DUI laws in Oklahoma: Four potential laws victim advocates are supporting

Impaired driving remains a significant concern in Oklahoma, contributing to a substantial portion of the state's traffic fatalities.

Recent data and legislative efforts highlight the ongoing challenges and underscore the need for continued preventive measures.

Statewide Statistics

According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety:

1. 2022: 710 fatal crashes, with 361 involving alcohol or drugs.
2. 2023: 716 fatal crashes, with 339 involving alcohol or drugs.
3. 2024: Data analysis is currently underway.

Legislative Efforts

In response to these alarming statistics, several bills have been introduced during Oklahoma's 60th legislative session to strengthen DUI laws: 

1. DUI Bond Bill: Proposes that repeat offenders appear before a judge to assess public safety risks before bond decisions are made.
2. Aggravated DUI Bill: Seeks to expand the definition of aggravated DUI beyond a 0.15% BAC to include behaviors such as excessive speed and reckless driving.
3. Medical Marijuana Warning Label Bill: Aims to mandate warning labels on medical marijuana products, informing users that consumption can impair driving abilities and may lead to DUI charges.
4. No-Sale Event Venue License Bill: Requires private event venues permitting alcohol consumption to obtain licenses from the ABLE Commission, ensuring oversight and accountability.

VOID's Advocacy

The nonprofit organization Victims of Impaired Drivers (VOID), founded by Jeff and Kristy Murrow, has been instrumental in advocating for legislative changes.

Their daughter, Marissa, was tragically killed in 2020 by a habitual drunk driver who had been drinking at a wedding held at a private event venue. This personal loss motivated the Murrows to establish VOID to support other victims' families and prevent future tragedies.

"Prior to that, we were like every other family... who can't imagine it ever happening to them," Kristy Murrow shared. "When it happens to you, you realize what a huge problem it actually is for our state."

For more information about VOID: https://www.voidok.org 

DUI Victims Awareness Day

VOID hosted the second annual DUI Victims Awareness Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol on February 17, 2025. The event brought together families, lawmakers, and community members to honor victims and advocate for stronger DUI laws.

"Doing the event at the Capitol puts it on lawmakers' minds," District Attorney Greg Mashburn noted. "They are able to see the faces, hear the stories, and understand why tougher laws are needed."

Cleveland County Statistics

We reviewed Cleveland County's data because District Attorney Greg Mashburn, who oversees this jurisdiction, was a keynote speaker at VOID's second annual DUI Victims Awareness Day. This localized data underscores the urgency for legislative reforms and community interventions tailored to the county's unique circumstances.

1. 2023: 300 felony charges, 975 misdemeanor charges, 4 fatal incidents.
2. 2024: 300 felony charges, 1,000 misdemeanor charges, 5 fatal incidents.
3. 2025 (To Date): 25 felony charges, 75 misdemeanor charges.

Mashburn's firsthand experience with impaired driving cases provides valuable insight into the challenges and legislative needs specific to this area.

National Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a statistical projection of traffic fatalities for the first half of 2024 shows a 3.2% decrease year-over-year.

1. 2023: 8,935 fatal crashes.
2. 2024: 8,650 fatal crashes.

The NHTSA estimates that 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes each day—that's one person every 39 minutes.

1. 2022: 13,524 fatal crashes involving alcohol.

Families and friends of victims from across the state attended the event, sharing their stories and advocating for change. The collective voice aims to urge lawmakers to support the proposed bills and implement measures to reduce impaired driving incidents.

For more information, visit the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office's Interactive Crash Dashboards: https://okdpswf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=bbceac52ab4644cb8e9d9753bfd8f13