By Brandon Bartlett - bio | email
Posted by Melissa Greathouse - email
WARRICK CO. (WFIE) - There is a system in place to help those who have multiple DUI arrests. In Warrick County a judge can sentence a repeat offender to drug court.
It has worked for many offenders, because many repeat offenders who check themselves into a rehab program drop out a few weeks later. But in a drug court is a judge monitors the progress.
The goal is to avoid fatal accidents like the one in Evansville on Christmas night.
In Warrick County the Drug Court Program focuses on helping people control their addiction to alcohol, because organizers say a judge can take away an offender's license but that doesn't mean they won't get behind the wheel again.
You must have three prior DUI arrests to take part in the drug court, which has some wondering why the penalties are stiffer for the first two arrests.
"There's almost this attitude of apathy toward the first or second DUI. Now, when you start ringing up four, five, or six DUIs, judges and prosecutors are taking that very seriously," said Lisa Seif of the Warrick County Drug Court. "But one or two, I think a lot of people I interview think it's a rite of passage. Everyone they know has had a DUI. If it's their second one, maybe I'm going to do something about the driving. I'm not going to drive drunk anymore."
Starting on Thursday, if you get convicted of one DUI in the state of Illinois you'll be required to have a breathalyzer device installed on your car. Your car won't start unless you pass.
