In an article in the Detroit News, it is noted how Michigan has continuously ramped up OWI/DUI law punishment and enforcement, yet Michigan still has the 11th highest rate of drunk driving in the nation.

In the past, new laws have taken a punative approach, including:

• Reduction of the OWI BAC threshold from .10 to .08 BAC
• “Heidi’s Law”, which changed the lookback period for previous OWI convictions from 10 years to an unlimited lifetime lookback

New proposed legislation includes a “High BAC” provision, or “Extreme Drunk Driving”, where even a first offense OWI conviction with a BAC of .15% or above (nearly twice the legal limit of .08%) would result in a mandatory ignition interlock device in order to get your license back.

This is a measure that is supported by the victims rights lobbying group MADD, but is considered a reasonable approach by many lawmakers. Punishment for chronic alcohol abusers who drink and drive has largely failed. More treatment of alcohol addiction programs and prevention of drunk driving is more likely to result in safer roads for Michigan drivers.

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