IN THE PIPELINE:

My car is stopped at a red light, on Edinger Avenue where it crosses Goldenwest Street. On the radio, an aggressive lawyer is doing a commercial, going on about how if you’re pulled over for drunk driving, well, he is the guy for you.

He also provides his company’s tagline, “Friends don’t let friends plead guilty.” This campaign line has always offended me, given that he’s playing on the phrase “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.” Remember that? The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Ad Council created it in an effort to change the way Americans think about drinking and driving.

The designated driver campaign was monumentally successful. According to published reports, “Eighty-four percent of Americans recall having seen or heard a Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk public service announcement. Nearly 80% report they took action to prevent a friend or loved one from driving drunk, and 25% report they stopped drinking and driving as a result of the campaign.”

It’s offensive to me because this lawyer apes the tagline in a “cutesy” manner to draw attention to the fact he is in business to help drunk drivers beat the rap.

Now, to my right on the corner is a freshly placed (and growing) memorial to a young man named Jose Pacheco, 20, of Duarte. He was killed about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at the precise site where my car sits now. His Mustang caught fire after it was rear-ended by a suspected drunken driver, 21-year-old Kenneth John McNair of La Mirada, according to police.

After hitting Pacheco, McNair went on to sideswipe another car stopped at the light. Then he crashed into a 2006 Peterbilt semi tractor and trailer, police say. McNair was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. So here we go again — yet another young life lost due to the seemingly reckless behavior of another disoriented driver.

Before the light turns green, I take note of the photo of Jose Pacheco. He looks like a good young guy. On a local blog later, I read about him: “Jose was one of my best friends. I miss him so much. He didn’t deserve this. Jose, I just want to say that I love you sooooo sooo much. You are one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. I will never ever forget you.”

“We miss [you] terribly and not a day goes by when I don’t wish I could look into those big beautiful brown eyes again. The memories I have with u will b treasured forever. Nothing I can do will bring u back but, to me, u never really left. I love u my friend. I always will. I miss u forever and ever. LOVE ALWAYS”

Then there are messages of anger — of a society clearly getting fed up with a system that seems to do little for the memory of the victim — and the punishment of the culprit.

“Drunk drivers need to be punished to the full extent of the law all of the time. 1 year mandatory jail, and then a license plate that say I am a convicted drunk driver. But our judicial system is now a systems of everyone has Rights, but not Responsibilities.”

“The worst part about this is that this driver will plead not guilty during the prelims. There is absolutely no individual responsibility in today’s society and everybody who claims they are adamant about this forgets it when they need to blame others or other things except themselves.”

And I see a sentiment that addresses what I feel.

“Now, this is the 2nd accident in just 2 or 3 days where a male driver under the age of 25 had caused the death of another motorist. Why is there no outcry?”

Where exactly is the outcry over this? I read in the paper about how, if convicted on all counts, Jeffrey Woods will get 10 years for the death of Danny Oates. Ten years? Huntington Beach police believe Woods may have been texting on his phone, negotiating a drug deal, which he had tried to score drugs during a three-day period and was possibly under the influence of an opiate when he hit Danny. Ten years?

As a community, I feel we need to be more vocal about the importance of safe driving, designated driving and yes, when the situation warrants it, about stiffer penalties for drunk driving. There needs to be outcry. And outrage about these senseless deaths. On the radio, the lawyer says some thing like, “Remember, anyone can be pulled over for a DUI.” In theory, maybe. But I think your chances go way up if you’ve been drinking, right?

On a more positive note, kudos this week to another Boy Scout who made a positive difference in the community. Bruce Stephens, a sophomore at Huntington Beach High School, completed Part II of his Butterfly Restoration Project for Gibbs Park in Huntington Beach on Nov. 15.

Working with the Huntington Beach Tree Society, the city of Huntington Beach Public Works and about 75 volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 1, (plus assorted friends and family), they planted 41 trees.

Former Huntington Beach Mayor Norma Brandel Gibbs, a woman who knows a thing or two about giving to the community, told Bruce, “Thank you so much for thinking of and organizing your project for your Eagle Scout badge. I was thrilled you chose Gibbs Park — it really needed the trees and so many people will now benefit from your project.”

I spoke with Bruce and he said his dream is to one day bring his own kids there and show them the fruits of his (and his helpers) labors. Thank you, Bruce, for making a positive difference.

And congratulations on your Eagle Scout accomplishment.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Know that I give thanks each week to each of you for still reading a newspaper!

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 15 books, including “Vanishing Orange County,” released this week. Write him at chris@chrisepting.com.