Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 27, 1993 TAG: 9306270009
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ed Shamy
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That morning, at 10 a.m. in the Roanoke County Administration Building, a group of state legislators will listen to our ideas about keeping suspended drivers off Virginia highways.
Why should you plan to attend? Because startling numbers of suspended drivers are defying our wishes and continuing to drive on our roads, and we've not yet figured out a way to stop them.
Consider Robert Frazee of Roanoke.
He's 35.
Let's just look at a recent slice of his life, beginning Oct. 3, last autumn.
He was caught (No. 1) driving under the influence that day in the city, and his court date was set.
On Oct. 15, before he could get to court, Frazee was caught again (No. 2), driving under the influence. A court date was set.
Before he could get to court for Nos. 1 or 2, Frazee was stopped for driving under the influence (No. 3) on Nov. 5. A court date was set.
On Nov. 10. Frazee was convicted for No. 1, and his driver's license was suspended for 12 months.
On Dec. 10, he was convicted for No. 2, and his license was suspended for 12 months.
On Jan. 19, Frazee was convicted for No. 3. His license was suspended for 12 months.
On April 22, Frazee was stopped, this time in Roanoke County, for driving under the influence (No. 4).
He pleaded guilty to No. 4 on June 17 and was released pending his sentencing.
Before Frazee could be sentenced for No. 4, he was caught - at 4:15 a.m. June 19. He was charged with driving under the influence (No. 5).
Robert Frazee is in the Roanoke County Jail.
He's a habitual offender a couple of times over. Since October, we've tried four times to keep him off the road by suspending or otherwise withdrawing his driving privileges. A fifth time is pending.
That is our will. Not a judge's will, not a prosecutor's will, and not a cop's will. Ours. We are telling Robert Frazee not to drive. We are guiding him toward help.
Lord knows, Frazee needs help with a monstrous problem. We wish him well, and we'll probably send him to prison for three or four years to work it out.
Only by the grace of God has he not killed himself or any of us just yet, and we want neither of those to happen.
As he wrestles with his personal problem, we've told him not to endanger himself or us. We've told him not to drive.
How do we improve our odds that Robert Frazee won't drive again, or all of the other Robert Frazees - frighteningly, they are legion - won't drive?
Hundreds, probably thousands of us, have ideas.
When the Courts of Justice committee of the Virginia House of Delegates convenes July 20 to hear our ideas, we ought to be ready.
Plan to be there.
by CNB