More of a general question. When does past record not matter anymore? I personally dont believe in forever having to atone for ones sins. Should someone hold things against me I did as a teenager? 15 years ago? 10 years? What's the statute of limitations? To believe people dont change goes far beyond cynicism and into pure pessimism and wanting to see the world as an evil or bad place.
According to the report, many of his violations are long since past, and he's not received one since '09. To label someone as an asshole/bitch or claim they have no moral base, or commit sins due to traffic violations is really really harsh. Most people commit traffic violations on a daily basis, since most never have any ramifications (ie accidents or even tickets) it becomes very commonplace (there are streets back home with a posted limit of 50, but flow of traffic is always 70 and the cops let it all happen). Traffic violations are not murder, rape, or torture.
I dont think anyone needs to feel empathy for the man, that should be reserved for the family that lost their child (I wont even call them victims, I do feel for them, but this was a tragic occurance not a "crime") But nobody should be calling for his head or to lock him up. Some lives were forever altered already, do we senslessly need to alter more lives for the worse as well? It's not like he sped through the intersection, report claims he was doing 12kph.
Let me ask you, if you hadn't of had a close call when you were a young'in would you be so careful now when you drive? Is there nothing else in your life you maybe take shortcuts on, bend the rules a little; things that appear harmless, and for the most part are harmless, except for that odd time when serious consequences can occur?
