(Perhaps) the first in a series of conversations with myself.

Myself: I heard a story on the radio this morning of a person being arrested for impaired driving last night. Sam guy was arrested for impaired driving twice in one day last month.That’s scary.

Me: “How is this kind of horrific stupidity allowed to occur?

Myself: What? How can you say that? You know that this man obviously has a serious problem with alcohol and, as someone who worked in addictions for quite a while, you should know better than to call him ’stupid’. He’s ill. He needs help.

I: No, she meant the horrific stupidity of a legal system that lets impaired people, and their vehicles, go free so then impaired drivers can have another shot at it. The man does need help and protection. From himself.

Myself: Oh, okay. Yes, well, that’s true.

Me: So they should impound the vehicle of anyone arrested for impaired driving.

I: Sure. I mean they impound vehicles that are parked illegally when it’s winter and the car is impeding snow clearing. And the same is true, I think, if a car is parked in a loading zone. That car is towed and you can’t get it back until you pay up.

Me: Exactly. Surely impounding the vehicle of a drunk driver is a perfectly sensible way to prevent that person from driving again, at least until he sobers up, for God’s sake.

I: Now, calm down. Don’t get all riled up.

Me: But I am riled up. Really riled up. Pissed off, the truth be told. I do not understand why we don’t impound vehicles used in DUIs, for the safety of the public and the safety of impaired drivers themselves. If we made the cost to get the cars back more than it costs to get a few cab rides, maybe some lives could be saved. DUI offenders obviously can’t police themselves and taking away their licenses doesn’t work so you have to take the cars away.

Myself: But what if the impaired driver is driving a vehicle that belongs to someone else.

Me: Tough! If that person was uncaring and irresponsible enough to loan a car to someone who was intoxicated or has been repeatedly intoxicated while driving or could conceivably be intoxicated while driving the vehicle, then too bad.

I: I don’t think they care about who owns the car when they tow away the car parked on the side of the road and impeding snow clearing.

Me: True.

Myself: But that’s different. If the city can’t plow the roads, then people might be in danger. In that case impounding the vehicle is for public safety… Oh.

Me: Yeah, exactly. Public safety. Even you can’t argue with that.

I: Well, someone must be arguing against it or else we’d be impounding the vehicles.

Myself: I’m riled up now too. We should blog about this.

I: Okay but first you need some coffee. You know you’re not fit to be around until you get your coffee.