In efforts to keep Louisiana roads safer, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced last week his plans to crack down on drunk driving in the upcoming legislative session. The DWI-Vehicular Homicide Task Force joined Jindal to outline three initiatives that will strengthen the state’s drunk driving laws.The proposals will strengthen the laws for drivers who refuse to submit a breathalyzer test, increase penalties for those driving with a suspended license after a DWI arrest and simplify the process to allow prosecutors to more quickly prosecute those who break the law.”Despite recent progress, Louisiana’s alcohol-related fatality rates remain significantly higher than the national average,” Jindal said in a public statement last week. “We have an obligation to keep our roads safe in order to keep our communities safe for our families.” In 2007, 475 people were killed in alcohol-related car crashes in Louisiana. There were more than 7,200 alcohol-related crash injuries.Jindal said he will take action to raise the suspension penalties for refusal to take a breathalyzer test to match the penalties for failure of the test — eliminating any reason to refuse the test.”This is a strong statement that we are serious about our drunk driving laws in Louisiana,” he said. “And, if you get behind the wheel drunk, you should expect to pay the price and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”Jindal said the current law is written in a way that seems to encourage the refusal to submit to a chemical test.If an offender tests positive, the penalty is losing a driver’s license for two years — compared to a suspended license for 180 days for the refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test. In current state law upon the second refusal, a person’s license is suspended for 544 days.The LSU Police Department has written 81 DWI citations since Jan. 1, 2008. Capt. Russell Rogé, LSUPD spokesman, said nearly 50 percent of those people stopped on suspicion of drunk driving refuse to take breathalyzer test.”It’s fairly common [to refuse],” he said. “If you refuse to take it, you automatically lose your license, whether you are found innocent or guilty of the DWI [in court].”Rogé said he understands Jindal’s reasons to change the laws.”Anytime you try to change the DWI law, you’re going to have two different sides,” he said.Cpl. L’Jean McKneely, Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman, said BRPD arrested 1,106 drivers in 2008 for driving under the influence.McKneely said BRPD refused to comment on whether they agreed with Gov. Jindal.Donna Tate, DWI-Vehicular Homicide Task Force member and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Louisiana executive director, said the proposed legislation will save lives. “MADD Louisiana is excited at Governor Jindal’s interest and commitment to the safety of the public as demonstrated by his support for these initiatives,” she said.Murphy Painter, DWI-Vehicular Homicide Task Force chairman and Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner, said he applauds the governor for recognizing the matter.”This is the right approach,” Painter said. “We need a comprehensive effort to target and remove drunk drivers from the road.”—-Contact Leslie Presnall at [email protected]