Nail Polish Crash Update - Awareness Ride & Protest (October 8, 2009)

[GregZaffkeII]

http://www.blacknailbrigade.org

Lora L. Hunt of Morris, IL has been indicted by grand jury on 6 counts of Reckless Homicide.  October 8, 2009 is her arraignment date and the only date that we know will be firm in order to get a massive presence and make a statement.  Future trial dates can be subject to postponements, etc.  I will be contacting every press contact I can.

Basically, the indictment means they have deemed our case worthy of a trial.  By no means are we guaranteed of a conviction nor appropriate sentencing.  We will probably be in for the long haul if there is a trial.

Come out & support our family & more importantly be a part the fight against intentionally impaired, distracted, reckless driving at the arraignment of Lora Hunt, who rear-ended & killed my mom, Anita Zaffke, at 50 mph at a stoplight because she admittedly was painting her nails.

Awareness Ride & Protest Details

Meeting Point: 7AM to 8AM
- behind Wauconda IL Walgreens in empty parking lot (west of rte 12/176 intersection)

Awareness Ride: 8AM to 9AM
- proceed to crash site at Rte 12 & Old McHeny Rd
- North on Midlothian Rd, Peterson Rd, Rte 45, Rte 120, to courthouse.

Lake County Couthouse (Waukegan, IL) & Arraignment: 9AM to 12PM
- We will circle the courthouse several times before parking.
- Park in spots on N County St or MLK Jr Ave (bring quarters)
- Please feel free to join us at the courthouse if you can't make the ride.

Please email me at greg@blacknailbrigade.org if you can join us.

Or if you're on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136426014919&ref=share and join the event there.

[mxvet57]

it's on the calendar. I'll be there.

[evilmedic13]

Shit! I can't make it, coming off shift that morning. I get off shift at 7am on a good day, no way I could make it there by the time you guys leave. It's my birthday too, be a good way to start it.I'll try to make it to the courthouse,depending on what kind of night I get handed to me.
 My spirit will be with you guys if I am not there. Glad to hear there was movement on your Mothers case, still wish she was with you instead of all this.

[sharkette]

In.

[Jeremy Z]

My wife has an interview in Baltimore on the 9th. I will try to make this, as we do need to make it known that SMIDSY is no excuse.

[bomber]

Working, but there in spirit.

Please, everyone ride safe at this event.

[Tony T]

I'll try my best to be there, it's too far out right now to commit.

[GregZaffkeII]

No problem Tony.  Let us know whenever you can.  Thanks!

[Mostrogirl]

In too

[Cheddarhead]

In...but only in spirit.  I'll be in Houston on Thursday.

Continued Prayers for your Mom...and all the respect I can bring to bear to you for carrying this fight onward...for her, and for all of us who ride.

Godspeed!

[Tony T]

Bump (For a pinned thread.   )

I'll be there.  

[ghostrider.y2k]

In.

[GregZaffkeII]

Awesome!  I am excited for tomorrow morning.  Looks like the weather might hold off for us too.  Just got the banners today, they look great!  David did a great job for us.

News media has been notified.  Hopefully they show up.

See you all in the morning between 7AM & 8AM.  Thanks for all the support!

GZ

[Stray Cat]

I'll be there in spirt. Greg, best wishes from all of us here in the Pacific North West. Hope justice is served for your mom and all the other victims of distracted drivers.

[squeezer]

I'll be there in spirt. Greg, best wishes from all of us here in the Pacific North West. Hope justice is served for your mom and all the other victims of distracted drivers.

Ditto from the east.

[forester]

Sorry to hear about your mom, Greg.  Excellent website.  

[bluepoof]

Another rider in spirit from the west coast.  I've shared the info on my Facebook page and hope you all have a great ride to the arraignment.

Any chance of getting bumper stickers made up like those banners? I'd definitely put one on my car.

[MisterSmooth]

Another rider in spirit from the west coast.  I've shared the info on my Facebook page and hope you all have a great ride to the arraignment.

Any chance of getting bumper stickers made up like those banners? I'd definitely put one on my car.

Plus one on both counts.  I'd like to have one of those "distracted drivers" bumper stickers.

And I'm very, very, sorry to hear about your mom.  

[mxvet57]

I'll be there tomorrow to.

[mxvet57]

just got back a little while ago. there was a good showing this morning. we hit light rain half way there but it wasn't heave enough to need rain gear.

when we got to the Court room Hunt was allready in front of the judge. since the Court room was so crowded some of us could not get in including me.

i have little details but what i was told by one of riders that was in there is that she did not loose here licence and she was allowed to go to Wisconsin to see relatives. the next Court date is November 10 2009.

while we were gathered in the lobby the states attorney came and talked with all of us in small groups to let us know what was going on. she was telling us that our showing up made a big impression and that it was very orderly. did not get her name but i thank here for meeting with us.

I'm sure Greg will chime in at some time and give more details.

[mxvet57]

also the only news crew that showed up was ABC Chanel 7

so watch tonight.

[bomber]

thanks for the update, Ed --

[DavidLSI]

I just received this photo....

[sharkette]

Some one, a suit, I think an attorney,, came over to the group,,, in the lobby afterwards,,

and one of the guys in Gregs' crew, had BNB paraphenaila people were buying, T-shirts, stickers ect. Some had put them on prior to going in and riding over even,, but ...

The suit just gave him a 20 to donate to GregZ's cause,, it was very very nice of him.. very.

[sharkette]

Trib photog was there also.

@ Walgreens before we left..


http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/blog/

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html

[Capirex]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html

I think her attorney is the former Will County State's Attorney that coerced the confession from the father of Riley Fox.  

[DavidLSI]

I think I know the rider behind Ed, is his name Randy?

[sharkette]

Another rider in spirit from the west coast.  I've shared the info on my Facebook page and hope you all have a great ride to the arraignment.

Any chance of getting bumper stickers made up like those banners? I'd definitely put one on my car.

SHIRTS< DECALS (helmet, and bumper stickers)< MEDIC WRIST BANDS

CAN BE ORDERED from
blacknailbrigade.org

[DavidLSI]

From ABC 7 News web site

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7055220

October 8, 2009 (WLS) -- A driver accused of painting her fingernails when she struck and killed a woman on a motorcycle was in court on Thursday.

Lora Hunt, 48, of Morris pleaded not guilty plea to reckless homicide on Thursday.

Anita Zaffke, 56, was struck from behind by a car last spring near Lake Zurich.

Dozens of motorcycle riders rode to the Lake County courthouse to attend the court hearing.

The victim's son say motorcyclists are trying to make a strong statement about distracted and reckless driving.

"My mom was on a motorcycle but it's really a danger to motorcyclists bicyclists pedestrians, people in cars. It's a pandemic of distracted driving, reckless driving," said Greg Zaffke, victim's son.

Hunt could face up to five years in prison. She is free on bond. Her trial is set for December 7.

[DavidLSI]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html

Motorcyclists gather for nail-polish crash plea
October 8, 2009 1:42 PM | 14 Comments | UPDATED STORY

_polish640.jpg

Greg Zaffke, son of motorcycle accident victim Anita Zaffke, talks to another biker who attended the arraignment of Lora Hunt at the Lake County Courthouse today. Hunt faces six counts of reckless homicide in a crash that killed Anita Zaffke and that investigators say Hunt addmitted happened because Hunt was painting her nails. (Lane Christiansen/ Chicago Tribune)

About 60 motorcyclists, all with black polish on their fingernails, gathered this morning at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan to watch Lora L. Hunt of Morris plead not guilty to reckless homicide in the so-called "nail polish" crash near Lake Zurich last spring.

Anita Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich, was killed May 2 when Hunt's Chevrolet Impala struck her motorcycle from behind at the intersection of Route 12 and Old McHenry Road.
Hunt, 48, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Hunt is free on $100,000 bond and her trial is scheduled for Dec. 7.

Hunt told an investigator she was applying polish to her fingernails and didn't see Zaffke's stopped motorcycle, according to a Lake County sheriff's report states. Both women were northbound on Route 12 and Zaffke had stopped at a traffic light at the intersection in front of Hunt.

Prison and revocation of Hunt's license would be an appropriate punishment, said Zaffke's son, Greg Zaffke, 31, of Wauconda. "It was reckless," Zaffke said after Hunt's arraignment before Circuit Judge Fred Foreman. "Two to five years would send a message to drivers ... A strict precedent should be set to make the roads safe for all drivers, not just motorcyclists. People shouldn't be painting their nails in their cars."

"It was beyond negligence," said Travis Lachmansingh (OK), 23, of Minneapolis, Zaffke's nephew.

Hunt, a registered nurse, appeared with her attorney, Jeff Tomczak of Joliet, before Foreman. She looked downcast and had no comment.

"She's devastated, distraught by what's happened," Tomczak said after the brief proceeding. "She was delivering a crib to her daughter when this happened ... If folks are looking for an evil person in this case, she doesn't fit the bill."

Foreman granted Tomczak's request to allow her to travel to Delavan, Wis., to visit her daughter and grandchildren and to go to Missouri later this month for a week. Hunt has no prior history of moving traffic violations. "If a violation occurs, I want to hear about it," Foreman said.

Her trial is scheduled for Dec. 7 with a status hearing set for Nov. 23.

-- Ralph Zahorik

[Tony T]

I didn't know that Greg rode or he was the guy on the blacked-out HD with the sign, very cool.  

I think I know the rider behind Ed, is his name Randy?

The guy in the gray stich? That guy is an idiot, heard he almost ran out of gas again today.  

[DavidLSI]

I a made this crop to show you who I meant when i got what you are getting at.  I am the last one to make fun of someone who runs at the edge of the gas limits    

This is who I meant...

[DredheadV2.0]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html

I think her attorney is the former Will County State's Attorney that coerced the confession from the father of Riley Fox.  

Yep, that's the very douchebag himself.  How appropriate that a man with no moral compass whatsoever should be representing a woman with no moral compass whatsoever.

[wibornz]

After 20 plus years working in the criminal justice field, this is just one more example of a failed system.  So what did you want the woman's punishment to be?  As the son of the victim, what would have you considered as fair punishment?

While it is tragic, should the woman fill a prison cell at the cost of 35,000 dollars a year, or should that cell be reserved for someone that is a cold blooded killer.  Remember, everyone has done something stupid behind the wheel, we were just lucky we didn't kill anyone.

So I will wait for someone to chime in and say they have never made a mistake behind the wheel.  Nobody want a loved one to die, but everytime you goout on the road, there is the chance that you will not be coming home.

[GregZaffkeII]

The collateral damage & inherent risk argument.  Do you really believe there is no way of keeping our roadways from being killing fields?

CELL PHONES, TEXT MESSAGES, DOWNLOADING RINGTONES, EATING CEREAL, MANICURES & MANY OTHER TASKS ARE SO URGENT & IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T CARE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES AT STAKE ON THE ROAD.  

Nothing about merely accepting that statement as irreparable makes sense to me. These people must be punished appropriately when they kill our loved ones.  A $285 ticket IS NOT appropriate!  These are not acts of god or freak accidents.  They are intentional actions that lead to 100% preventable death.

IT IS NOT HARD TO DRIVE YOUR CAR WITHOUT KILLING SOMEONE.  People make it much more difficult when they decide the car can drive itself so they can occupy themselves with other things.

FAIR PUNISHMENT - First of all, Lora Hunt's punishment hasn't been handed down.  Our Arraignment Protest was set up to keep pressure on for full prosecution (without which it probably would have been allowed to defer to traffic court) & to keep this issue in the public mind.  To show people that there are consequences to their actions and we aren't going to let this issue fade into the background.  Unfortunately, many cases don't get this far.

The State's Attorney asked that Lora Hunt's driver's license be suspended. The fact that she had no priors and was a Nurse was brought up. So the judge denied the request and Lora Hunt can drive wherever she wants for now.  She can drive up to Wisconsin to see her daughter (because apparently her daughter can't drive to visit her?) and on a vacation to Missouri next month.

Within the scope of a Reckless Homicide indictment, it would have been reasonable & rational for the judge to suspend her license for to & from work only.  We hope that upon conviction & with input from our Victim Impact Statements, sentencing will be more appropriate.  Not only for punishment for her actions but to set a precedent & send a message to all other drivers to pay attention to driving.

My mother will not see me get married. She will not get to meet or visit her grandchildren. Holidays will forever be sorrowful.  The list of things I will never have my mother be a part of is endless. Why should her killer be allowed to drive and get on with her life?  She should have to think about what she has done every time she has to take the bus, call a cab, or ask for a ride.

Permanent revocation of a driver's license needs to be included in all cases of serious injury or fatality.  Driving is a privilege, not a right.  Jail/prison time needs to be an option as well.  Kill someone on a suspended/revoked license, go straight to prison.

Perhaps when people start losing their personal liberties when their negligent or reckless actions result in the death of another, the mentality of "driving while doing something stupid behind the wheel & hoping you're just lucky not to kill someone" will be reduced.  Unfortunately, our selfish society cares more about themselves than other people.

- Was I a perfect driver before my mom was killed?  NO.
- Did I do anything anywhere near as reckless as painting my nails while driving through intersections with frequent traffic signals?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!
- Have I gotten rid of all possible distractions while driving since my mom was killed?  YES.
- Should people have to go through what my family has gone through in order to change their behavior behind the wheel?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!

It will take a comprehensive campaign the likes of the drunk driving campaign to successfully changing motorist behavior.  Even that campaign hasn't erased all drunk driving deaths but they have definitely saved lives.  Drunk driving deaths have decreased in the last 10 years.  Motorcyclist deaths have steadily increased.

Education & Awareness - It all starts here.  Distracted driving & motorcycle awareness needs to be a standard in the driver education curriculum.  Mass media campaigns need to reinforce those lessens while making people see the victims as people, not statistics.

Enforcement of Bans or Laws - Most bans will be public awareness devices only.  If people start getting tickets for talking on their cell phones, painting their nails, etc. it's just a nuisance ticket, but people cannot say they didn't know about the law.  Front line enforcement will not prevent highway death by itself.  It needs to be backed up by prosecution when a serious injury or death occurs as a result of distracted, inattentive, negligent or reckless driving.

Strict Prosecutorial Precedent - State's Attorneys must be given the proper laws and language within the laws ("shall be fined $X" instead of "may be", etc.) & fully prosecute these incidents.  Right now, in many states (not all), there is a huge gap between a traffic ticket & Reckless Homicide & the burden of proving recklessness is relatively high.  There is a huge discussion it seems about defining negligence.  We need universal "negligent vehicluar homicide" laws.  This would fill that gap between traffic ticket & recklessness although the penalties for NVH need to be stiffer (not based solely on monetary fines) than what I've seen proposed though.  Illinois doesn't have one.  Wisconsin has "Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle" - a class G felony.  Let me share a comparison:

June 29 - Bob Perkins - Milwaukee, WI (killed by a driver that was arguing with her husband while driving.  She claims he reached for her, she swerved into Bob.  Bob was thrown over a bridge to his death.)
   -  That driver was in court about 2 weeks later facing felony charges of "HNOV".

May 2 - my mom, Anita Zaffke Lake Zurich, IL (you probably know the details of the Nail Polish Crash)
   -  It took 4.5 months for the State's Attorney to indict Lora Hunt for felony Reckless Homicide.

Before any of that happens, we must make our elected representatives & prosecutors know what our demands are and keep reminding them until change is made.  There is a lot of work to be done and we need strength in numbers to make our point.

I will agree with one of your points - the system is flawed.  We the people, have to fix make sure it gets fixed.

Life Taking Should Be Life Changing!
GZ

[Stray Cat]

While it is tragic, should the woman fill a prison cell at the cost of 35,000 dollars a year, or should that cell be reserved for someone that is a cold blooded killer.  Remember, everyone has done something stupid behind the wheel, we were just lucky we didn't kill anyone.

So I will wait for someone to chime in and say they have never made a mistake behind the wheel.  Nobody want a loved one to die, but everytime you goout on the road, there is the chance that you will not be coming home.

Should you go to jail if you kill somebody while making a conscious decision to drive distracted? Abso-fucking-lutly!
In 36 years of driving I just had my first at fault accident. It sucked, and I made a bad choice. The other driver also made a bad choice and because of our two bad choices, there was a fender bender. However it wasn't because I was distracted. Nobody was hurt.
And if you really believe that it has come to the point that everytime you go out on the road, there is a chance that you won't be coming home, what does that say about our tolerance towards people that don't take driving seriously.

[wibornz]

Ok, so you do admit that you have made poor decisions behind the wheel. You're just luckey that you have not killed anyone.......yet. You see the difference is that while it is tragic that a mother, a sister, a grand parent, friend or all the labels that could be added here was lost, and it is a shame. The woman that caused the accident did not leave the house in the morning with the intent to kill someone. There are many people that do leave the house with the intent to kill. The ones that leave the house with the intent are the ones that need the cell.  

You know if this was Wayne County in Michigan. She could have shot and killed someone on purpose and only been charged with the gun crime and not the murder. The fact is outrage things happen everyday. Everyone will see someone going down the road, reading, texting, the list goes on and on and on. Things happen.   Every time you leave your home. You yes you are capable of doing something incredibly stupid, just as other are doing this very second. What this lady did was very stupid. Her stupidity caused a life to end. This is tragic. Locking her up will change the fact that she made a stupid mistake.  It will punish her.  But in the end locking her up will not make you safer. Prison is made to remove people from society. Taking her drivers licence could very well protect you as well as locking her, and not cost you 35,000 dollars to take care of her.


So as you read this don't think that I am soft on crime.  I do not believe in the electric chair, I believe in electric bleacher.  

My prayers will be with the familiy of GregZaffkeII.  I would not wish anyone the non pleasure of dealing with the criminal justice system.  

[Stray Cat]

Ok, so you do admit that you have made poor decisions behind the wheel. You're just luckey that you have not killed anyone.......yet.

  Luck has nothing to do with it.
That is a total asshat statement on your part. How can you make such a stupid assumption like that? I get into one little fender bender in 36 years and I'm lucky that I haven't killed anybody yet?  

This person made a conscience decision to partake in an activity that required her to have both hands off the wheel, and look away from where she was going with total disregard of those around her, total disregard to the consequences of her actions, and total disregard for the law. How could anyone say that she shouldn't get jail time?

[Condor]

Oh Wibornz, it should be so simple. "There are many people who do leave the house with the intent to kill." That would be called Murder or Intentional Homicide depending upon the state you are in, assuming you can prove "intent". What Greg is talking about is negligence; distracted activity that rational people should know is dangerous. Painting your nails while driving a vehicle is being totally distracted and inattentive. It's stupid and should be illegal. Texting on a cell phone, reading a text message or a book or a Kindle while driving are a few more examples.

The mere act of talking on a cell phone while driving is distracting however some people can do it and never have a problem while others can not. And the "hands free" devices are not the answer or the problem. The problem is that your mind is not on your primary activity; driving safely. If your mind is distracted, like having argument while driving (on the phone or in person) and at the same time your hands are engaged in something other than driving, you have now multiplied the problem.

Yes, everyone is capable of "doing something incredibly stupid" when they drive but what we are talking about are conscious decisions to engage in an activity that they should know before hand is incredibly stupid. There is a big difference.

[DredheadV2.0]

Yes, everyone is capable of "doing something incredibly stupid" when they drive but what we are talking about are conscious decisions to engage in an activity that they should know before hand is incredibly stupid. There is a big difference.

Quoted, just coz.

[GregZaffkeII]

wilbornz

I know I wrote a lot, but I'm not sure you read it without your skewed viewpoint clouding your judgement.

People should not rely on being "lucky" drivers.  If you think otherwise & think that people cannot drive without killing someone through their negligence or recklessness, enjoy the resulting world of smart roads that take the driving away from drivers and the end of motorcycles.

There are definitely outrageous things that happen everyday in all of the states.  And the people responsible for them should be held accountable for their outrageous actions.

Intent to kill & intentionally engaging in an act that a reasonable & rational person would understand creates an undue risk to the lives of others are not very dissimilar in a legal environment.  Lora Hunt didn't leave her house on a killing rampage.  But what did she think would happen?  In fact, she admitted that she knew it was wrong but did it anyway.

Btw - I believe a new bill (SB-104) in Michigan was passed that makes homicide by reckless driving the same as hitting/killing a construction worker (a stiff penalty).  This is a good start.  If we protect construction workers with stiff penalties, we can protect everyone on the road with similar punitive action.

I don't have any more time for your ignorant argument, but should some "unlucky driver" destroy your life, I will fight for you too.

GZ

[GregZaffkeII]

By your logic:

IF
"There is inherant risk in driving & motorist responsibiliy for their intentionally impaired actions is mitigated by by their luck or lack thereof & appropriate punishment should not be rendered."

THEN
Since social deviates are in the world somewhere, people are taking a risk by living & breathing, so their cold-blooded killers shouldn't be held accountable either.

No reasonable & rational person would agree with that statement.  I think anyone wants to live in that world.  Think & drive or people die.
GZ  

[sharkette]

The point is,
We all need to go forward..not backwards..

What is done,,what has been done ,,is over...

This case's out come,, & even while it plays out,,,will save some one else from being unlucky, or whatever you choose to call it,,it has made a difference in SofIL's laws, & other states too, already..Law makers, legal systems every where are watching it..That is part of the reason it took 4 months..the legal system had to make choices based on existing limits,,And in the end,,each individuals level  of justice may not be the same as others...but when its final,,

Some one else will not have to go through what thousands of other families have before..Greg is doing a great job of helping others while he has to deal with his own sorrow, & everything in his life that's been taken from him.


It's about EVERYONE  who uses a road.

& btw,,he picked up that blacked out HD, mid summer, took a test, got his lic, hauled his asz to sturgis, spent a ton of his time & money,,devotes it all over, to save maybe your asz 1 day. Because it's what HE needs to do.

[wibornz]

Yup sorry guys I was an ass.  I apologize.  In thinking about this yesterday, I realized that my opinion was wrong.  I had forgot that just because there was no intent did not mean that it did not happen nor did it mean that it should go un punished.  It should be punished.  Thomas Jefferson wrote at if you take a kill someone (murder) you should be killed and all of your assets should be given to the victims family.  If you kill someone through negligence, you should have to surrender half of all your assets to the victims family.  This I agree with, but had forgot about it.  Just think if you killed someone drunk driving, half of everything to owned would go to the family of your victim.  That would be a deterrent for negligent driving, drunk driving etc.....  Half of the value of your home, 401k, bank accounts, vehicles, half could be a hole lot.  It wouldn't bring back your loved one, but it would deter stupid and be a big help to the family of the victim.  

[GregZaffkeII]

As I'm assuming that was sarcasm about half of everything going to the victim, here's my own.  You're right, my father should be forced into bankruptcy without my mother's income to help pay the bills (that'll supplement the grief of losing the person he loved most in this world nicely) while Lora Hunt should keep everything & go buy the most expensive car on the market & drive wherever she wants to have a wonderful & carefree life with her family & friends.

Lora Hunt is responsible for my mother's death & she is also responsible for the consequences that offense brings to her own life.

If you were serious, then I guess maybe we're getting somewhere.

It would be appropriate for Lora Hunt or any impaired, negligent or reckless offenders to be the ones that turn into safe driving and/or motorcycle awareness advocates & work tirelessly to save lives for the rest of their life.  It truly should be their burden, not the victims'.  Unfortunately, that's not the case.  They write a letter to the victim's family, move on with their life & try not to tell anyone or talk about it so they might forget about what they've done.  They don't do anything to help other people learn from their mistakes or save lives.  They just try to salvage their own selfish lives.

The public doesn't hear from the offenders about how their actions have affected their own lives so there is no possible deterrent there.  So they will hear from us.

I heard a story once (in fact I think my mom told me) about a drunk driver that caused a crash that killed his friend in the passenger seat.  His friend's parents required him to write & mail them a check everyday for $1 in their son's name.  That gave the parents assurance that each time he had to write that check, he had to think about what he had done.  I think that would be an appropriate addition to any court prescribed sentencing along with permanent revocation of a driver's license and prison time.  All of which are more appropriate than a $75 traffic ticket + court fees for taking a life.

Best of luck to you and yours,
GZ

[adlowe]

I realized that my opinion was wrong.

Not that I'm trying to "pile on" or doubt your sincerity, but I had a real problem with your earlier claim that punishment should be withheld for all except those who intended to injure. My biggest issue was that it denies the fact that each of us has a responsibility to others around us.

Yes, there is no single definition of what that responsibility entails -- but there are minimums, and that is what most of our laws are designed to address in one way or another.

Many of us, maybe even most, have done things while driving that were stupid. Based on my personal experience, I believe that very few of those things (and none that I did) crossed the unmarked line into negligence or recklessness. But those few that did cross the line should be punished rather than excused.

[vulcanbill]

 

Fascinating.  

Greg, I applaud your self control.  And on a shallow note, I also enjoy reading your well written and properly spelled and punctuated posts.  Too rare these days.

[mxvet57]

just got this e male today

**************************************************************
Congress to hold hearings on distracted driving
Congress to hold hearings on distracted driving Take Action!
 
Contact your Senators and Representatives today!
  
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation and the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold separate hearings on combating distracted driving on October 28 and 29, respectively.
 
The Chairman of the Senate hearing has called U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski as witnesses. The House hearing currently has no witnesses scheduled.
 
The AMA is encouraged to learn that this Committee and Subcommittee, by holding hearings, acknowledges the dangers attributed to distracted driving, and places a priority on finding practical and fair solutions for all road users, including motorcyclists. Therefore, motorcyclists should be included whenever developing technologies are discussed. This issue greatly affects the motorcycle community, and bringing awareness to it may prevent crashes from occurring in the first place, and thereby reduce the likelihood of injury to all of America's roadway users.
 
The increasing numbers of motorcycle crashes caused by distracted drivers have spurred action from the motorcycle community. The AMA recently released a position statement addressing the issue of distracted and inattentive vehicle operation. In our statement, we acknowledged and emphasized the primary responsibility of all roadway users is the safe operation of their vehicles, regardless of the source - behavioral or technological -- of the distraction. To see AMA's full position statement on distracted and inattentive vehicle operation, please click here.
 
The AMA has been active in the discussions of distracted driving. The Association was invited and recently attended the U.S. Department of Transportation Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. During the question and answer session following the Legislation, Regulation and Enforcement of Distracted Driving panel discussion, the AMA commented on the proceedings and posed a question to the panel.
 
We expressed our concern that little to no attention was paid to America's vulnerable roadway users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, when research and technology issues were discussed. The AMA requested to be included whenever distracted driving issues are discussed because our community has experienced many personal tragedies directly attributable to distracted or inattentive vehicle operation. To see an archived video and blog of the summit, please click here.
 
Please write or call your U.S. Senators and Representatives today to thank them for having these hearings on combating distracted driving and urge them to include the motorcycle community in the ongoing discussions and development of technologies. You can find contact information for your elected officials on AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Rights, and click on "Issues & Legislation," then enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your elected officials by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.


http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/positions/distracted.asp

[GregZaffkeII]

Thanks for posting the AMA update mxvet57.

Here is another update on a recent death involving a motorist with extensive history of impaired, negligent & reckless driving yet was permitted to keep driving until he killed someone:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/miriam-frankl-wilmette-johns-hopkins-university-baltimore-auto-truck-crash-pedestrian.html

FATALITY (10/16/09) - Miriam Frankl KILLED by Thomas L. Meighan Jr. (I guess his luck ran out)

He has 21 motor vehicle convictions on his record, including 6 for DWI & 2 for DUI.
He also has a conviction for leaving an alcohol treatment facility while in custody in 2002.

Another case for permanent revocation of driver's license as well as prison time.  A tragic death that could have been 100% prevented with appropriate enforcement & prosecution.

Life taking should be life changing!
GZ

[MisterSmooth]

Here is another update on a recent death involving a motorist with extensive history of impaired, negligent & reckless driving yet was permitted to keep driving until he killed someone:

He has 21 motor vehicle convictions on his record, including 6 for DWI & 2 for DUI.
He also has a conviction for leaving an alcohol treatment facility while in custody in 2002.

Un-fucking-believable.    Lock him up, throw away the key.  

[knolltop314]

Greg,
You're one of the GOOD GUYS.
God bless.

[Stray Cat]

Thanks for posting the AMA update mxvet57.

Here is another update on a recent death involving a motorist with extensive history of impaired, negligent & reckless driving yet was permitted to keep driving until he killed someone:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/miriam-frankl-wilmette-johns-hopkins-university-baltimore-auto-truck-crash-pedestrian.html

FATALITY (10/16/09) - Miriam Frankl KILLED by Thomas L. Meighan Jr. (I guess his luck ran out)

He has 21 motor vehicle convictions on his record, including 6 for DWI & 2 for DUI.
He also has a conviction for leaving an alcohol treatment facility while in custody in 2002.

Another case for permanent revocation of driver's license as well as prison time.  A tragic death that could have been 100% prevented with appropriate enforcement & prosecution.

Life taking should be life changing!
GZ

Greg I will submit that while even not "permitting" by permanent revocation a a drivers license is a step, in many cases it will not prevent these scofflaws from driving. How this person is allowed to even be free as a part of our society is beyond me. Possibly he didn't intend to do any harm, and he paid half his  wealth to the victims family.
It's becoming obvious. You want to kill somebody, do it with a car. You'll get off scott free.

[GregZaffkeII]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-091027student-hit-run,0,894505.story

All that eyewitness evidence & I'm sure they can get trace evidence from Miriam off the truck.  How the hell isn't manslaughter nor homicide being included in the possible charges?

Maybe I need to ride to Baltimore to protest in front of this scumbags house!

We need to start writing letters to the Baltimore State's Attorney.  I will post this on the Region 6 forum as well.

Patricia C. Jessamy
Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City
208 Mitchell Courthouse
110 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

[GregZaffkeII]

A map of his rampage.

[GregZaffkeII]

Let's close up this thread as we're bleeding into more general topics than the Nail Polish Crash & Arraignment Ride.

I'll post updates to our case soon on separate threads.

Thank you for the words of support we've received!  Let's keep up the fight.

GZ

[Tony T]

Let's close up this thread as we're bleeding into more general topics than the Nail Polish Crash & Arraignment Ride.

Welcome to STN where every thread has a life of it's own.    

Let's keep up the fight.

GZ

Will do Greg, sorry I missed this one, but please keep us informed of whatever is next.  

[queball]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/not-guilty-plea-in-alleged-nail-polish-fatal-crash.html

I hate to ask about this, but what happened with the trial? I think it was supposed to begin Dec 7. Thoughts still go out to the family, and hope some justice is served.

[DavidLSI]

According to the BNB web site ...


http://www.blacknailbrigade.com/