Reader’s Question:

I am a Communication Arts major and was tasked to do a little research about drunk driving laws and bills that have not passed here in Oklahoma. Can you give me detailed information of a bill that has not passed the House and the Senate? Your help would definitely narrow down my research.

Robert

Oklahoma City, OK

A Democratic Representative has authored a bill that would have DUI convictions noted on Oklahoma driver’s licenses. This bill calls for an Oklahoma DUI conviction to be noted on the offender’s driver’s license after the first conviction and the notation would stay on the driver’s license for up to four years. It can only be removed after four years if the person has not had another Oklahoma DUI conviction during that time.

The Representative said that the bill is designed to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the state of Oklahoma. He notes that 39% of the traffic fatalities in the state were alcohol-related in 2005.

Any Oklahoma resident with a DUI conviction in the past four years would be forced to reveal that conviction when boarding a plane, buying cigarettes, cashing a check, entering a bar of the other times when their driver’s license is used as proof of age or identification.