Re “Woman gets 11 years for Del Mar DUI crash that killed her boyfriend” (June 3): I was saddened by the Del Mar DUI crash on Coast Boulevard that killed a father. This is the third drunken driving fatality that I know of along a peaceful residential street. It should be peaceful, but there are always drunken residents and tourists, especially in summer.
Unfortunately, California does not have traditional laws that hold alcohol vendors liable for damage caused by drunken patrons. Bars and valet services can ignore at least their legal liability for serving alcohol to drunken patrons and then letting them drive. Their moral responsibility is something they will have to live with. Beyond changing the law, which would be common sense, our cities have a responsibility to vigorously enforce the misdemeanor law that does exist.
Finally, our cities should impose stiff civil penalties on bars and valet services who let drunks drive. The life they save might be your child’s.
— Joel F. Martin, Del Mar