Senate Votes to Toughen North Dakota's DUI Laws

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Senate Votes to Toughen North Dakota's DUI Laws

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By Donnell Preskey, Assistant News Director - email

A plea for tougher DUI laws has been answered in the Senate.

Senators passed Senate Bill 2240 unanimously this afternoon.

The bill doubles the fines for DUI offenses, mandates offenders to participate in the 24/7 program and doubles the amount of jail time.

Under this proposal a first time offender with a blood alcohol content of .18 will have to spend two days in jail.

Currently a first time DUI offender does not serve jail time.

Also new to this law, refusing to submit to chemical testing will be treated just like a DUI.

The bill originally proposed using interlock ignition devices, where offenders would have pass a breathe test to drive.

That part of the bill was removed.

There is another bill related to DUI laws being considered in the House.

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