A North Carolina state trooper is dead.

Master Trooper Steven J. Perry was killed in a wrong-way crash in Durham after his patrol vehicle was struck head-on. According to court records, the driver involved had at least three prior DWI convictions in North Carolina.

This tragedy demands action.

Repeat impaired driving is not a minor offense. It is a predictable, escalating danger. When someone is convicted of driving while impaired multiple times, it signals a serious risk to every family on the road.

We urge the North Carolina General Assembly and the Governor to strengthen penalties for repeat DWI offenders by:

• Increasing mandatory minimum sentences for individuals with multiple convictions.
• Requiring extended supervised probation for repeat offenders.
• Establishing stricter license revocation timelines for those with three or more DWIs.
• Ensuring mandatory substance abuse treatment and monitoring for repeat offenders.

Public safety must come first.

North Carolina’s laws should reflect the seriousness of repeat impaired driving. When warning signs are ignored, the consequences can be irreversible.

This is not about politics. It is about protecting families, law enforcement officers, and everyone who shares our highways.

We cannot undo what happened on N.C. 147. But we can act to prevent the next wrong-way crash caused by a repeat offender.

Honor Trooper Perry’s service with meaningful reform.

Strengthen repeat DWI laws in North Carolina now.