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Utah does a relatively good job of addressing the societal scourge of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Yet, every now and then the citizenry is reminded that much more can and must be done.
The recent story of a Utah County woman going to jail after her seventh DUI conviction is a case in point. That Mary Ann Lassen will actually spend time in jail should bring a degree of comfort to other motorists who might otherwise share the roadways with her. But what happens after 210-days behind bars? Will she change her ways or will there be an eighth offense - perhaps an accident, an injury, a death?
Lassen's case, like others in the past, raises questions about the state's treatment of multiple repeat DUI offenders. Is the DUI Sentencing Matrix used by the courts strong enough to protect the public? Do judges impose appropriate sentences or are they too lenient. Is there reticence to get tough with impaired drivers because other crimes seem to warrant higher priority? Could tools such as ignition interlock devices be used more broadly and effectively?
Choosing to drive while chemically impaired, in KSL's view, is a serious offense. Doing it repeatedly with a degree of sanctioned impunity is an act society simply shouldn't tolerate.
