State Representative Against Drunk Driving Laws

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By Nicole Grigg

Story Published: Mar 31, 2011 at 11:03 PM MDT

Story Updated: Apr 1, 2011 at 3:36 PM MDT

BILLINGS - Republican State Representative Alan Hale spoke out against drunk driving laws on Wednesday. Hale is a bar owner from Basin and made a passionate speech before his colleagues saying attempts to cut the high drunk driving rates in the state are hurting small businesses.

"Mr. Chairman, I have to rise in opposition to this, along with all of the other DUI laws. These DUI laws are not doing any of our small businesses in our state any good; at all. They're destroying them. They're destroying a way of life that has been in Montana for years and years. These taverns and bars in these smaller communities connect people together. They're the center of the communities, and I'll guarantee you there's only two ways to get there. Either you hitchhike or you drive, and I can promise you they're not going to hitchhike. Thank you," said Hale.

Hale was one of 12 lawmakers to vote against a new bill that would allow the courts to take into account DUI offenses from up to 10 years ago.

Hardin resident Dohn Ratliff said he's embarrassed by Hale's remark and said it will only hurt Montana's image. "As were approaching April Fools Day, I would certainly hope that's what he's proposing because that would be completely out of line otherwise," said Ratliff. Ratliff is a teacher at Hardin High and has seen the affects of drunk driving first hand. "I've witnessed too many of my own students that have been killed by drunk drivers, and I think more needs to be done, not less," added Ratliff.

Hale hadn’t returned multiple phone calls by news time on Thursday.

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Cindy said on Tuesday, Mar 6 at 2:19 PM

I have family members on both sides of the drunk driving laws. My first husband was killed by a drunk driver and I was advised by lawyers to go for everything I could get! What about that jerk that drive right into my husband? He got jail time, he lives with the fact that he killed someone, had paid fines and lost his license. How much do we want from these people? He did not get in the car telling himself that we is going to go down the wrong side of the road and find someone to kill! On the other hand, my son was driving home from a party (should not have been but we can't always be there). He could not see around a building at his stop sigh so he rolled up a bit until he could. According to the cop, that's running a stop sign and he is still paying the price now, almost a year later. The police in some areas are far too interested in catching someone. The current limit in PA is absurd! Now there's house arrest for 1st time offense! Come ON!!!

Anonymous said on Monday, Sep 26 at 4:20 PM

For those of you that lost a loved one because of a DUI i feel for you. Losing a loved one is a terrible circumstance whether it is of a drunk driver or cancer. But what about those of us that didn't kill anyone.? Didn't cause property damange? didn't hurt anyone, even ourselves? I lost my home, my job, my health ins. can't find a job so now am going to jail. What about my life?

fairandbalanced said on Friday, Apr 8 at 7:45 AM

Driving under the influence is a serious crime and should be punished severely. But it is possible to enact too many DD laws, Once you drop the limit to .08, kick up penalties and expiration period for 1st offense, and really lower the boom on multiples, you have done the legislative portion of the task. I think that the add-ons we see are from political opportunists that want to create the appearance of being hard-working and proactive with no down side (no one ever lost an election because they were too tough on smokers, drunk drivers and child molesters - the final pariahs... although meat and gluten eaters may be on-deck in Calif). According to some of you, let's make it 20 years in state prison for a 1st offense. Having said that, I cannot think of a possible argument that someone like Hale could have used to articulate this distinction.Maybe calling these opportunists on what they are doing is a completely unavoidable political snake pit. It was political suicide - bad idea.

Angela said on Thursday, Apr 7 at 11:54 AM

Compassion is the ability to walk in another's shoes !! The problem is, people that haven't been affected by devastation just don't get how serious it is. It will never happen to me attitude or it hasn't happened to me and I don't understand the magnitude of it. Let us victims help you to understand before you become a victim. How can we help you to understand? Drinking should be done responsible as with anything else in life. Believe it or not..there are responsible people in this world. If you wanna jump off a bridge..that is your business but don't pull an innocent person standing next to you off with you..maybe they don't want to die. This man is saying..people are not going to hitch hike so ditch the laws..they are hurting my money. The bar that served our driver paid 1 million. We would gladly give the money back for the life that was taken. You can't take it and buy a new mommy for babies with it. They need their mommy back. They ask..why won't my mommy just come back.

Angela said on Thursday, Apr 7 at 11:11 AM

I agree that the laws are for law abiding citizens because that scares normal people from doing bad things..I think that the laws should be even more strict so that when people drink and drive, no matter once or more..they should be punished to the fullest degree..How can you defend someone killing someone..it is selfish. The man that killed my family got 10 years but will only serve 2 years..he will be out before one of my daughters fully recover and the other will still be in her grave. You ask..as for the WOW I HOPE THAT ALL YOU SAINTS HAVE MADE IT HOME SAFE..that is the exact statement that I hear..I hope he makes it home ok..how bout..dang..I hope he don't kill my 6 month old grand daughter, my daughter, or my mom..wow he is drunk..I hope the telephone pole that he takes out can be replaced...really Dude..you are a trip..My daughter was a saint..she was innocent !! You can have a drink after dinner..but not more that what the law allows..like 17..that why there is a LAW DUH DUH

Angela said on Thursday, Apr 7 at 10:58 AM

When someone goes to a bar and gets drunk, they are drunk and don't make good decisions. There were laws put into place that states that the bar can't serve people past the point of visual intoxication. If a bar does..they are responsible if that person leaves and kills. When you give a 2 year old a machine gun..you would be responsible if that child kills with it..if you serve a drunk(mind of 2 year old)and they kill..it is there fault for drinking but it at some point..others should be held responsible for serving them until they stagger out of the bar because they aren't capable of making decisions ... like driving at that point. This is not family looking for someone to blame..this is everyone making the right decision to keep drunks off the road. A lot of bar owners care only about making the buck..not who kills on the way home. Mr. Hale is a bar owner..sounds to me like he cares about making that buck !!!

Anonymous said on Saturday, Apr 2 at 9:53 PM

Wow! I hope that all of you saint's have made it home safe! Because I'm sure that none of you have ever had a drink with dinner or a local bar and driven home.

BadMagic said on Friday, Apr 1 at 2:48 PM

You can't legislate morality. You cannot legislate personal responsibility. A system that punishes as apposed to rehabilitates is lazy. Someone standing up against loss of liberty IS NOT condoning whatever the 'save our children take away our liberty' issue is. This tactic is how sheeple are trained to give up their rights / liberty. ***Anyone that would give up liberty for security deserves neither!*** A person who advocates personal responsibility and liberty is overwhelmingly labeled a tool, fool, bloodied hands, etc.??? Give me a break! Don't get me wrong, I don't condone reckless irresponsible behavior, but to automatically say someone standing up for our rights is advocating the issue at hand is just plain childish and naive. ***First they came for the drunks and I didn't say anything because I don't drink. Then they came for the MM users and I didn't say anything because I'm healthy. Then they came for me and nobody was left to say anything. Get it?

george said on Friday, Apr 1 at 1:36 PM

How about this, go ahead and drink and drive. But if you cause a death or serious injury, we get to kill you and your immediate family? Sound fair? That's the deal responsible people are forced to live with when drunks get on the road.

George H. said on Friday, Apr 1 at 12:59 PM

Sorry as it may sound I agree with this jack! Why do we need more laws? We need to enforce the ones we have already. Adding more laws will only make the DUI’s 13th, 14th, times go higher. Come on, you all see the ones that are arrested on their 10th DUI, give me a break. These new laws do nothing to fix the problem and only cost us, tax payers, more money!

Mary Danforth said on Friday, Apr 1 at 11:27 AM

What a repulsive idiotic staement. If this is what we have to pick from as our represenitives we are in big trouble. He was almost whining like a child that has had his candy taken away from him.

catt said on Friday, Apr 1 at 11:04 AM

I support Alan Hale. He is not saying it is ok to be drunk and drive. But instead of it protecting and serve the public it is used for revenue. The police wait by bars and pull people over for no reason. This is killing businesses. I go out and socialize in local bars. But if I am too intoxicated I get a ride home.But I always feel harrassed if a cop is behind me. They tailgate and try to intimidate you. They scare me now.

Will said on Friday, Apr 1 at 10:13 AM

If you watch the video you would hear that he "WAS NOT" the only one that voted no, I think it stated there were 11 others!

ronjazz said on Friday, Apr 1 at 10:05 AM

to Paul: stricter drunk driving laws have had the effect they were intended to. It's too bad you can't do a little research before writing something so clearly ignorant. You and Hale need to go to DUI school together.

resident said on Friday, Apr 1 at 10:04 AM

I am all for more strict laws on DUIs I thnk they get off way to easy... But I don't think that anybody that has lost a family member can blame the bartender for serving a customer too much. If you are in a bar, then you are old enough and should be responsible enough to know your limits, if you plan on driving. It isn't the bartenders responsiblilty to babysit and count how many drinks one or every customer has had. I have never lost a family member but I have lost a friend and it isn't fair and although you look for someone or something to blame. The only person responsible is the DRUNK!

George said on Friday, Apr 1 at 8:48 AM

This is an April Fool's joke right?? You really had us going!!No one is that stupid.

Ami said on Friday, Apr 1 at 8:34 AM

@Paul, Mr. Hale is against all DUI laws. Listen again and read the text.

annonymous 2 said on Friday, Apr 1 at 8:12 AM

uhh , hey MORON!! there are'nt ANY CAB SREVICES IN FRIKKIN MONTANA!!?? YOU "SIR" ARE A CLASS 'A' TOOL!!! do the good people of your state a favor: RESIGN!!!

Paul said on Friday, Apr 1 at 5:48 AM

Wow, are you people missing the point. Do you really think laws any stricter than the ones in place now will stop the alcoholics from driving anyway? The laws that are on place now are pretty stringent, and have stopped casual drinkers perhaps from driving. Leave it be.

Christa said on Friday, Apr 1 at 5:02 AM

Fighting for the right to drive drunk!How are we supposed to respond to such stupidity. If I were a resident of Billings Montana I'd impeach Mr. Hale!

Nancy said on Friday, Apr 1 at 4:55 AM

You are the dumbest person in the universe. How can someone say what he did. My sister in law was killed bya drunk driver. Maybe you need to lose someone from drunk driving and see how it feels. Be someone Montana can look up to. You are down right stupid.

Angela said on Friday, Apr 1 at 4:46 AM

Mr.Hale how can you sleep at night with the blood of innocent people on your hands. You are no better than the person behind the wheel of a car that kills because you are helping put them there. If you want to defend something..go to the front lines of Iraq..that's where you need to be. Maybe one of those non hitch hikers will meet you on the road and you can make your speech from your wheelchair or from your grave..I hope you never have to go through what other families go through but you should try and put yourself in the shoes of the innocent people on the road..it changes lives when you are laughing one minute or singing in your car, then you wake up in a hospital bed only to find out the person sitting next to you was ejected, slaughtered and dead. Your mommy, your daughter, your grand daughter, your wife, your brother, your son. What about the cost of the enormous medical bills we are left with and you never recover because it changes who you are. It is selfish.

Anonymous said on Friday, Apr 1 at 4:21 AM

What a sick man..is this guy a drunk ??? My family member can't hitch hike or drive because she is dead from being hit by a drunk driver and my daughter wouldn't go to a bar or many other places in fear that people ask her about her scars..so I ask you Mr.Hale..who should be responsible for serving someone too much.. I take it you haven't been affected by drinking and driving YET. Maybe you should spend your time trying to find them a sober ride home. Would you give your 2 year old a loaded machine gun to play with...that is exactly what we do when we let drunk drivers behind the wheel of a car...They KILL innocent people over and over and over..how can you defend such. I wish my daughter had a social life, I wish she was here for her babies that were 2 & 4 years old, I wish they didn't have to loose their mommy and I wish they didn't have to have so many surguries. I wish they didn't cry at night for their mommy. I wish they didn't have to visit her at the graveyard.

Don Wright said on Friday, Apr 1 at 3:54 AM

Representative Hale is our April Fool for the Year if not the Decade!

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