Kansas City, MO – Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has called for reforming the state's DWI laws in response to news accounts exposing deals that allow drunken drivers to avoid conviction.
Nixon said he will ask legislative leaders this week to change the state's laws on DWI by spring, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday.
He and others called for reforms in response to a story Sunday in the Post-Dispatch that revealed a culture of deal-cutting in St. Louis-area courts handling DWI cases.
The newspaper reported that some repeat offenders are among those avoiding conviction for DWI or related charges.
Nixon said the system "is allowing offenders to get driving privileges back and not to be held accountable for their actions."
State Rep. Walt Bivins, R-St. Louis County, said it appearedDWIs are "just kind of written off and glossed over."