DUI offenders get a special license plate?

State Assemblyman Ray Haynes is pushing for a new law that would force DUI offenders to put special license plates on their cars. Any Californian convicted of a repeat DUI would have to put it on his or her car for two years.
"I think it's fair because the biggest problem of driving while drunk is that you are a lethal weapon inside a car, and people need to take steps to protect themselves," said Haynes. Haynes' effort highlights a sobering reality in California.

Despite the threat of license suspension, jail time and heavy fines, a new DMV analysis shows 36 percent of car crash fatalities in the state involve alcohol. That's up from 30 percent a decade ago.

Dee Pettaway lost her daughter, Sharmy, to a drunk driver and said she supports the special designation. "We do this for child molesters. We mark them. We want to know where they live. Why wouldn't we want to do it?" said Pettaway.

But opponents say public shame has no place in public policy.

And they say the red license plate is not fair to others in the household who have to drive the same car. "I wouldn't want it on my car marked. It's just the same as stereotyping someone. If someone sees the license, they might automatically assume things about the person that might not be true," said Victoria Phipps, a first-time DUI offender.

Not sure how I feel about this. I understand both arguments. The power of public shame is stronger than most people realize. And since the American culture currently thrives on upholding/ displaying/ protecting their ‘image’ maybe this isn’t such a bad idea? Article here.