Easing up on drunk-driving law a bad idea

On Dec 27, 2014, cyclist Tom Palermo, a father of two young children, was run over by a drunk driver near Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. Riding on a road with a broad shoulder, far from traffic, he was left to die as the driver sped away.

The driver, a bishop in the Episcopal Church, fled to her home. But, fortunately, another bike rider was able to follow her and report her location to police. Turns out she had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit and was also texting at the time she killed Palermo.

She had been stopped by police for drunk driving four years before - again with a high blood alcohol level and with an almost finished bottle of whisky and a marijuana pipe in the car. Amazingly, no charges were filed; she continued as a bishop, and, obviously, continued driving. If she had not been so connected and privileged, she might have gone to prison that time, and Palermo would still be alive.