Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock released the details of a new program being launched in Lewis and Clark County to reduce the number of drunk drivers in Montana and hopefully reduce the deaths on Montana highways due to drunk driving.

A press release from the Montana AG’s office said that:

Under the 24/7 Sobriety Program, anyone who is arrested for a second or subsequent DUI is required to submit to a breath test twice a day, every day.  If an offender fails a breath test or does not show up for a test, the offender’s bond is immediately revoked and he or she is taken directly to jail and waits to see a judge.

I applaud Bullock and the law enforcement officials in Lewis and Clark County for starting this program, which if the results in South Dakota are any indication the program should be expanded state-wide here in Montana as soon as possible.

In reading about South Dakota’s program, I learned that it started in 2005.  It’s too bad that Montana has not been in the forefront of combating DUIs.  Since the Democrats have controlled the AG’s office for many many years in Montana, the ball is in their court.

One final comment.  There are rumors that AG Bullock has his eyes set on being the next Governor in Montana.  If that is true, Montanans will need to see more than a carefully crafted press conference about DUIs before they will forgive him for abandoning the AG’s post to campaign for Governor – although if we see a drop in DUIs and deaths on Montana’s highways due to his leadership, he may be forgiven.