OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Douglas County officials will launch a pilot program this fall that will require repeat drunken-driving offenders to take twice-daily blood alcohol tests.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning says officials are modeling the 24/7 Sobriety Program on one that's been in place in neighboring South Dakota since 2005. An independent study of South Dakota's program released last year showed that it reduced repeat DUI cases by 12 percent and domestic violence rates by 9 percent.
The program gives people convicted three or more times of drunken driving a chance to stay out of jail as long as they don't drink alcohol.
Participants will take a test twice a day — once in the morning, once at night — at the Criminal Justice Center in Omaha and pay $2 for each test.
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