Kid-Glove Treatment for Judge Bradley

Was Judge Robert C. Bradley aware of the tougher DUI penalties going into effect Jan. 1? Perhaps he didn’t know, or maybe tougher laws don’t really make that much difference in people’s personal behavior.

I believe the full extent of the law should be applied to Bradley. If he were a poor Mexican field laborer, or an African American, or a poor white guy, he wouldn’t be receiving a courtesy ride home--he would be in Ventura County Jail. He would also have an underpaid, overworked public defender representing him. That is about the quality of justice he should receive in Ventura County. But who will judge the judge?

Perhaps Bradley didn’t get the message from Sen. Jack O’Connell that “driving drunk won’t be tolerated.”

The new drunken-driving laws target serious repeat offenders. Perhaps he didn’t know that anyone convicted of driving drunk will have a mandatory 10-year probationary period. Also, a second DUI arrest during that period could also be prosecuted as a felony. More than that, it would be a second strike under the three-strikes law.

If the laws in our county and state were applied regularly and vigorously to all our citizens, I don’t believe we would have this continual ratcheting up of penalties for everything that can possibly be defined as criminal.

Certainly, a man falling into error is no reason for rejoicing. But following the current punitive mood that reigns in the body politic in California, he should get what is coming to him: Throw the book at him.

VINCENT S. DeYOUNG

Oxnard

* In no other country in the world would anyone who has two DUI arrests on his record have the audacity to run for a public office--especially a judge!

When he has injured or killed someone is he going to say, “Maybe I should go back to rehabilitation”?

VIRGINIA DORSEY

Ventura