Oklahoma State Senator Bill Coleman introduces legislation to increase penalties for those accused of driving under the influence.

Coleman has passed legislation through the Senate Public Safety Committee that would impact those facing multiple DUI charges. The Senate Bill would allow multiple DUIs to be prosecuted as a felony as opposed to multiple misdemeanors. If this bill were signed into law, prosecutors would be able to consolidate all misdemeanor DUI offenses into a felony charge, which faces a stiffer penalty. Coleman stated that the bill would allow the judicial system to respond appropriately to repeat offenders and impose stronger penalties where they are clearly warranted.

Currently, a misdemeanor DUI charge carries up to a year in prison. A felony DUI offense means a prison sentence of up to seven years.