The majority of drivers are convinced that alcohol and driving are incompatible notions. The acknowledgment of such a statement can be seen through the results of social advertisement, tougher fines, and all-around propaganda. Omitting statistics and merely analyzing the top news of the celebrities who were caught drunk driving, it can be seen that such methods are not enough to stop people from risking their lives as well as the life of others. In that regard, a mandatory jail term can be seen as a method that not only will punish lawbreakers but will also bring awareness to the general population of such a phenomenon.
One reason for mandatory jail terms is that softer punishment does not seem to fulfill its role. A threat of incarceration might make a difference in people’s minds, especially taking into consideration the people who usually follow the law. For many people, the line is drawn between punishments such as paying a fine and license suspension, and a potential jail term is the main difference between a citizen and a convict. The fear of having such a statement in the biography will force people to think twice before deciding drunk driving. Comparing Incarceration to fines, the latter is not taken seriously to a degree that, they do not serve as a deterrent, and for people who are financially secured, such punishment is no different than a parking fine.
Another argument for imposing jail terms for drunk driving is the potential threats to others’ life. Drawing analogies with other criminal felonies, a person who intentionally got into a driving seat while being drink, is similar to a person who waived a bat at someone but missed. In that regard, both cases are similar in terms of the acknowledgment of the possibility of someone getting hurt or killed. The statistics of the outcomes of drunk driving, which are widely published through different media, eliminate any possibility that there could be drivers, who are unaware of the threats they are carrying while drunk driving.
Looking at the arguments, one might argue that, unless there are victims, the jail term as a punishment surpasses the committed violation. A person who exceeded the norms of alcohol, and was driving home, is a violation that does not correspond to the punishment of spending a certain time in jail.
However, it should be noted that the judgment is not based on the doing, rather on the nature of the potential risk, such doing creates. A drunk driver not only has lower abilities to respond to occurring situations on the road, he/she is also not able to correctly judge the situation and make the correct decision. Driving is not a reaction to single events on the road, but also a continuous process in which risk should be assessed, to make a good decision.
It can be concluded that drunk driving is a violation that surpasses simple traffic violations in terms of danger. The potential threats of drunk driving make it a serious offense. Thus, mandatory jail terms for drunk driving can be seen as suitable measures, which on the one hand will sufficiently punish the violators, and on the other hand, will raise the awareness of the society to this dangerous and anti-social behavior.