Thaindian News

Aug 31 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Montana has long been known as a place where driving while sucking down a beer was looked over, and speeding was not really that bad of a thing to do. As a matter of fact,a few years ago, there were not even laws against drinking and driving at all in many areas in the state of Montana, and major highways and rural roads did not even have a speed limit.

But in 2005, the federal government cracked down on the state, and forced them to create DUI laws and such. Then the recent death of a highway patrolman who was killed by a drunk driver in Montana has brought the issue into the spotlight. Judges in the state are now saying “No” to lenient plea bargains, and police are exploring how to keep up with repeat offenders.

The state of Montana has a great deal of very secluded roads and almost no public transportation. Since there is no cab to catch home, many drinkers drive themselves home from the bars, which often have “Togo” cups. Repeat offenders are often shuffled into and out of the system before they are even sober.

But lately, headlines in newspapers all over the state have praised the work of cops who are cracking down on repeat offenders. The widow of the officer who was killed, Tawny Haynes was happy to see the difference.

“Obviously it’s very exciting to see the change. It is a huge part of the culture here, drunk driving, binge drinking and underage drinking,” she stated. “Alcohol just seems to be way of life around here, a rite of passage. I have nothing against alcohol, you just have to be responsible.”