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# Drunks need to be put on check
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/drunks-need-to-be-put-on-check-editor/
- Published: 2007-04-09T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:27:15.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Mike Kirwan*

People are continuing to be murdered by drunk drivers. Penalties are not strong enough. A drunk kills someone, usually they survive, and get charged with something called vehicular manslaughter. Not good enough. People choose to drink, they make the choice to drive. Drunk drivers should have their cars seized, sold, with them getting none of the money. If they don't own the car, leave it up to the owner. Charge the drunk with car theft, get your car back. If not, you don't. Drunk drivers who kill should be charged with first degree murder. It is no less a crime than murder. They do not deserve to be paroled or rehabilitated.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 9, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/040907.pdf?ref=smdp.com)