House Approves DUI Law - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

House Approves DUI Law

   Drive drunk and you could go straight to jail.
   Mandatory jail time is part of a DUI bill approved in the North Dakota House today.
   Supporters say the bill adds tougher penalties to the state's current DUI law.
The vote is quite personal for one lawmaker...

 It's probably something not many knew about Representative Dwight Kiefert...

(Rep. Dwight Kiefert / (R) Valley City) "I'm the only father in North Dakota who has lost a child while riding in school bus."

   He shared his story as a way to get lawmakers to think about the need for tougher DUI laws...

(Kiefert) "Bus driver was driving drunk, didn't see car, t boned and rolled school bus."
   That was 25 years ago.
(Kiefert) "DUI legislation is long overdue."

   The legislation was spurred by two drunk driving crashes this summer.

(Rep. Koppelman / (R) Fargo) "Not knee jerk legislation. But if have problem need to react."

   The bill increases the fines for driving drunk and sets mandatory minimum jail sentences.
   Including sitting in jail for at least one day for a first time offense if the driver's blood alcohol content is over .20.

(Rep. Keith Kempenich / (R) Bowman) "a day in jail is a wake up call."

   But some Representatives think the penalties go too far, citing concerns of jails getting overcrowded.

(Rep. Randy Boehning / (R) Fargo) "I know we have a problem, but are penalties too harsh with prison space?"
(Rep. Chuck Damschen / (R) Hampden) "I've heard more excuses not to punish for drinking and driving than I care to hear."
 (Rep. Jeff Delzer / (R) Underwood) "I don't think this bill will solve the problem."

(Koppelman) "New tougher law important first step in cultural change."

(Kiefert) "think about the victims before you push the button."

  25 years... And this man has still not read the sympathy cards sent to his family after his son Matthew was killed.
(Kiefert) "our son is dead for life... that's a life sentence."

   The House approved the bill with a vote of 80-14.
   The Senate previously passed a similar bill to change the state's DUI law.