems to suggest that the kid could possibly end up getting off. "I have seen good defence attorneys deftly take apart these kinds of results." Excuse me? How is this whole situation actually showing the justice system working? Yah, attorneys often twist things to the point that the guilty get off, but that's not a good thing (except to the guilty person).
Yes, I realize it is pointed out that the kid had a job that required him to drive and this could result in a ban of his licence, etc. Well, the choice that he made to drink and drive proves that he should not be working a job that requires him to drive because it shows that he doesn't use good judgment! I believe that if he had been allowed to plead guilty as he was going to, and had received the driving prohibition, thus having a huge affect on his life, he would have, more than likely learned a huge lesson, and when he got his licence again, he would be extremely careful not to make such a mistake. Instead, he may get this "good attorney" that will find a way for him not to suffer the consequences. He will learn that it's not a big deal and next time, he may have an accident and kill someone.
Drinking and driving is a really stupid thing that people do. And they should suffer the consequences. And the consequences should be big! People should learn that they can't just look at it as a possibility they might lose their licence for 24 hours (if that) or something and then be right back on the road because it's not going to 'shock' them into doing the right thing.
I understand that it is good to have representation in court, etc., especially if you didn't do something you're being accused of. But if you did it and you're willing to accept the responsibility for it, and accept the consequences, should you really be talked out of it?
John Pearson
Yorkton
