Someone upthread asked, Why didn't the officer just allow him to call someone to take him home, as he'd named several people in the area.
1) Since he had all of those contacts, why didn't HE call one of them and not drive intoxicated from the start?
2) In most states the threshold for a DUI has been .08 BAC for decades now. If they allow him to call for a ride, how is that equality? If we want equality, that must include equal application of the law.
Additionally, if they allow him to call for a ride, one or both officers must stay there to insure that he doesn't drive off. Then they'll need to make sure he gets safely into the vehicle of whoever is giving them a ride. Budgets are stretched thin everywhere. Who's going to pay additional taxes for the extra police that this would require?
3) Selectively arresting for DUI leaves LE, departments, and municipalities open to lawsuits for discrimination.
4) DUI is one of the most cut and dried offenses for which one can be arrested. A breathalyzer is completely objective. It doesn't see color. With other offenses, the evidence can be subjective, but not this one.
5) Black lives do matter, as do ALL lives. And so do choices.
6) If we're going toward a restorative justice model, I'm all for it. However, many, many laws have to be changed. That officer was doing his duty. He was lawfully performing the duties that legally he was obligated to carry out. With cruiser and body cams that turn on automatically, an officer can't just give someone a pass when they become aware of illegal activity. They have to follow the stop to a conclusion, either no infraction or infraction and move onto the next step. The only area that I'm aware of where there is leeway is by being able to give a warning for speeding. Maybe they could legalize nationwide a possible one time warning for DUI. However, MADD has fought for decades for the current laws. And I'm pretty sure that MADD his comprised of every race, creed, and color, because death by a drunk driver is no respecter of anyone.
7) Justice reform must include better community relations (they aren't the bad guy), teaching kids first at home and at school that offers can be trusted and should be respected, and teaching people what to do when they're stopped by police.
8) The concept among some communities that all cops are bad and that black cops are sellouts...this just has to go.
AMOO