State Senator Maynard Barnes was livid. He just spent the longest 12 hours of his life beside his daughter, Jessica, bed. Now she was dead. All because some repeat drunk driver ran a red light and hit Jessica's car with enough force to cause it to flip three times. While Jessica was wearing her seat belt, the force of the roll over caused major trauma to her head and intestinal area. He vowed as he stood next to her lifeless body that he would find a way to make the penalty for drunk driving so punitive as to be an effective deterent to drink and drive.
Senator Barnes best friend, Jim, was the drunk driver's former history teacher. Jim was lamenting, " You know Manyard, I talked to the drunk's father many times. I tried to tell him the kid needed a good hard paddle to the behind."
"That's it!" exclaimed the Senator.
"Whats it?" asked Jim
" I am going to submit legislation to make the punishment for repeat DUI corporal punishment. You know, like they do in Singapore."
The discussion then went on about all the different obstacles such legislation would face. However, Senator Barnes was determined to pass such a law.
To make a long story short, all the obstacles were overcome and the passed legislation read as follows, "anyone who having been previously convicted of operating a motor vehicle, and then be convicted of a repeate offense, shall be punished by no less than 7 days nor any more than one year in county jail. Furthermore said person shall be subject to no fewer than 6 strokes of a paddle nor no more than 24 strokes of a paddle (paddle to be determined by sentencing judge)on the bare buttocks. Furthermore, said punishment shall be executed in a public place and open to the public."
That Decemeber 31 was a great one. Senator Barnes' legistlation would take effect at midnight and he knew that his daughter's death would not be in vain. He went to his friend Jim's house and celebrated. After midnight, a couple of his fellow Senators invited him to join them in a grand party. At about two in the morning he decided it was time to go back to his apartment. On the way home, the Senator came across a sobriety check point. Unfortunately for the Senator, he didnt realize just how strongly the punch bowl at the part was spiked. When the officer administered the breathelizer test, he regisitered a .081 -- .001 over the legal limit.
The While the local District Attorney was investigating the case, he found that the Senator had a prior DUI. While in college he was arrested on hhis way home from a Frat party. The DA, who lost to the Senator in the last election for the Senate seat, was going to get his revenge! At the arraignment, the Senator, against the advice of his attorney, plead guilty. It was only after the guilty plea, did the District Attorney spring his surprise. He wanted the Senator to be the first person in the county to receive the corporal punishment the Senator's law provided for. At first the Senator reminded the judge, that the corporal punishment applied to only repeat offenders. Until the DA brought it to the court's attention, did he remember the DUI against him from college.
The judge called for the DA and the Senator to meet in his chambers. In the chambers, the judge asked whether the corporal punishment was necessary. Before the DA could speak, the Senator asked the judge if he could make a suggestion.
"Sure Senator, be my guest", responded the judge.
" I dont want the media to play me as a hypocrite" stated the Senator "... which they will if I dont face the corporal punishment." "Sentence me to 10 swats of the paddle, and suspend the 7 day jail term."
"What do you say, Mr Justine?" asked the Judge to the DA.
" I was thinking more like 12 swats your honor, but the suspended jail time is fine with me." responded the DA
After a pause, the judge said, "I will make my final decision in the courtroom."
With that, the three left the judge's chamber. After the bailiff called the court to order, the judge ordered the Senator to stand while he read the judgement.
" While it is not my normal course of action to suspend any jail term of convicted criminals, in this cause it seems that jail time would not serve any purpose. The Senator already knows he made a mistake. He also has to live every day knowing what can happen when one chooses to drive while intoxicated. Therefor, the seven day county jail term is suspended. However, to make sure Senator Barnes realizes the impact of the law he sponsored after the untimely death of his daughter, I am going to order Senator Barnes to appear in this courtroom at 9:00 am this Saturday morning. At 9:30 he will be taken to plaza outside this courtroom and will receive 15 strokes of this on his bare buttocks"
At that point, the judge pulled out his old frat paddle. The business end was about 20 inches long, 6 inches wide and about 2 inches thick. Both the DA and Senator were surprised to say the least. After the court was adjourned the DA made a point to speak to the Senator, and express his shock at the severity of the sentence.
At 9:00 that Saturday, the Senator arrived in the Judge's chamber. The judge then informed the Senator there was one problem to the Senator's law. It did not state who would give the swats. There was a nervous giggle from the Senator.
"Then I guess I will administer the 15 swats." proclaimed the judge.
The Senator nodded his head in approval.
"By the way," said the judge. "...go into my chambers, strip from the waist down and then put on this." The judge handed Senator Barnes a robe. "it will protect your modesty until it is time to get down to business."
"Thank you, your Honor" Maynard said.
When the Senator was ready, the Judge and the Senator went out to the plaza. As could be expected there was a large crowd to see the Senator get his 15 strokes. After Senator Barnes was strapped into the spanking horse, and the robe removed, the judge made a brief remark.
" Hopefully this whipping that you are about to witness will serve not only to make the Senator regret his mistake on New Years Eve, but will also serve as a deterent to anyone else who may decide to drink too much and get behind the wheel of a car. I promise that anyone else who is convicted in my court of DUI will receive the full 24 strokes that the law allows."
With that, the Judge did the priliminary set up, gauging his distance. When all was set to the Judge's liking, he pulled back and let the first stroke hit. SMACK. The first swat brought oos and ahs from the crowd amazed at the strength the judge put into the swing. The Senator didn't say a thing, although those who could see his face, saw the grimance. Four more swats occured. On the fifth swat, the buttocks looked like the Senator had sunbathed in the nude and didnt appeal sunscreen to his arse. By the Sixth swat, the Senator was audibly in pain with some "OUCH"es thrown in. The tenth swat did the Senator in. By then the rear end was very red. Also the Senator switched from, "Ouch!" to " Oh Shi*".
"Carefull of your language Senator, you dont want me to find you in contempt of court now!"
" I beg your Honor's forgiveness" replied the Senator
"Five more to go Senator" replied the judge. Just then the Judge let go with the 11th "SWAT". That 11th swat was the breaking point. The Senator broke down and cried. Seeing the Senator crying, the judge showed a little mercy and made the last four in rapid fire so that the pain would be minimal.
After all 15 swats were administered, the judge put down the paddle and ordered the "prisoner" released. Needless to say, during the whole legislative session that year, Senator Barnes was the butt of many jokes.