DWI offenders

When a motorist gets behind the wheel after drinking too much, he or she risks injury or death. And he or she puts all other motorists on the road and their passengers at risk.

Following an in-depth story earlier this month in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about how repeat DWI offenders escape serious charges and convictions, Gov. Jay Nixon is urging Missouri lawmakers to toughen DWI laws. Over the years, the Southeast Missourian has reported about DWI offenders with numerous prior convictions who are still on the road.

While the Post-Dispatch focused on legal maneuvers that let drivers who drink too much keep their driver's licenses, there is another peril created by drunk drivers: those who have lost their licenses but continue to drive anyway.

How to deal with DWI drivers in ways that make our streets and highways safer is a complex and thorny issue. One suggestion is that all DWI offenders should be tried in state courts, which tend to hand out tougher penalties than municipal courts. Another suggestion is to improve record-keeping so authorities know when repeat offenders are caught driving while drunk.

Dealing with this problem in a way that makes a difference will take considerable effort.