WBZ

The arrests of two repeat drunk drivers this week have some curious why habitual offenders are able to get back behind the wheel.

53-year-old Thomas Plant from Rockland allegedly fooled the Registry of Motor Vehicles into getting a license even though he'd been convicted on drunk driving charges at least nine times before.

Police arrested another man, 39-year-old Jason Wettland, who was allegedly driving with a bottle of brandy in his lap. It was at least his tenth charge.

Jamie from Taunton is curious:

"How is it that people can get arrested for drunk driving 12 times… shouldn't he have already been in jail? Does he have to kill someone to be put away?"

M.A.D.D. spokesperson David Deluliis says the reason is that the suspects' prior arrests were before lawmakers put new tougher penalties on the books four years ago.

This time, there are more safeguards.

"What you're going to find is, it's a very different place. It's not like it was when you left it several years ago."

Under Melanie's Law, repeat offenders face jail time ranging from 30 days to 5 years, and they could lose their licenses for the rest of their lives.

Anyone caught two times or more has to have a breathalyzer installed in the car's ignition. If the person doesn't pass the breathalyzer, the car will not start.

"What we're going to see moving forward is, every time you see a repeat offender now, whether it's the second or third offense, or twelfth offense, the penalties are very different now," says Deluliis.

Last year, more than 1,600 people were arrested for drunk driving in Massachusetts.

About a quarter of them had been caught doing it before.

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