Business Seeks Profit Over Public Safety -- An Anecdote

These DUI laws are just killing us.

A representative of the alcohol industry said that to me this week. Struggling mightily to keep my seat and my civility, I asked, how so?

The rep explained that South Dakota's sobriety checkpoint program has been getting more intense and driving up DUI arrests. A guy gets one of those, said the rep, and he doesn't want to risk that cost again.

I asked if the checkpoints just caused people to enjoy their adult beverages at home more, but the rep apparently sees enforcement of state laws as driving down sales for his industry.

We need more politicians who think like businessmen, the rep said.

No, we don't. Not when thinking like a businessman means easing up on drunk drivers.