April 20, 2009

Man arrested for DWI hours after DWI sentencing

In Texas, a man was arrested for a DWI just hours after he was sentenced for his first DWI. No shock there. Texas is one of the worst states in the country for drunk driving.

The Texas legislature is currently considering legislation that would require ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers. Opponents (namely the American Beverage Institute, a trade association for America's restaurant industry) argue that the penalty is too stiff for first time offenders and that legislators instead should focus on "hard-core drunk drivers." Yet, studies have shown that ignition interlocks are an average of 64 percent effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses.

In this case, a first-time offender became a repeat offender in a matter of hours. So are ignition interlocks "too harsh" or just plain common sense?

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