DUI Bills Pass State House - Sky Arnold

Drunk drivers are one step closer to facing tougher penalties.

Tuesday, the State House approved legislation to increase the minimum jail time from 24 hours to 48. The bill goes back to the State Senate to work out differences with legislation it approved earlier this year.

The bill is one of several drunk driving opponents hoped might pass this legislative session.

Columbia Representative Tom Dubois says several others might still be approved. Including one bill to give authorities the ability to take the license of drivers who refuse to take a breath test.

"I do think these proposals are long overdue and they're going through the normal course of session and hopefully they'll be funded and passed this year," said Dubois.

Funding could be a key challenge for some bills in the tight budget year. Drunk Driving opponents say a bill that would cost hundreds of thousands to give extra prison time for 5th DUI offenders could be tough to pass.

Another key bill may already have died in committee. Lawmakers were considering forcing drunk driving offenders to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles that prevent them from starting if the driver is drunk.

Among the biggest supporters of that bill, Al Hampton, who's company installs the devices.

"To see the legislation get started in the process and not get through is really disappointing," said Hampton.