Yeah, it used to be like that all over. I have family members in my parents' generation that still drive around in their pickup truck with an open Bud between their legs. People always got off light if they got caught. And if they did end up getting any punishment, it was usually a short suspension (with exceptions for work, church, school, grocery, etc.) while doing nominal community service, or at worst, a weekend in lockup - you sign in Friday evening, and they let you out Sunday evening, time served.
Then a couple of jackasses got on the news for driving the wrong way on the highway and killing vacationing families in minivans, and the world changed.