Media Release from Sensible Sentencing Trust

26 June 2007

Judge signs road-users death warrant

“Judge Davidson’s bizarre decision offers no protection for New Zealand’s road users and every encouragement to thousands of repeat drunk drivers who are in training to kill.”

That is the response of Sensible Sentencing spokesperson on impaired driving, Megan McPherson, to Wellington District Court Judge Bruce Davidson’s decision not to send a 13 times convicted drunk driver to prison. Instead he said he is offering recidivist drunk driver Alan Hogg an “opportunity to break his cycle of offending”.

“This “opportunity”could well be a death warrant for innocent road users. It is of little wonder repeat drunk drivers keep on with their lethal behaviour when some judges encourage them to do so,” says Mrs McPherson.

“Does Judge Davidson understand of the anarchy caused by impaired drivers on New Zealand’s roads? Has he never spent time with a family who has had a loved-one killed by one of these maniacs? Clearly the answer to these questions is no.”

“I’m saddened and appalled that a Judge, who is appointed to protect the community from criminals, is in fact supporting them. Judge Davidson’s decision not to impose any disqualification does nothing to improve New Zealand’s international image as a laughing stock when it comes to dealing with hard-core repeat drunk and drugged drivers.”

At age 34 Hogg already has well over 30 serious driving convictions. These include 30 for driving while disqualified, 13 for drunk-driving, as well as others for dangerous driving and drugs. Hogg had not held a licence for most of the past 18 years.

ENDS

Related articles: http://www.safe-nz.org.nz/Articles/licensed.htm

Story about Hogg’s court appearance:
http://www.stuff.co.nz:80/4107796a12855.html?source=email

Key Facts:
1. Research by MADD (US) indicates those repeat drunk drivers are only caught one in 100 times when they are drunk driving.

2. Number of disqualifications from driving for driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and causing death or injury. Figures supplied by the Ministry of Justice are as follows:

Year Number of People
2004 188
2005 194
2006 236

3. Drivers disqualified from driving each year. Figures supplied by the Ministry of Justice are as follows:

Year Number of people disqualified
2004 30,814
2005 31,771
2006 33,706

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