August 24, 2007

PIERCE COUNTY -- A repeat drunk driver is going to be the first test of the state's new felony drunk law. It means if convicted, he will have to serve prison time instead of a few days in jail.

The new law took effect July 1 and police say the first suspect to be snared by the new law now sits in the Pierce County Jail.

Until now, offenders have gotten away with a misdemeanor, no matter how many previous DUIs they had. The sentences usually led to a bit of county jail time.

But those days are gone. Now five DUI convictions in ten years adds up to a felony, which means at least a year in state prison and a $10,000 fine.

Paul Yahne of Gig Harbor is the first to be snared by the state's new felony drunk driving law. He already had four DUI convictions when he was pulled over along highway 16 in Tacoma by an off-duty transit police officer Tuesday night and turned over to University Place police.

"He could smell alcohol and felt that he was intoxicated, and since he was on his way home he called in officers from University Place to assist him," said Sgt. Jim Kelly.

When police looked inside Yahne's truck, they saw the dashboard had been ripped apart. They say it appeared he had disabled the ignition interlock device designed to prevent him from driving while drunk.

They'd already taken away his license, but that didn't prevent him from driving.

Lawmakers say it's repeat offenders like Yahne that prompted the passage of the new tougher law. But it took several years of lobbying by victims and their families to pass.

"I don't see how it can help but save lives, and if that happens, all of this fighting has been a good thing," said Anita Kronvall, a victim's mother.

The case against Yahne is the first of what police and activists believe will be scores of cases to get repeat drunks off the road.

"I'm very encouraged by it. The officers did a great job and in the end he'll be held accountable for his actions, which he should be, after that many convictions in a ten year period of for DUI. He needs to stop driving," Kelly said.

Yahne is here being held on $100,000 bail.

To see this video coverage of this story on KOMO TV, click here.