On April 29th North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple signed a new piece of DUI legislation that officials say with substantially strengthen North Dakota’s drunk driving laws.
House Bill 1302, which goes into effect August 1st, increases the fines for DUI convictions, increases jail time for second and subsequent offenses, and requires repeat DUI offenders to participate in state’s the 24/7 Sobriety Program for one year. “This new law is enforceable, it is a stronger deterrent, and it will help save lives,” says Dalrymple.
North Dakota’s highly successful 24/7 Sobriety Program requires participants to refrain from any alcohol use. All participants are monitored for alcohol consumption using twice daily breath alcohol testing or a Continuous Alcohol Monitoring ankle bracelet. Individuals that test positive for alcohol are immediately taken into custody to spend a day or two in jail.
“For years we have been telling people that if they drink and drive, we`re going to stop them from driving. That hasn`t worked. We will now be telling repeat offenders that if you continue to drink and drive we`re going to stop you from drinking,” says North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.
Do you agree that repeat DUI offenders shouldn’t be able to drink, or is that too restrictive? I suggest that there’s a portion of the population that, for their personal health and welfare and for that of the public, should abstain for consuming alcohol.
