Tara Granahan, WPRO News

Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry) is back and wants to send a strong message to drunk drivers... and his colleagues. After an unsuccessful run for Secretary of State, Raptakis says he's more determined than ever to submit and rally for tougher drunk driving laws. He cited one case where a driver was caught and charged with a DUI multiple times in the same week!

 "A third time? And then get released out on bail?", Raptakis questioned on the WPRO Morning News with Tara Granahan and Andrew Gobeil.

The senator also asked why that driver wasn't charged with a felony or held on bail to get him off the streets. "The public is fortunate in RI that this individual did not cause bodily injury or death," said Raptakis.

State police say they made seven DUI arrests over the holidays, but Raptakis asked how many were NOT spotted or arrested. "You gotta get tough with drunk drivers", said Raptakis, hoping to take the plates of offenders, or make their vehicles unusable.

Sen. Raptakis is also calling on his fellow lawmakers to push for going back 25 years on an offender's record and instill tougher penalties if serious bodily harm occurs, and of course avoid the loss of life. He added, "It only takes one accident... it's unacceptable."