The James Fagan Employment Act

Radley Balko | March 17, 2008

Massachusetts state Rep. James Fagan wants to slash the state's legal blood-alcohol driving limit to .02.

It's entirely coincidence, of course, that when Fagan isn't thinking up ridiculous laws for the legislature, he's a DWI defense attorney in private practice.

Someone ought to let Virginia's David Albo know that he's being given a run for his money as king of legislative douchebaggery.

Comments

|3.17.08 @ 5:40PM|#

Fagan is a drink-soaked, speech-slurring gay man... not that there's anything wrong with that!

|3.17.08 @ 6:01PM|#

I thought fagan was the leader of a bunch of thieving little urchins?

|3.17.08 @ 6:03PM|#

I just read the comments on the article.Now I do need a drink.

Tacos mmm...|3.17.08 @ 6:11PM|#

Breathalyzer tests are not sensitive for this.

|3.17.08 @ 6:13PM|#

I say we bring back the stocks for punishment. But only for self serving dickhead legislators.

|3.17.08 @ 6:13PM|#

brotherben | March 17, 2008, 6:01pm | #

I thought fagan was the leader of a bunch of thieving little urchins?

It's Fagin. Hence the name of the crime "Faginy" = employment of minors in a criminal enterprise.

However, your thoughts were going the same way as mine.

Taktix®|3.17.08 @ 6:18PM|#

I, for one, welcome our stock-bearing overlords...

|3.17.08 @ 6:26PM|#

Ridiculous. The guy driving legally and relaxed after a couple of drinks, with a .06 BAC, is not the problem. It's the three-time loser, who's already lost his license, driving an uninsured car the wrong way on the highway at .26 BAC who's the problem--and no law is going to stop him.

|3.17.08 @ 6:28PM|#

I dunno, there are a lot of candidates for King (or Queen) of Legislative Douchebaggery.

At least one of them is running for president.

Bingo|3.17.08 @ 6:28PM|#

jbd: yeah but you make more money by going after people who have a glass of wine with dinner

|3.17.08 @ 6:30PM|#

It's the three-time loser, who's already lost his license, driving an uninsured car the wrong way on the highway at .26 BAC who's the problem--and no law is going to stop him.

But, but, but...That's against the LAW!

/snark

McBeelzebub|3.17.08 @ 6:35PM|#

How dare you awful, awful libertarians impugn the desire of our Government to help people by suggesting that laws can be passed for the personal gain of individuals! You're standing in the way of our beautiful progressive vision!

Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeee.

Zhokuai|3.17.08 @ 6:39PM|#

I think he's supporting this because hes a criminal defense attorney and this will mean a lot more business for his firm.

|3.17.08 @ 6:42PM|#

If Albo were to sue Fagan for trade secret violation, that would be perfect.

|3.17.08 @ 6:53PM|#

At least one three of them is are running for president.

Fixed that for you.

Other Matt|3.17.08 @ 7:37PM|#

Aresen-Was thinking the exact same correction, thanks.

|3.17.08 @ 7:49PM|#

Aresen | March 17, 2008, 6:13pm |

It's Fagin. Hence the name of the crime "Faginy" = employment of minors in a criminal enterprise.

However, your thoughts were going the same way as mine."



Aresen,

I welcome my pedantic overlord.

Ron Bailey fan|3.17.08 @ 8:08PM|#

Are you implying that an economic conflict of interest has impaired his better judgement. That's crazy! I have never heard of such a thing! I am sure it is only his greater expertise in the DWI area that has lead him to his fair and honest opinions.

Disclaimer: I am not really a Ron Bailey fan.

|3.17.08 @ 8:37PM|#

In the spirit of Craig, Spitzer and a slew of other do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do hypocrites, I suspect we will be reading about Fagin's own DUI arrest in the months to come...

alan|3.17.08 @ 10:41PM|#

Apologies to Commie Pete,

If I had a flame thrower
I'd burn'em in the morning
I'd burn'em in the evening
Burn all over this land
I'd burn the warmongers
I'd burn the motherfuckers
and legislators
All over this land

Other Matt|3.18.08 @ 6:42AM|#

In the spirit of Craig, Spitzer and a slew of other do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do hypocrites, I suspect we will be reading about Fagin's own DUI arrest in the months to come...

And a subsequent admission that he had an affair 25 years ago but he's tearfully and appropriately contrite for it, and it's a personal matter, but he wanted to get it in the media...

Abdul|3.18.08 @ 8:10AM|#

I could get a .02 breathalyzer by looking at pictures of scotch.

|3.18.08 @ 8:23AM|#

J sub D | March 17, 2008, 6:13pm | #

I say we bring back the stocks for punishment. But only for self serving dickhead legislators.


not enough stocks in the known universe

some guy|3.18.08 @ 8:32AM|#

I propose a -.02 level. That's right, a negative threshold. Just thinking about a drink gets your ass busted. How do you like those apples?

|3.18.08 @ 9:21AM|#

some guy,
Jesus did say that just thinking about strange cooter was a sin of adultery. So there is biblical precedent for those apples.

Alice Bowie|3.18.08 @ 9:47AM|#

I don't think INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS helps anything or anyone.

Now-a-days

1. One can't travel to Canada (and some other countries) with a DUI conviction without getting a relief from the Canadian Embassy.

2. Employers now routinely check the FBI Criminal Database and DENY opportunities to individuals over a DUI.

I do believe that DUI is a serious matter. However, the Scarlet Letter has to go.

|3.18.08 @ 10:09AM|#

This legislation is clearly sexist. As a 200 pound man I can actually have a single drink and still come in under the limit. A woman of 150 pounds or less can't even have one.

Charles|3.18.08 @ 10:46AM|#

Michael Pack,

Whoa, you're right about those comments. They're the worst part of this story (if you can believe it).

|3.18.08 @ 10:56AM|#

King (or Queen) of Legislative Douchebaggery.

I love this, should be a recurring award...though I wonder what the crown would look like? Somehting with a comode motif I think...