Cracking Down on Repeat DUI Offenders

Back in July of 2011, repeat DUI offender Horace Detsch was part of the first graduating class from the District Court Impaired Driving Treatment Program.  This week, he was sentenced to 13 months in prison after being convicted of DUI for the 5th time.

Of course, we all know how dangerous drinking and driving is.  Luckily, this guy hasn't killed anyone yet.  Even though he came close to running over a kid on a skateboard that last time he was busted.

The Flakes are all for treatment programs, but we need to realize that even the best programs won't be successful most of the time.  We also need to have harsher punishments for repeat offenders.  Specifically, Mark and Paul have two ideas that could help keep this habitual drunk drivers off the road.

For starters, they should rated in levels like sex offenders are.  Sex offenders are classified according to their risk of driving drunk again. A guy with four prior DUI arrests would definitely fall in the Level 3, high risk category.

Furthermore, instead of taking their licenses away, we should seize their vehicles.  These repeat offenders have proven they will still drive after their licenses have been suspended or revoked.  But they can't drive if we impound their cars for the entire length of their sentence.  If drug dealers can legally have their property seized, high risk, habitual drunk drivers should face the same consequences.