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Wednesday February 20, 2008 at 7:18 am
Driver in Crash Suspended License


 Just yesterday we aired on investigation on suspended drivers leaving court and getting behind the wheel to drive.Then, late last night I learned after our 11pm investigation that the Washington Post would break a story revealing the driver in the deadly street racing crash had a suspended license at the time those spectators were struck down.

Coincidence?  After what we learned I don't think it's much of a coincidence at all. Last year in Virginia alone more than 53 thousand people were convicted of driving on a suspended license. It seems driving is considered a privilege and not a right and people are going to take the chance and drive anyway. I'm not saying that 20 year old driver in the weekend crash was driving dangerously, that's for the police to decide. However, it amplifies what we have been telling people. 

Viewers are weighing in. Some of posted their thoughts in the story comments section, others here in our blog site. Feel free to do the same.

Check out the story.

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Comments on Driver in Crash Suspended License
Dottie
First off thank you Kim for taking your time and getting all the facts first. Bill Clinton did not lie in a court of law, in front of a jury, did not ruin three officers lifes or pay to keep messages in a locked depoisit box. If Kwame did not have nothing to hide then why did he hide them [DA]. Also if someone wrote those text messages becides Kwame and Christine then why did he say he was sorry or why did Christine resign. Come on you top paid lawers we are not stupid. Christine if I was you I would watch my back because Kwame might start thinking you will tell all for a plea bargin, you my end up like the dancer. I do think Kwame will let you take the full fall just like he did when the text massages first came out.

murrayvideo
I can't believe that you are doing a show on colon cancer and you tell people that there is a colon cancer awareness activity in central park but you don't say where in central park. Central park is a big park, where is the awareness activity being held? You don't even have a number that people can call up and find out where they can go for a screening in their area. COME ON CHANNEL 7 YOUR MESSING UP!!! maybe I should watch another news channel, maybe they can give me more information.

Ross McLaughlin
To Bill Cundiff Whoops made a mistake. Sorry that woman who got mowed down by a suspended driver had 6 surgeries, not 8 as I had said. But who's counting? OH WAIT! I GUESS SHE IS!

HODER
Bill Cundiff,

Come on, Bill. Really...really? You wrote: "the resources utilized to "uncover" this shocking abuse of law could and should have been spent on real issues". This is a real issue. Check out the story...or ask Mary, her husband was killed by a driver with suspended license. That's reason enough there to try and stiop it. You also wrote that the police don't care...again you are off the mark. The police we talked to did care a whole hell of a lot. They just can't be every where all the time. AND we were thanked for our efforts by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Also, another reason the story is more than worthy.

I don't want to seem like I am picking on you, but we did do the story about people standing around in the cover of night watching the drag racing. Heck, we've been covering that completely since Saturday.

So, your way off the mark here. Bill, we even exposed the issue of drag racing back in 2003. I went undercover and caught the whoile thing. Sure the police and law could do more ,but so can you, me, all of us...and that's what we did it and would do it again.

Ross McLaughlin
TO PHOWARD I too, applaud your honesty. In fact often times drivers whose licenses have been suspended can get a restricted license that will allow them to drive to work and to their court appearances. All they have to do is ask. If they are multiple offenders, or have lost it for DUI, the judge may say no and probably rightly so. First offense, non payment of fines etc. why not. The laws are in place for a reason and we all need to think about that.

ROSS

Ross McLaughlin
To Bill Cundiff I think you should read the postings that have been linked to the story. Here I'll make it easy for you with a link: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0208/497212_interact.html

Pay particular attention to the woman who lost her husband to a suspended driver and to the woman who has had 8 surgeries because of it. Trite! Tell it to them. We have been reporting on the people mowed down watching street racing. Oh and that driver was suspended. He shouldn't have been driving, If he wasn't would they be alive? We'll see how all this plays out.

When our society starts tolerating lawlessness, we're in trouble. IN FACT READ MY BLOG ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBLITY. We all make mistakes. It's how we handle them and the choices we make that define us as individuals and a society.

I do not apologize for this story and would gladly do it again!

ROSS

anonymous
I am a concerned citizen in Contra Costa County who is concerned about the social class discrimination going on within the Tri Delta Transit system with regards to social economic class discrimination, having to do with commuters in certain areas to certain destinations. They are being transported in luxury buses(plush) and are being transported to the steps of the commuting destinations in luxury with minimal cost--opposed to the average commuter. All the while people that are also commuting in this terrible commuter's traffic to" regular" destinations have to sometimes transfer as much as three to four times in order to get to work. It would seem to me that the greatest need would be to the average commuter trying to get to and from work, in the shortest period of time and expense.

HODER
phoward,

I think that's the classic case of being rewarded for your honesty. For our story, Ross and Becca (a producer) sat in the courtrooms to hear people telling their tales. If you watch, you'll see an admission from one man who says he lied to the judge about driving to court and about how he was going to get home.

What a novel approach you had, being honest. I commend you for doing it right...after you did it wrong, of course (driving recklessly). I wish the people we came across would have abided by the laws as well.

Bill Cundiff
With all of the scams and all of the crime and violence, etc in this huge greater Washington area, this is the best you can do? No question that these folks shouldn't be driving. But the resources utilized to "uncover" this shocking abuse of law could and should have been spent on real issues. If the police located just steps away don't think it;s a threat to safety of the public, then maybe you shouldn't either. Why not do a piece on why the police weren't watching the parking lot. I don't think there is any evidence that the driver of the vehicle was breaking any laws other than the suspended license. Should you maybe be doing a piece on hundreds of people showing up in the middle of the night to stand in the middle of a hgihway and cheer on a truly dangerous traffic violation? Maybe you should do a piece on the need for more responsive law enforcement. Maybe purs

You station is becoming a bit trite. If real news is so hard to find then maybe you should consider reducing the time channel 7 dedicates to evening news

phoward
I appeared in court in Fairfax County for a reckless driving charge. My license was suspended and the Judge asked me in court if I drove to court. I answered yes and the judge gave me permission to drive home. I drove home and did not drive for the entire suspension period.

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