Senator from New Port Richey proposes pink DUI plates

(11.15.05) — TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Convicted drunk drivers with restricted driving privileges would have to place bright pink license plates on their vehicles under legislation filed at the state Capitol. The first three letters on the plate would be: D-U-I. Bill sponsor Senator Mike Fasano says pink plates might embarrass drivers and make them think twice before they drive drunk. His plan would also allow police to pull over vehicles with pink plates even if officers don't have probable cause. The legislation would apply to people who have driving restrictions because of a D-U-I. Currently, nearly 840-thousand drivers in Florida have limited driving provisions due to a drunk driving conviction, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Ohio and Michigan have similar laws. The Ohio plate is yellow with large red letters. It has been dubbed the "scarlet letter plate," a reference to the scarlet letter "A" that Hester Prynne had to wear for committing adultry in Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic 19th century novel. The group Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the pink plate plan.


What do you think?

I like the idea, but what they dont address is how long they plan on leaving the plates on the cars. If you get a DUI and you put a pink plate on your car and a cop can pull you over without probable cause, does that apply for the rest of your life? Or just while your license is restricted?

I think after your license is no longer restricted they should move to a different color or designate something else that flags "Hey, I drover drunk before and I may do it again".

It's pretty easy to identify people who have DUI's atleast down here near my part of Fl. They are he guys in bars while the cops circle the parking lots waiting for them to come out to nail them with DUI 2 and 3.

I saw pink at Bare Assets.

When I go out and drink, I still won't be thinking.. "Damn, I better stop at 3 because I might get the pink license plate." It is a good gimic though but probably expensive to implement.

Just enact even harsher penalties.

What it will do is that people with pink plates will get followed more, stopped more, and checked on more...

Actually, I'll be surprised if this goes through under today's society of complainers and whiners...

Years ago in Louisiana, they used to staple your license to your speeding ticket and confiscate it until your ticket was paid. You would drive on your "pink" copy of the ticket.. So whenever you were pulled over a cop would immediately know if you had a ticket recently.. Also, since the license had permanent staple holes, even years later they could tell.. It got to where cops were allegedly treating drivers with multiple holes in ther license more harshly than other drivers that were pulled over.. People complained it violated thier civil rights, yadda yadda and now they no longer confiscate your license.

When I go out and drink, I still won't be thinking.. "Damn, I better stop at 3 because I might get the pink license plate." It is a good gimic though but probably expensive to implement.

Just enact even harsher penalties.

I don't know how it works in Florida, but the license plate follows the CAR, not the driver. A drunk can drive anybody's car with a normal plate. If he wants to avoid getting a pink plate, he just registers his car under another name (like a business or a relative). I don't think it'll work.

Now, if they tattoo "I HAVE A DUI" in day-glo pink on the morons' foreheads, I'd vote for that in a heartbeat. ;)

How many fanatically driven women who love pink will try to get DUI's to be part of this exclusive club? ;)

I think it's a great idea but not pink. Make it deep red and yellow letters or something.

I kinda like the breath-a-lizer tester the chick in "40 year old virgin" had. You know the chick that kept on yelling, "LOOK AT ME!!! WHY AREN'T YOU LOOKING AT ME!!!", crashes and throws up at the guy and asked if he still wants to have sex. :rollingla

Ya she had dave carelle blow into it to start the car. I know that wouldn't work all that well. But something like that would be nice. :D:

Not sure if it'll pass,I think it's a great idea but like Tinga pointed out there are ways around it. I'd go for the tattoo on the forehead idea too. From what I here the ACLU will be fighting this on behalf of all those convicted of DUI's. Also the states that do have these special plates have no data to support that it actually prevents those once convicted of DUI from driving again. Apparently they've done no follow-up reports on it's effectiveness. So who knows.

My buddy got a DUI, he has to install a GPS box in his car. Whenever he starts it, he must blow in it for 5 seconds, and then periodically, while hes driving it may beep/flash at him to re-blow it.

Simple solution, he filled up a few large balloons and leaves them in his car just in case...

I know this is really dumb to bring up but it bothers me everytime I hear it. You do not need probable cause to pull someone over. You only need reasonable suspicion. The media is dumb when it comes to laws and the state misrepresents everything. Ok now my opinion on pink license plates. NO. It will cause problems. There is no case law on it so one will happen and just take away this stupid law anyway. It will not work.

I don't know if you were referring to my post about the probable cause thing.. I already knew that.. but I also know guys with pink plates will spend ALOT of time on the road side walking straight lines :)

I know this is really dumb to bring up but it bothers me everytime I hear it. You do not need probable cause to pull someone over. You only need reasonable suspicion. The media is dumb when it comes to laws and the state misrepresents everything. Ok now my opinion on pink license plates. NO. It will cause problems. There is no case law on it so one will happen and just take away this stupid law anyway. It will not work.

I don't know if you were referring to my post about the probable cause thing.. I already knew that.. but I also know guys with pink plates will spend ALOT of time on the road side walking straight lines :)
I only read a few. I was referring to the pc thing mostly. I dont know. People woh drink can get stupid. People who depend on booze are really stupid. These pink plate will violate some sort of case law or statute. I dont see it happen. I think it is one of those ideas that just make the media and will never happen.

i agree, the aclu will be all over it.

I only read a few. I was referring to the pc thing mostly. I dont know. People woh drink can get stupid. People who depend on booze are really stupid. These pink plate will violate some sort of case law or statute. I dont see it happen. I think it is one of those ideas that just make the media and will never happen.

You could not impose a law like that in Texas hell half the plates would be pink, or have notches in them for the amount of DWI's they have received.

damnit...i want a pink plate though

damnit...i want a pink plate though
From what I hear you are not far from getting one. :bootyshak

lol, i'm at least smart enough to not drink and drive...geeze

lol, i'm at least smart enough to not drink and drive...geeze
Yeah but drinking affects judgement first which leads to DUI

i drank and drove lastnight




yup i had a nice big sonic blast from sonic.. yummm

If you're dumb enough to drink and drive you should AT LEAST get a pink plate. perhaps a public flogging as well. I can proudly say that it is one bad habbit I didn't pick up from my dad. Years of trying to get him not do haven't done anything, and I have the feeling that he's only going to learn the hard way :(

I've had two friends killed, one was the drunk driver, one by another drunk driver. I just don't see why people take the chance.