Tuesday, December 28, 2010

W is for "Whiskey plate"

In Minnesota, if you have been arrested and convicted three times with a "Driving while intoxicated" offense, then you receive mandatory "whiskey plates." These white license plates beginning with the letter W designate prior drunk driving offenders. (Numbers after W - altered for confidentiality)


22 comments:

Kate said...

You're not kidding, are you? I've never seen these plates nor known about this practice. Our state is unbelieveably lenient about DWI's and I wish that those drivers would be taken off the road!!

Dina said...

No kidding!
But what about other family members who drive the car of the offending driver, they have to bear the shame too?

Leif Hagen said...

@Kate - not kidding at all. Now that I know about the W - whiskey plates, I often see them on the roads.

Jilly said...

That's amazing! Never heard of such a thing. Still if you've been convicted three times, then frankly your licence should have been taken away from you FOREVER! Yes I'm intrigued too to know how this works when other family members use the car. We learn so much via our blogs, don't we?

Birdman said...

Sad commentary on our times.

Amanda said...

Fascinating what you learn. I wonder if they get pulled over by police more once they have these plates..

johnny said...

Me parece una medida muy drástica en el país de las libertades pero si salva alguna vida habrá valido la pena.

EG CameraGirl said...

That's a novel idea! That's one way to help others avoid driving too near to them, I guess.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

That is uniquely interesting...

Gabriele said...

Machst Du Spass??? Oder ist das echt so? Glaube ich nicht. Ich weiss ja das die Amis verrückt sind aber nicht so...?Oder???

Anonymous said...

Ist das ein Joke??? Das habe ich noch nie gehört. Du machst Witze, Leif, oder??

Grüsse aus Liechtenstein
Monica

Jørgen Carlsen said...

Be careful!
Thanks for the Christmascard arriving today. We have so much snow here meaning that the Post had to invent a new term - post-service-era. They like to give us the postal delivered daily newspaper every second day only.

Jack said...

White W joins Scarlet A in the pantheon of shaming.

Anonymous said...

ha ! there would be a few needed around here. A safe road ahead for you all.

Randy said...

We need those here. I think it's a great idea to id repeat offenders.

Kaori said...

Wow...that's a law I've never heard of! I'll have to keep my eyes open. Is this only in Minnesota?

Mary Ann said...

This is an excellent idea. A little public shame goes a long way.

Jeroen van de Ven said...

That's a nice idea!

Louis la Vache said...

"They got us again, Whiskeyman!

Gunn said...

Dette kan ikke være sant?!
I don`t think it would have been a thing that could have happened here, to point out drivers like this....

The name "NYHUS" on the car, must be Scandinavian.
Many people here with the same name in Stavanger too.

Kitty said...

Leif, you've obviously touched on a sensitive issue!

I guess that's good in that people want to avoid being shamed, but what about those who once erred and have mended themselves? They always have to bear this mark?

I can see how it's a good thing when you're on the road, and you can avoid these cars, but only when you're near them.

Generally I think some social responsibility and shame are needed these days.

Ryan said...

Don't want to be 'shamed'? Don't put others and I at risk drinking and driving! I have children!