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Michigan rates poorly in dealing with DWI offenses

If readers were wondering how Michigan’s drunken driving laws shape up against other states, wonder no more. The Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which undertakes these kinds of comparative ratings annually, has the answer. And it isn’t good.

According to MADD, Michigan’s laws rank one spot up from dead last. Only the statutes in Montana, a MADD report said, are less effective.

“Unfortunately, it’s in keeping with Michigan’s history,” Fred Timpner, executive director of the Michigan Association of Police, said for a story The Mining Journal published on its front page Monday.

What’s the problem? The MADD report found that Michigan isn’t using interlock devices enough, needs harsher penalties for people who drive drunk with kids in the car and police should be running sobriety checkpoints.

And that’s just for openers. MADD also found that Michigan wasn’t using ignition interlock devices to the degree it should while recommending that people lose their licenses as soon as they’re arrested for drunken driving instead of waiting for a court to find them guilty.

MADD concedes it toughened its standards in the past year, which could have played a role in the state’s poor showing.

There are no clear cut paths forward. While many defense attorneys support the expanded use of interlock devices, not surprisingly, many worry about license revocation ahead of a court judgement.

Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Wiese suggested, among other things, that sobriety and treatment courts are a better approach.

He might have a point. In the meantime, MADD is one of those authoritative organizations that people listen to when it speaks. We hope state legislators are paying attention.

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