BANGOR, Maine (AP) _ A law designed to crack down on the worst drunken driving violators in Maine goes into effect on Aug. 1.
The law changes state statutes so felony drunk driving convictions are never cleared from a person's record and can be used in sentencing for future offense. The Bangor Daily News first reported about the law change.
Currently laws say the convictions are washed out after 10 years and can't be used in determining punishments for repeat offenders. A drunken driving offense becomes a felony when someone is seriously hurt or killed or when a driver is convicted of drunk driving for the third time in a ten-year period.
Rep. Tim Marks, D-Pittston, proposed the bill. He is a 25-year state trooper who retired four years ago.