As we have mentioned before on this blog, being accused of DWI can lead to an individual facing serious consequences. A bill is currently going through Missouri's legislature which would increase the consequences of a DWI conviction in Missouri.

The bill in question would make some changes to DWI law in Missouri. Specifically, the bill would:

  • Increase the number of days after a DWI conviction in which an individual convicted of DWI can't have any driving privileges from 30 to 45.
  • Reduce the number of limited circumstances in which an individual who has their license revoked because of multiple DWI convictions would be allowed to drive.

It appears that one of the goals of the bill is to regain federal highway funding that is being withheld from the state because certain aspects of the state's DWI laws are out of step with federal guidelines. The bill, if passed, would reportedly put the state's DWI laws in synch with federal guidelines.

According to the OzarksFirst.com article which reported this story, the Missouri Senate has already reviewed the bill and has passed it. The bill is now going before the Missouri House of Representatives. One wonders how the Missouri House of Representatives will vote on this bill and whether the bill will ultimately become law.

Changes to DWI law can be very impactful. Thus, one hopes that when lawmakers consider changes to DWI law in Missouri (like the ones proposed in the bill that is currently going through the Missouri legislature), they carefully consider what impacts such changes could have.

Source: OzarksFirst.com, "Stiffer DWI Law Heads to Missouri House," Tim Sampson, Jan. 26, 2012