17-year-old Lyle Topa has had his driver’s license banned for life after making some serious infractions against the law and causing harm to others. Do you think he deserves the punishment?
In October 2011, Topa made the unfortunate choice of street racing while drunk. And with three passengers in his car. He hit a tree, and one rider wound up in a coma (but survived). Today, a judge hearing his case declared that Lyle would never again hold a driver’s license, for the rest of his life. Before this, Topa had also, “had his license revoked twice before — in less than two years of driving.” Topa’s family wants to appeal the conviction, and restrict the ban until he’s 21 (an odd age of choice, considering the case). [via Jalopnik]
Some of the celebrities featured in our gallery received no more than a slap on the wrist. If they were in Topa’s situation, do you think the punishment would have been as severe?
What do you think of the judge’s decision? What would you do if your driver’s license was taken away for life?
guest
Yes, he does deserve it. There is nothing right about putting innocent lives in danger because of your stupidity…also celebrities should be judged just as harshly. done and done.
I like to party but I would never get behind the wheel intoxicated. People more important and loved than you could die because of your dumb ass. Call a fucking cab or stay where you are. word.
guest
@sas07@xanga - Oh my GOD. Did Rikku just comment right above me? *faints*
dahlia / 2747 posts
you don’t hear about celebrities hitting a tree and putting people into comas…
guest
@eatdrinkandbemaryy@xanga - no, you just hear about celebrities that have actually killed people while drunk (Brandi, Laura Bush, Mathew Broderick, Ted Kennedy, Rebecca Gayheart, Donte Stallworth, Keri Russell, the list goes on and on)
dahlia / 2747 posts
@Ms_Lola_Mae@xanga - welp, guess i don’t follow pop culture close enough.
guest
Um duh. Of course they get off easier. Celebrities have hit and killed people and you never hear about them going to prison for a few years. So, yeah they get off easier. And I am okay with this guy never being allowed to drive again.
guest
@eatdrinkandbemaryy@xanga -
The sad thing is you probably follow pop-culture as much as everyone else does, but these things tend to get buried because of how media works. You could honestly be a celebrity fanatic and not know about these things because of the spin that they get in the media. It’s really just sad how things work. 
guest
Of course they get off easier. You only have to pick up a newspaper to know that. And it’s really wrong, but hey, that’s how fame works. Welcome to modern society.
guest
Anyone with enough money gets off easier for any crime that they do than people who don’t have money. It’s the way the American justice system works. Of course he deserves to be punished for his crime as does anyone else who gets a DUI. I am thinking that since he has had his license revoked and appealed before, his family will buy another one.
guest
@sas07@xanga - Well, that’s a bitchy statement if I ever saw one. So now there’s people who are more important than another because… Why? I don’t get it. Yes, there are people who do dumb, careless shit. They should face the consequences of their actions, legally and otherwise. But that does not in any way mean those people are any less loved or important than those affected by their careless actions.