Act 153, Pennsylvania’s new DUI law, went into effect this past Sunday.
It makes a dramatic change in the way those who choose to drive under the influence are penalized.
For the first time, repeat DUI offenders will now be charged with a felony, where previously the repeated offense was considered a misdemeanor.
Before the change was passed by the legislature, Pennsylvania was only one of four states in the U.S.
that didn’t consider repeat offending as a felony.
There are also increased penalties for homicide by vehicle, driving illegally while under a DUI-related license suspension and increased jail time.