It may be more difficult to get a DWI in Louisiana if House Bill 132 passes in the upcoming session. 
A bill proposed in the Louisiana State Legislature would make it illegal for establishments to serve alcohol to customers without a designated driver. The bill will be considered during the legislature’s upcoming April session, and it first appeared on the interim calendar on March 27.
The bill requires the designated driver to show a valid Louisiana driver’s license, and the establishment cannot refuse service to anyone acting as a designated driver solely because they are not purchasing alcohol. 
Rep. Henry Burns, R-Haughton, authored the bill and said the law would be difficult to enforce at the state level, but he wanted to start the conversation about drunk driving. 
“It would take the help of some other right minds and a lot of stuff to find something that would actually be significant enough to have some type of enforcement that would encapture the state,” Burns said.
In 2013, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities made up about 33 percent of driving deaths in Louisiana, according to responsibility.org. There were about 233  alcohol-impaired driving fatalities total in the same year.
Burns said people who lost loved ones to drunk driving approached him with ideas for the legislation, but no bill can change what comes down to the individual’s decision.
“It’s something that bears personal responsibility, the drinking and driving and all,” Burns said. “It really comes down to the fact that people have to take personal responsibility for their actions.”
Drunk driving is a deadly issue that needs to be dealt with, said general business sophomore Roberto Diban. He said a state law is the best way to make sure people respect the law. 
“Too many humans’ lives have been lost because of an irresponsible driver who is drunk,” Diban said.
No other state driver’s license would be accepted under this bill and no exception is listed for drinkers using mass transit or walking. These issues could cause problems for out-of-state students.
No other state has a law like this, according to legiscan.com. Burns said the issue might be better solved at the local or university level.
“I’m just not real sure that legislation, from the state side, that it could really accomplish what it needs to from an enforcement side,” Burns said. “One of the suggestions was made that maybe this should be more of a local issue, so each college campus could come up with their game plan. Something like that might be more logical.”
This issue is more relevant for local governments, said business sophomore Manuel Gutierrez, and it might not be necessary all across the state.
The University area would be in need of something like this to make sure students are safe, Gutierrez said.
“Since this is a university, there are a lot of young people who don’t drink responsibly,” Gutierrez said. “Maybe it’s better for them to just have this law here and not in other parts of the state.”
With all the issues with the legislation, Burns said he considered pulling the bill. It may not get the attention it deserves as the budget will take up most of the session.
“To be able to come up with what I would consider good legislation, I just don’t know if I could get that done during this session with all the budget issues and all,” Burns said. “My hope now, my main goal, is to publicize the fact that people have to take responsibility for their actions.”