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Tampa DUI attorneys could take notes from South Dakota’s latest endeavor to curb repeat drunk drivers which has a state law that considers three DUIs accumulated over a 10 year period to be a felony; however locking up the repeat offenders simply was not working any longer so the state came up with a new plan.

Many drunk drivers will most likely be arrested six or seven times before he/she gets to their third DUI.  Many have been on probation several times and/or been sent to a treatment facility for drug and alcohol abuse more than once.

Finally a judge is going to be sick and tired of this person after the third or forth offense and send them to a state penitentiary.  Unfortunately, these individuals end up doing short periods of prison time and even shorter terms in treatment facilities.

Tampa DUI lawyers are looking at South Dakota’s state course entitled 24/7 Sobriety Program, which is one of only eight national winners of a CSG Innovations Award, and how they are changing the way South Dakota deals with repeat DUI offenders.

In order to satisfy parole requirements, a repeat DUI offender in South Dakota must show up at their local jail every morning at 7 a.m. and every evening at 7 p.m. to take a Breathalyzer exam.  The offenders stay sober or go to prison.

If the DUI offender passes the Breathalyzer exam, they are free to go about their business; however if they fail the exam, they go directly to jail, which is conveniently located around the corner from the testing area.

Tampa criminal lawyers agree that a person who does not show up to the 24/7 Sobriety Program should be picked up by police officers and taken directly to jail.  The South Dakota judicial system knows that now the enforcement component that was missing is set into place and people will fear of the consequences because there is now follow through.

According to the South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program, a DUI offender pays one dollar each time the individual comes in to take a Breathalyzer exam – this is the cheapest scenario for individuals were getting sober because alcohol is costly and so are attorneys, court costs and accident reimbursement.