Here's a study in contrasts. Compare the Rhode Island DUI homicide defendant in the article quoted below, who was released on $25k bail to the $2 million bail set for Mr. Gallow, the man accused of the Fullerton tragedy that took the lives of three people. Both men have histories of DUI and suspended licenses.

Family dismayed over DUI suspect's release l WPRI.com: "The children of a Foster woman killed in a suspected drunk driving crash are in disbelief that the man accused of causing it has been released on bail.

Police say David Hazard was driving his pickup truck drunk last week, when he slammed head-on into Kathrine O'Toole's car last week, killing the mother of 6. Hazard's bail was lowered to $25,000 Tuesday, which he posted.

'We don't understand why he got out, why the law is so lenient' says Katherin'e daughter Sarah O'Toole. '

Her brother Mark is also upset. 'He [Hazard] should be hit harder. It should not have been an easy in, easy out.'

Hazard has been arrested eight times before, six for driving on a suspended license. He was convicted last year of refusing a breath test for alcohol. O'Toole's children want to know why he was allowed to drive in the first place following so many run-ins with the law."

So why is the California DUI homicide so high compared to the Rhode Island one?

 

 

Let's say it is based on the number of victims. In the California case there were four victims, three who were killed and one who was badly injured.

So let's discount the bail evenly on a per victim basis. 2 million dollars / 4 victims = $500k per victim. So if we compare victim by victim, it is $25k in RI, and $500k in CA, or 20 times the amount.

Could it be that the attention and outrage is greater in the California case because of the fame of one of the victims?