On the surface, prosecuting a person for letting another drive drunk is a good idea. But consider the matter a little deeper and it’s wrong.

A 40-year-old laborer in New Jersey is on trial because he let his friend drive drunk. The friend, who had a 0.26 blood-alcohol content, killed himself and another person after being allowed behind the wheel of his vehicle.

Attorneys for the state are charging the laborer with both deaths and he could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter, vehicular homicide and aggravated assault by auto.

We all want drunken drivers off the road. The potential for death and shattered lives is an all too real scenario. But passing the buck of blame is not the answer.

If this case is won by the state, anyone with any remote connection to a drunken driver may be on trial. We may be our brother’s keeper, but we cannot &045; and should not be &045; his conscience.

There must be other measures that make more sense than

prosecuting someone for not assuming responsibility for another. Let’s keep the blame on the person doing the wrong thing.