WHO'S REALLY GETTING THE PROTECTION?

     On the afternoon of 3/5/2005 I was driving northbound Middlebelt Road in Huron Township to work overtime at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. I reached the intersection of Middlebelt and King Roads in Huron Township, MI when a vehicle that was about to make a right to go eastbound King Road crashed into me. My 2002 Mercury Sable was totaled. It turns out that the driver who caused the accident was driving on a suspended license.

     Ever since that accident every news story I hear about a criminal who is released from jail or prison committing another crime, in addition to whoever broke the law again, I blame those who fail to enforce the law. Here are two incidents that would drive home the point.

     On the afternoon of 8/2/2016 in Brownstown Township, MI a male & female wanted for retail fraud were fleeing Woodhaven Police when the couple struck three vehicles at the intersection of Dix Highway and Allen Road. 27-year-old Nicole Ann Cutting of Trenton was killed in the crash while several others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The suspects were identified as Thomas Michael Peterson and Katie Michelle Chinavere. Peterson was charged with Parole violation, fleeing & eluding, and negligent homicide. Chinavare was charged with retail fraud.

     On 7/27/2016 in Sumpter Township, MI 49-year-old Charles Cahill was speeding on Martinsville Road when he crashed into a mini-van. 12-year-old Victoria Mack, who was seated the back-seat of the vehicle, was killed in the crash. The charges Cahill faced were as follows:

• Second-degree murder

• Driving on a suspended license

• Operating on a high blood-alcohol level causing death

• Having an open container in a vehicle

His blood-alcohol level was at 0.203%; his driving license was suspended 17 times and revoked 24 times. He was arrested twelve times. In fact he hasn’t had a valid driver’s license since 1989.

    On 1/24/2017 Cahill was sentenced to 27 to 50 years in prison. The odd part about this is that Cahill asked the judge to hold him accountable. If Cahill should survive the 27 years, which would make him 76 years old, it would be the luckiest day of his life.

   These incidents are examples of how there are too many loopholes in the law which give criminals an excessive number of chances at breaking the law. It took a serious crime, the mentioned above that resulted in fatalities, for anything to be done. The consequences are too liberal and too lenient and don’t send a serious message to those who break the law. Electronic tethers are useless and can be destroyed. Ignition interlocks won’t work because the drunk driver can have a friend or relative blow into the device to start the vehicle.

   What should be done about it? The penalties should be more severe. The loopholes should be closed to the point where the first crime committed is only and last one that’s committed. For starters…the parole board should be abolished. Number two: The victims and/or their families should have the right to file a lawsuit against those who enable the offender to commit additional crimes. Number three: The victims and/or the families of the victims should see to it that the criminal stays in prison after the minimum sentenced is served.

   The justice system has too many flaws. The famous motto for police is “To Serve and Protect”. Instead of the those who obey the law, the criminals are the ones getting the protection. Those who are supposed to help law enforcement keep the criminals off of the streets are claiming immunity instead of being held accountable. The serious and tragic consequences mentioned above are examples of that immunity. That seriously needs to change which includes criminals losing the protection.