Michael Annett

[fishinchicks]

Nationwide driver Michael Annett was in an accident over the weekend, and blew a .32 when given the breathalizer test. I was listening to Trading Paint yesterday while on a little road trip, and they were talking about this incident, and what NASCAR should do. I don't mind Rick Benjamin, but I can't stand Chocolate Myers (he wastes a lot of air time talking without really saying anything). They had very different view points on this issue, so I thought I'd ask you guys what you thought.

How do you think RWR - Annett's owner - and NASCAR should handle this?

[Juneau4]

Handle it the same as any other business would. If you were picked uo for DWI what would your boss do?

[harvey lee]

I believe he should be fined just like any other citizen for his mistake.

There should not be a larger penalty for those in the lime light.

[fishinchicks]

As of now, his team is saying he will be racing in the Daytona Nationwide race.

The biggest part of this issue according to the guys on Sirius, is whether or not this falls under the "activities detrimental to the sport" rule. Also, if he lost his license, should he be able to drive his stock car.

The thing that gets me most, is how could he be functioning enough to drive the car with a .32 BAC? He tried to blame it on texting - something he was doing that caused an accident a few months ago.

[Juneau4]

I don't think you need a valid state license to drive a stock car.

[fishinchicks]

They discussed the rule about driving without a license. Does anyone remember when they changed that, and why?

My opinion - Annett drives for a living, yet he has caused two accidents because of poor judgment behind the wheel. Fortunately, he hasn't killed anyone. I would want to be proactive, punish him in house (benching him for a race along with the alcohol education classes, etc), and get it through his head that if he doesn't start making smart choices he will be gone. There are enough other guys out there looking for a ride that would love the chance to jump in his seat.

[gregg52]

nobody should lose they job because of a Dwi

Unless you are driving that vehicle at work

semi.. dump truck or whatever or in the stock car \

what you do away from work is your business

if he's tested before he gets in the race car and cant pass (i believe it should 0000 no tolence) send him walking

but a guy out on fri-sat night really should not affect is ability to make a living

pay the fine do the time etc etc life moves on

fines and penelties should be higher for those causing damage though

weather it be vehilce or personal

[fishinchicks]

fines and penelties should be higher for those causing damage though

weather it be vehilce or personal

That is why my opinion of his behavior is different than if he was just pulled over for suspicion, then tested positive. He caused an accident...the second one this year. The first resulted in a girl's car getting totaled and the girl ending up in physical therapy. What is it going to take to get him to make smart decisions? What choices does he make while in a race car? Granted, he isn't on his cell phone, but does he have a drinking problem? Would he get to the point that he is coming to the track impaired? I wouldn't want to be out there with him if I though he was under the influence.

[gregg52]

was he drinking in the first wreck ???

i didnt read that much about it

media blows everything up so bad!!!!!!!!

[harvey lee]

I might assume that if he was ticketed, he will have to go to court and answer there and then be punished for his crime.

He should still be able to do his work.

[Abndoc]

I would bet he will lose his ride. He represents Nascar, those sponsors and the sport all together. If he can't get his act together beyond work, why would you want him to continue working for you. The company my wife works for, if you get a dwi, more then likely your done. What you do on your personal is your business, but when you start breaking the law, your showing people your true character, and that leaves you in a vunerable position.

If you have people competing for a position, who are you going to keep around, a clean record no-problem causing person or someone that puts your company in the spotlight. Plus in this day and age, haven't we figured it out yet that drinking and driving is not acceptable. No compassion here.

[gregg52]

first thing is a dwi is no more than a serious traffic

ticket

till the point you cause an accident as he did then it gets more serious

as i said punishment should be escaladed and if bodly injury or death occurs then long time jail

taking away peoples job and driver license does abslouty no good

but cost every body money and i dont just mean the offender

your wifes company fires some one for a traffic ticket .08

he then is without work

where does he go then into a lower paying job if he can even find that in todays world...so then he collecting unemployment..general asstistance..who knows... then no insurance he gets sick gets the county to pay for his dr bills cuz he cant \

he went from a taxpaying person to a liability for tax payers

just that fast...and for what 3-4 beers and a ticket

would your wifes company get rid of some one with 2-3 speeding tickets to????//

1 in 8 people in Mn have a dwi should they all be unemployed??

and its growing 40,000 thosand a yr handed out in minn

so in the last 5 yrs that 200,000 should they all be unemployed

if your wondering and i'm sure somebody is going say something

ya i have one

[Abndoc]

Dude you have some pretty unique views on driving while intoxicated. Please just remember those 3-4 beers may kill some innocent kid. There is no place for drinking and driving. You might want to really think about what you just said, seriously, its pretty twisted.

What beer causes the difference between getting pulled over for crossing the center line to causing a head on collision. I've never ever heard anyone defend drinking and driving like that before. You need go downtown to HCMC, hang out in the ER for a friday and see if you can recognize the difference between a drunk driver that should get a slap on the wrist and one who piles head-on into a family going to see a movie

[gregg52]

ya i know sounds maybe out aline

but here are some facts of life

unless you quit making cars

close down the bars and quit selling ahlochol

and have people

you will have drinking and driving

my point is the dwi's laws are just very unrealstic

and i dont believe the general pulbic understand what its cost tax payers in the long run because of laws that are doing nothing to slow

or stop drinking and driving

i could go on here at lenth but i cant type fast enough and guess this isnt the right thread for it

as you said .08 should be slaped on the wrist or whatever

piling into a family long time prison not the county jail for a yr

because some one has a few beers and is above the legal limit which is pretty low every person absorbs alcohol diffeerent and their capibilities vary greatly

they say you could have killed some one maybe so but you cant convict people on you COULD HAVE

[Abndoc]

Well you can convict someone on you could have, its called attempted murder. I never said .08 should be a slap on the wrist. Actually I believe the laws should be stiffer. If people can't figure out that you shouldn't drink and drive, make the consequences even tougher. One of my closet friends who I served with in Iraq in 03, came home, about 4 days after his return, he was driving home from the bar, realized he was too drunk to drive. Pulled over, and started walking home, only to be hit and killed by another drunk driver. Two lives wasted all because of 3 or 4 beers. If these drunk drivers decided to take 40 or 50 dollar cab ride, or even 100 dollar cab ride. Nobody would be getting fired, No tax payers would be flipping the bill and possibly no funerals to attend. Start taking alittle responsibility. Stop blaming the system, the law or whatever. Don't drink or get a ride if you do!!

[fishinchicks]

Can't .4 bac be lethal? Annett is 24 years old, and he was able to function with a .32. I believe that would indicate that this was not the first time he has been this drunk. As an owner and a sponsor, that would concern me. Instead of alcohol education, it sounds like rehab might be in order.

With his accident in July, witnesses saw him texting, but he wasn't given a breathalizer. He used the same excuse with this crash, that he was texting. The difference being that there was an officer that witnessed this last crash, and thought there was enough evidence to suggest he was under the influence. He resisted arrest, so he has that charge pending as well.

[gregg52]

ya i'd say he had more than 3-4 beers

young kid probably needs to go threw the spin dry

[goose89]

my point is the dwi's laws are just very unrealstic....

[harvey lee]

I just hope he can take care of his booze issue and continue on with his life without losing his job.

I realize these people have issues that need to be addressed but losing their job is a tough one.

I do not believe losing their job will help with the booze problem. Maybe some other professional help to get him to not drink and drive.

[SledNeck]

.32 is pretty rediculous to be driving. Most people couldnt even stumble to car much less be upright at that level.

On another note. The DWI laws are screwed up in this country. .08 is a result of MADD pressuring lawmakers out of emotion and local/state governments money grab plan.

[Black_Bay]

A person doesn't get to .32 and still able function without being a professional drinker. This kid needs a break from racing and spend time in rehab.

[Juneau4]

A person doesn't get to .32 and still able function without being a professional drinker. This kid needs a break from racing and spend time in rehab. [/quote

I wonder when he blew the .32? If the test was taken right away and he had just left a bar he could have tested .32 very easily just from the alcohol still in his mouth. Not enough information available for me to judge him as an alcoholic.

[Abndoc]

I wonder when he blew the .32? If the test was taken right away and he had just left a bar he could have tested .32 very easily just from the alcohol still in his mouth.

How fast he left the bar has nothing to do with blowing .32. That is a myth.

On average:

20–99 mg/dL - Impaired co-ordination and euphoria

100–199 mg/dL - Ataxia, poor judgement, labile mood

200–299 mg/dL - Marked ataxia, slurred speech, poor judgement, labile mood, nausea and vomiting

300–399 mg/dL - Stage 1 anaesthesia, memory lapse, labile mood

400+mg/dL - Respiratory failure, coma and death

Therefore, a level of 3.2 (or most commonly referred to as .32) corresponds to 320 mg/dL and means that you're on your way to an acute alcohol intoxication (alcohol poisoning).

[Juneau4]

I do believe your putting out some information that isn't accurate. Gargle with any alcohol and take a breath test and it will show so time after last drink does have an effect. The alcohol has to be all out of your mouth so you are only breathing out what your lungs are releasing.

the .32 is actually .0032 because Bac is measured in percentage and there is a very large difference between .32% and .32

[Abndoc]

Juneau4, I agree with that...if you have one drink it may go up or down depending on how fast after taking that sip you blow. But it will not be the difference of .01 to .32. Thats what I said was a myth. Guys use that excuse all the time, I just had one beer, but it was 5 mins ago. Sorry but it just doesn't work like that. Good Luck fellas.