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Editor: Bob Battle
Profession: DUI Defense Lawyer

In Wyoming, a bill with hopes of cracking down on repeat offenses of drunk driving received the unanimous support of a state Senate committee on Wednesday, February 27.

The bill would make the third DUI in a seven-year period or the fifth lifetime DUI a felony. The current law makes it a felony to be convicted of four DUIs in five years.

Rep. Erin Mercer (R-Gillette), the bill's sponsor, said that the state has been living up to its hard-drinking reputation, which is contributing to more drunk drivers on the roads. She noted that between 2002 and 2007, the number of convictions for drunk driving in Wyoming jumped from 3,480 to 4,400.

The bill also received the support of the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Wyoming Prosecutors Association. Michael Blonigen, the Association president, said that there was a significant problem with repeat drunk drivers in the state and drivers would be made more accountable by the bill.

According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the number of drivers convicted of three DUIs within a year nearly doubled between 2006 and 2007, going from 12 to 22.