Letter to the editor: Repeat DUI offenders should be in jail

Regarding the article “Bethel Park man accused of hitting officer with car had 14 prior DUI convictions” (May 9, TribLIVE): This is absolutely insane. This man has 14 DUIs back to the 1970s. And that doesn’t mean he has been out driving only 14 times while under the influence. There has to be possibly hundreds and maybe thousands of times he has driven DUI. He’s only been caught 14 times.

Where does it stop? $5,000 bail? A joke. I bet he’ll be out in a heartbeat and probably driving again despite no license, no insurance and no fear of doing this. He’s a timebomb in a car, and it’s going to go off. It seems nothing short of incarceration will stop this man. He told the officers he had one beer. Ha ha — it was most likely one beer in a 5-gallon jug.

It’s amazing he hasn’t killed someone yet. The police officer was lucky, thank goodness.

My question is, why is he still on the street? Where is he getting a car? If someone is letting him use a car, then that person is as guilty as he is. He obviously cannot buy a car legitimately, as there is no way a legitimate dealer could sell a car, plate it and get a title without insurance.

This should be looked into much deeper. This is a disaster waiting to happen, and the DUI punishment is way too lax for repeat offenders. One time is a mistake (a mistake that shouldn’t be made, but happens). More than one is totally stupid. It’s time to get these numerous repeat offenders not only off the roads but out of society.

Let’s read about people like this being sent to jail and not reading some poor innocent soul’s obituary!

Wayne Herrod

Upper St. Clair