(AP) -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers have approved an overhaul of the state's drunken driving laws.
The House gave final approval Thursday night to a bill that would require judges to consider prior drinking and driving incidents when sentencing people. The bill now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon, who had made it one of his priorities for the session.
The legislation was prompted by concerns that drunken driving punishments vary widely between counties and some people are able to continue driving despite multiple arrests.
The bill outlines penalties for judges, law enforcement officers and prosecutors who don't submit drunken driving information to the state crime registry.
It also would allow some offenders to avoid jail by completing a DUI treatment program.
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