FORMAN, N.D. (AP) _ A county prosecutor in southeastern North
Dakota is charging many drunken driving offenders with reckless
driving, instead of driving under the influence.
Sargent County State's Attorney Lyle Bopp says he wants to give
people a second chance. He says he doesn't give the same break to
repeat offenders and people who have a blood-alcohol level of more
than 0.15 percent. The legal limit for DUI in North Dakota is 0.08
percent.
Bopp says there isn't much public transportation in Sargent
County, and ``people need to get to work.''
The penalties for drunken driving and reckless driving are about the
same. But a reckless driving charge has less effect on insurance
rates.
A Highway Patrol spokesman says the agency isn't happy about the
practice.
