After years of considering a two-strikes, three-strikes and four-strikes law that would allow a felony charge for chronic drunk- or drugged drivers, lawmakers have settled on five strikes. It was a balance, proponents of the compromise bill say, between public safety and the reality that prison cells are expensive.

Above photo: Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, and Anita Kronvall, mother of a woman killed by a drugged driver three years ago, confer during a hearing in January on a similar bill.

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