DUI: Some People Just Don't Learn

In 1995, John Patterson (then 17) killed four of his friends while driving home drunk after a camping trip. According to an article in the Orange County Register, Patterson's blood alcohol level was .16, twice the state's legal limit when he lost control of his parents' SUV and wrecked. In addition to living with the memory of killing four of his friends, Patterson was required by the judge to post photographs of his four deceased friends in his room to remind him of what he had done. It apparently didn't work.

On Thanksgiving Day, 2006, Patterson was arrested again for DUI. This time his BAL was .27, more than three times the legal limit. On December 2, 2006, he was again arrested for DUI with a BAL of .11.

The obvious question to this story is "why has Patterson not learned his lesson." But a better question might be "why hasn't the judicial system put him away." What I'd really like to know is who is Patterson's DUI lawyer. He seems to be earning his keep.