Alabama AG Wants To Toughen DUI Law

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By Associated Press

M60o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Alabama AG Wants To Toughen DUI Law

Published: Wed, October 03, 2007 - 7:09 am
Last Updated: Wed, October 03, 2007 - 7:15 am

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Attorney General Troy King has decided not to appeal a court decision that a fourth DUI conviction rises to a felony only if it occurred in a five-year period. Instead, he will ask the Legislature to toughen the drunken driving law.

King had argued that a fourth conviction is a felony no matter how long the time period when the drunken driving convictions occurred. But the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals disagreed in a decision Friday. The appeals court said the Legislature put in the five-year time frame when it amended the law last year.

A spokesman for King says it would be difficult to argue with the court's reasoning on the issue. And that's why King will be working with legislators to try to amend the law to make it clear that all convictions count, not just those in the last five years.

The first three convictions for DUI are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail. A fourth conviction becomes a felony punishable by one to ten years in prison.

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Since speeding is the number one killer on alabama roadways why don’t we make a fourth conviction (within lifetime) a felony.

Posted by dammalalaws on 10/09/07 - 10:57 am • Report Abuse

I’m glad Troy King wants to toughen DUI laws. The second DUI should be enough to send them to jail with a longer sentence. If they didn’t learn after the first DUI, why should they be given 3 additional chances to kill innocent citizens before they get the longer jail term?

Posted by bluesmurf251 on 10/03/07 - 6:31 pm • Report Abuse