In NC, the maximum penalty for misdemeanor death by vehicle is 60 days in jail. In SC it's little more than a slap on the wrist.

IntheBush wrote on 11/10/13 at 10:45pm:


Thats BS plain and simple. Even if it were unintentional, i think the penalty for not paying attention while behind the wheel and taking someones life should be worth more than that.

the general attitude of most citizens:

"Laws do forbid reckless driving, gross negligence and vehicular manslaughter. The problem, according to Ray Thomas, a Portland, Ore., attorney who specializes in bike law, is that “jurors identify with drivers.” Convictions carry life-destroying penalties, up to six years in prison, Mr. Thomas pointed out, and jurors “just think, well, I could make the same mistake. So they don’t convict.” That’s why police officers and prosecutors don’t bother making arrests. Most cops spend their lives in cars, too, so that’s where their sympathies lie."

something to help change that:

"So here’s my proposal: Every time you get on a bike, from this moment forward, obey the letter of the law in every traffic exchange everywhere to help drivers (and police officers) view cyclists as predictable users of the road who deserve respect. And every time you get behind the wheel, remember that even the slightest inattention can maim or kill a human being enjoying a legitimate form of transportation. That alone will make the streets a little safer, although for now I’m sticking to the basement and maybe the occasional country road."