If you plan on getting super drunk this holloween... don't drive.

[kakaharoo]

MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) -- (10/18/10) -- If you're planning to drink Halloween weekend, will you get drunk or super drunk?

A new Michigan law defines the difference.

It's been dubbed the "Super Drunk" law, and those behind it hope it will reduce drunk driving. It carries harsher punishment for those not just drunk, but way over the legal limit.

The law takes effect Oct. 31 -- Halloween.

To be legally drunk in Michigan, one must register .08 on a breathalyzer.

Under the new law, drunk drivers with a level of .17 or higher will face harsher punishment. Jail time will be doubled, a drivers license will be revoked for a minimum 45 days. Drivers who register .17 or higher will also face mandatory alcohol treatment and costs that could reach as high as $10,000.

The law has been nicknamed the "Super Drunk " law but the technical name is "High Blood Alcohol Content Enhanced Penalty" law.

The National Highway Traffic Safety is behind it. More than 40 states already passed the law and Michigan is one of them.

Law enforcement says the effective date couldn't come at a better time.

"With the Halloween parties, things that go on, it is a time of year that we do have enhanced patrols out to combat drunk driving," Michigan State Police Lt. Stephen Spies said, "and the higher amount of parties that go on that weekend, and this law will go into effect on midnight."

The new law doesn't affect repeat drunk driving offenders.

Michigan 'Super Drunk' law goes into effect Oct. 31 | abc12.com

[Kinectamaniac]

Um...why didn't they just increase the penalties to EVERYONE that's drunk? That would have been a better incentive to not drink and drive. With that new law, people that are just "a little drunk" will think, "well I'm not 'super drunk' so I can drive."

[A.J.]

Worth a shot. I'm not sure anyone who chooses to drive at double the legal limit is really thinking about consequences and punishment, but sure, let's try it.

[dedoca!]

So they have drunk driving and driving while wasted laws?

[hub]

The Super Drunk law is super stupid.

[FifthFreedom]

How about, if you plan on drinking at anytime, don't drive.

[stone cold]

How about, if you plan on drinking at anytime, don't drive.

Bingo. Fuck everything about people who think they're fine after two beers and that they're super awesome drivers anyway, they could totally drive hammered, in fact fuck that, get me tequila, I'm getting wasted and driving EVERYONE at home, at the same time, fuck that.

[Big Pacific]

.

I hear on the news all the time about a guy runs over someone and he's had like five prior DUI's, it should be really straight forward, you get one massive ticket and possibly jail time for your first, then for your second, much harsher fine/jail time and your license is permanently revoked.

Agreed, did you know that when we started prosecuting DWI's in the late 70's to today, the amount of drunk driving deaths per year per capita has remained absolutely static?

No matter how we've prosecuted, it hasn't helped, which means we need to get harsher.

[xxxxFIVETONxxxx]

.

I hear on the news all the time about a guy runs over someone and he's had like five prior DUI's, it should be really straight forward, you get one massive ticket and possibly jail time for your first, then for your second, much harsher fine/jail time and your license is permanently revoked.

I just don't think that would help against the people that already have a lot of DUI's. I know people that have the license revoked and still drive around.

I do agree that the punishment should be harsher. I have this horrible fear some drunk driver is going to take out my mom or wife one day. I don't know why, it just sits in the back of my head.

[Hanzo]

I just don't think that would help against the people that already have a lot of DUI's. I know people that have the license revoked and still drive around.

I do agree that the punishment should be harsher. I have this horrible fear some drunk driver is going to take out my mom or wife one day. I don't know why, it just sits in the back of my head.

That is true, make it like a three strike deal, if you are caught a third time driving drunk after two prior arrest and your license being revoked, how about life?