Prairie Public Broadcasting

Pilot DUI prevention program working BISMARCK, ND (NDPR) - The North Dakota Attorney General's office says a pilot program to keep those who have had DUIs off booze is working well.

It's patterned after a South Dakota program, and it's been implemented in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Under it, a judge can order a repeat DUI offender to report twice a day, seven days a week to the jail -- and be tested for alcohol. If the offender tests positive, the person is jailed immediately -- and will have to appear before a judge.

Deputy Attorney General Tom Trenbeth says so far, over 90 people have participated in the program -- and he says only about five percent have failed.

"The judiciary has adopted it willingly, and it's become a success sstory," Trenbeth told the Legislature's interim Judicial Process committee. "The usual and predicted nay-sayers among law enforcement were easily co-opted once they saw it wouldn't fill-up the jails. The adage we use to define the program is -- 'We've tried for years to keep you from driving -- now we're going to keep you from drinking.'"

Trenbeth says the Attorney General's office is working on a proposal to expand the program to other parts of North Dakota.


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