Crack down on DUIs

DUIs are out of control in Washington. Police traffic enforcement is insufficient in Spokane, as new chief or mayor may not want to deal with legal issues stops entail. Instead, a move for more photo enforcement revenue the city can use.

Drivers speeding may be DUI, my have a warrant out for their arrest, or have just committed a crime. If a police stop is not made, they go free.

As a former career prosecutor, I worked for years for a tougher DUI law in Washington like Idaho has: a third DUI can be charged as a felony, with prison time being imposed instead of the usual two days of jail. Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and Washington Legislature have had no interest in holding repeat DUI offenders accountable, as if the offense is only a “problem” and not the serious crime it is, due to the large number of victims killed each year on Washington’s roads.

Spokane County’s former prosecutor, Steve Tucker, routinely allowed DUIs to be reduced to negligent driving. Fortunately, Larry Haskell has implemented tougher standards on all DUI plea negotiations. Sadly, Rep. Timm Ormsby says prison is only appropriate for vehicle assault or death. Why wait for a death?

James R. Reierson

Spokane