TW - Oklahoma lawmaker wants stronger DUI laws

[Vulgar Display of Orange]

By Associated Press
Published: 10/6/2009 2:19 PM
Last Modified: 10/6/2009 2:19 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY — A state lawmaker says repeat DUI offenders should be subject to tougher penalties in the state.

Rep. Harold Wright of Weatherford says Oklahoma could more aggressively prosecute repeat offenders through simple changes to Oklahoma's drunk-driving laws.

Wright recently conducted a study of the state's DUI laws. He says current law allows someone who is a repeat drunk-driving offender to stay on the roads much longer based on a technicality.

Under current law, a drunk driver who received a deferred sentence cannot have that offense counted as a prior conviction if arrested a second time for drunk driving.

Also, an individual must have a prior conviction within the past 10 years to be classified as a repeat offender for a second or subsequent offense.

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Chalk one up for the Industry.

[Erick]

Good for him. Repeat offenders obviously didn't learn their lesson the first time. The current law that doesn't count a deferred sentence as a prior conviction sounds pretty ridiculous.

[WyomingOSUAlum]

Chalk one up for the Industry.



We're just gonna have to disagree on this one!

I'm sure you're shocked!

[Ostreak]

I think one should at least lose their license for a year on the first offense.

[Vulgar Display of Orange]

Based on what? Why not 1 week or 10 years? Why not make the legal limit 0 with mandatory jailtime? We could impose a ban on alcohol and on driving and people would still pick up DUIs.

[barryrules]

Even if you take thier liscense away they will still drive.

[Ostreak]

Ok. We should throw them in county for 30 days with hard labor.

[Vulgar Display of Orange]

I saw we cut their legs off. I know it won't do anything to address the DUI problem (there is one, right?), but it sure will make me fell better about myself.