Crack down on drunk drivers

The Montana Legislature will have an opportunity to tighten the state laws on “driving under the influence” in the coming session, and we hope this is one area where there will be bipartisan agreement that something needs to be done.

It certainly looks like that will happen. Republican Steve Lavin, the newly elected representative for Kalispell’s House District 8, will be sponsoring legislation proposed by Democratic Attorney Steve Bullock. That is a natural fit for Lavin, who is a Highway Patrol sergeant and thus has seen first-hand the tragic results of drunk driving. Bullock also knows the toll on our system and on people’s lives of the reckless disregard shown by drivers who drink.

The centerpiece of the legislation would require repeat offenders to submit breath tests twice a day to prevent them from drinking, a requirement that has been in place through a pilot program in Lewis and Clark County most of this year.

Obviously, the “24/7 Sobriety Program” targets recidivism, a true problem in Montana. Hardly a week goes by without a news report from some corner of the state about a person getting their fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh — keep on going — arrest.

That has to stop, and just waiting around for them to get their next arrest isn’t going to help. The proactive testing gives grounds for arrest before they can get on the road again. Another plus is that the program requires offenders to cover the costs rather than taxpayers.

And because the Lewis and Clark pilot program was successful with a high percentage of offenders passing tests, there’s potential for all Montana counties to save money with reduced jail populations.

Another part of Bullock’s agenda for DUI enforcement is passing a law that would criminalize refusing to take blood or breath alcohol tests. Under the proposal, those refusing a test would be subject to the same penalties as a motorist convicted of drunk driving. It may seem draconion to some civil libertarians, but remember, driving is a privilege, not a right, and those who would take control of a dangerous vehicle need to prove they are qualified to do so. Sobriety should be considered the bare minimum of qualifications.

Another proposal on the table would create a tiered system for DUI offenses, with higher blood alcohol levels resulting in a more strict  sentence.

These three bills will no doubt be joined by others on the same topic, but Bullock and Lavin have offered the Legislature a good place to start.