Michigan Among Most Lenient States for Drunken Driving: Report

Michigan is one of the most lenient states in the nation when it comes to drunken driving, according to a new report that analyzed 15 key metrics, ranging from fines and minimum jail sentences to ignition interlock device requirements that can drastically reduce repeat offenses.

More than 1 million people are arrested for drunken driving every year, according to the personal-finance website WalletHub. People who drink too much and get behind the wheel ar responsible for nearly 10,000 deaths and more than $40 billion in economic damages, according to the report, 2016’s Strictest & Most Lenient States on DUI.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration alcohol-impaired driving was the cause of 31 percent of motor vehicle fatalities in 2014.

Here are the measurements included in the composite score for Michigan, which ranked 43rd on the list.

Drunken Driving Penalty in Michigan (1=Strictest; 25=Avg.)

• 13th – Minimum jail time (first offense)
• 15th – Minimum jail time (second offense)
• 19th – How long old drunken driving convictions factor into penalties
• 21st – Administrative license suspension
• 16th – Minimum fine (first offense)
• 18th – Minimum fine (second offense)
• 24th – Average insurance rate increase after drunken driving conviction

See Also

• Man with 12 Drunken Driving Convictions Charged in Girl’s Death

Here are the bottom 10, that is the states that are most lenient:

1. South Dakota
2. District of Columbia
3. North Dakota
4. Pennsylvania
5. Ohio
6. Maryland
7. New Jersey
8. Michigan
9. Idaho
10. Mississippi

And there are the top 10, that is the states that are the strictest:

1. Arizona
2. Georgia
3. Alaska
4. Oklahoma
5. Nebraska
6. Kansas
7. Connecticut
8. Utah
9. West Virginia
10. Texas

Image credit: Elvert Barnes via Flickr / Creative Commons