Plan B Forum

I am a complete, unvarnished liberal. So I should re ready to swallow anything that is published on 'Slate' right? Instead, I get irrationally angry over headlines that just feed the other side with such blatant wrong- headedness

The Headline:

Many Reported Injured by Vehicle in Times Square; Police Do Not Believe Crash Was Intentional

By Ben Mathis-Lilley

Really? A guy drives THREE BLOCKS on the sidewalk ! ! ! If any cop believes it was not intentional, they must put it into whole new category for driving while texting.

snailgate

Might have been a DUI, which the driver had been previously accused.

He apparently said he was trying to force a suicide by cop. So, that's pretty intentional. But initial reports were that he was intoxicated and given recent news, the media was quelling any concerns of a terrorist act. Just the usual American nutjob violence.

Just heard on the radio that he tested sober for alcohol (even though he has a noted alcohol problem) but that K2 use is now suspected. Gotta wait for the blood tests.

Also, if he was on K2, he may not have known what he was doing. I know more than a few people who say K2 screws with your mind worse than many other substances.

I'll let the courts decide "intent".

oldr_n_wsr wrote:
Also, if he was on K2, he may not have known what he was doing. I know more than a few people who say K2 screws with your mind worse than many other substances.

Now they say it was pot laced with pcp.

Either way, not good for the brain.

So he was acting while under the influence of pot and pcp. Is this the current application of the ancient principal when before most American judges "He was drunk. He didn't know hat he was doing. Just throw him in a cell until he sobers up and let him go in the morning.""

Must there be ability to form criminal intent? Or is the act itself clear evidence of culpability?

snailgate.

From the radio report he's also claiming he has had mental issues since childhood.
Also, he doesn't remember running the people down.
And he wants to see any videos that may have been recordd to make sure it was him doing the act.

Drunk/high is no excuse.

Some jurisdictions recognize intoxication as a mitigating factor in sentencing, but generally speaking voluntary intoxication is no excuse for criminal acts except limited specific intent crimes - again, only in some jurisdictions.