Daily 6-Pack Drinker Wants License Back

[Diva]

LEBANON, Pa. - A man who lost his driving privileges after his doctor reported to police that he drank a six-pack of beer a day is taking his fight to a higher court.

Keith Emerich, 44, asked Commonwealth Court to overturn the state Department of Transportation's decision to revoke his license.

A Lebanon County Common Pleas judge upheld the decision, but ruled that Emerich may obtain restricted driving privileges as long as he uses a device that tests his blood-alcohol content before starting his car.

Emerich, 44, a printing company employee, was notified in April he would lose his license, about two months after he disclosed his drinking habit to doctors treating him for an irregular heartbeat.

A Pennsylvania law from the 1960s requires doctors to report any impairments in patients that could compromise their ability to drive safely.

Emerich has said he does not drive drunk and argued that he has reduced his beer drinking to weekends and has a clean driving record apart from a drunk-driving conviction when he was 21.

When I first read this I did a double take. While I understand that the doctors are required by law to report dangers, he never said that he drank and drove.

Do you think that this is a fair law? Do you think the doctor overstepped his boundries or was he doing the right thing?

[Lilith]

I think the guy should get his license back. Since he hasn't driven drunk since he was 21 (and gods, I haven't done it, but a LOT of people drive drunk at least once when they are young and stupid!), it's dumb to not let a responsible beer-drinker drive.

I'd rather they didn't return licenses to those who are caught with insane alcohol levels in their blood and/or cause accidents because of it as quickly as they do. That might work as a better deterrent.

I think the law itself is fair--I don't want people with bad eyes or impaired reactions driving. But the guy should not have been mixed in with those people, since if he doesn't drink AND drive, drinking 6 beers a day isn't an impairment (other than to his continued health).

[Poseidon]

As long as he is not driving right after, or while drinking the 6-pack.. it wouldn't be an imparement. I can have a 6-pack daily in the evening, before I go to sleep.. I don't see how it would impare my driving.

[LizardKing]

This is bullshit. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I think I'd start by siccing a couple lawyers on the DA who thought this little piece of brillance was a good idea, Then I'd go after that rat bastard doctor. I know it prolly wouldn't do any good, but what the hell.

On second thought, I think I'll just stay the fuck out of that jacked up state.

[Lan]

I think it is a little harsh to take his license away.

Emerich, 44, a printing company employee, was notified in April he would lose his license, about two months after he disclosed his drinking habit to doctors treating him for an irregular heartbeat.
They where treating him for an "irregular heartbeat" why did this man disclose his drinking habit, was it the cause of his problem? If not, its his fault in some ways...why would you tell your doctor that. Drinking that much is not the healthiest thing to do. I think they should give him his license back, but he should see someone for his drinking habit, I'm not against people drinking but to much of a good thing can be bad.