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In Minnesota, 46,748 drivers have at least 4 DWI arrests. They form a dangerous group that’s hard to treat or punish.

Danny Lee Bettcher was back in an Otter Tail County courtroom this month, again for driving drunk. This time, he was facing his 27th DWI conviction a Minnesota record.

Bettcher, who spent more than four years behind bars for a prior drunken driving offense, was arrested after downing a few rounds of beer and Jagermeister and sailing his motorcycle through a four-way stop. He was released from prison nine months earlier. “I drink to get drunk,” said Bettcher, 57.

Though his lawyer pleaded for leniency, Judge Mark Hansen decided the roads would be safer with Bettcher locked up. Hansen sentenced him to four years in prison, the recommended penalty in Bettcher’s case. “I don’t want you to kill somebody,” the judge said.

State officials say Bettcher is one of 139 people who have been charged with at least 15 DWIs. Altogether, 46,748 drivers have been arrested at least four times for driving while intoxicated. Minnesota legislators took aim at this group in 2001, when they passed a felony DWI law creating stiff penalties for those with four DWI convictions in 10 years. Since then, at least 4,400 drivers have been sentenced under the statute, which carries a minimum of three years in prison, typically converted to probation with some jail time for first-time felons.

But the prospect of prison might not be much of a deterrent. The number of people with a second felony DWI has increased each year, reaching 156 in 2008, or 20 percent of all felony DWI convictions.

For many chronic offenders, the issue isn’t whether they’re going to drink and drive again. It’s how to get away with it. Experts say repeat offenders are often alcoholics who simply don’t respond to treatment or tough punishment. They drive without licenses. If their vehicle is taken away, they drive someone else’s car. They’ve driven drunk so many times they mistakenly believe they’re in control of their vehicles, even if they can’t walk a straight line.

Choosing A Divorce Attorney

Make sure your lawyer has extensive experience in family law.

The first step to move forward with your divorce action is to obtain an attorney. For many, divorce represents the first time they have used the services of an attorney. For others who have a family attorney, the initial reaction is to call on an attorney you have used in the past. Regardless of your background, special attention must be paid to your choice of a divorce attorney.

Also, you must be prepared to answer the inquiries of your attorney. For both you and your spouse the attorney will want to know name, address, phone numbers, social security number, employer and work history, income, investments, retirement plans, health insurance, physical description, date and place of birth, parents’ names, date and place of marriage, details of previous marriages, among other information.

Unless you and your spouse already have a solid agreement on the basic division of your property and there will not be a custody fight over any children, you should be careful to find an attorney with substantial experience in the field of family law. While it is not necessary to find an attorney whose exclusive practice is family law, it is important to hire an attorney who is experienced in this area of law and who is familiar with the custom and judges in your locality. This experience is necessary because many areas in divorce law allow a court considerable discretion in issuing rulings. Accordingly, it is important to have an attorney who has experience with the approach taken by a particular judge.
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Stephanie Pratt, one of the stars of “The Hills,” was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Sunday morning in Hollywood.

Police said Pratt, 23, was arrested at around 3:45 a.m. outside a nightclub in Los Angeles and taken into custody, with bail set at $5,000, according to Sergeant Mark Cohan of the Los Angeles Police Department. Before her arrest, Pratt was reportedly out with some fellow “Hills” stars at Empire, celebrating Holly Montag’s 26th birthday.

Pratt was released with a ticket later Sunday morning and was not required to post bail but will return for a court hearing, according to a spokesperson at the Van Nuys Division, where Pratt was held.

Shortly before heading out to the club, Pratt tweeted, “It’s my sissy @hollymontags bday party! Just finished dinner and going to Empire but I’m pretty tired aka yes i am the party pooper ”

Cohan said that he did not know the circumstances of the arrest and could not say whether Pratt was pulled over for another violation or if the stop was DUI-related.

Pratt was arrested in Hawaii in May of 2006, along with Hannah Owens-Bender, daughter of the director of ABC’s “Lost,” for second-degree theft and drug violations.

Pratt has spoken in the past about her struggles with bulimia and self-esteem issues, as well as her battles with substance abuse.