Your Sunday, Oct. 4 headline "DUI mom avoids major jail sentence" with the caption "Will only serve 3 days, was driving drunk with kids in car" both shocked and angered me. The message perceived by those who choose to drink and drive from reading those few words was clear. "The penalty is not severe enough for me to worry about were I to get caught."
By continuing to read, I found the story to be positive in that our court system is trying to help this mother "get her life on track" by offering the pretrial diversion" to Ms. Dix. I, too, hope she will take advantage of the opportunity to not only become a better parent, but recognize the dangers driving drunk brings not only to herself and her children, but other innocent victims who may be involved in a drunk driving accident.
However, this was NOT the message the headline brought. I feel the State Journal should have emphasized in their headline that "DUI mom is given second chance by court system" rather than sending a message to DUI drivers that our court system is lenient and punishment is minimal toward DUI offenses.