520

The ever-increasing number of accidents, personal injuries and deaths resulting from alcohol or drug-related traffic offenses is a matter of great concern to the legislature. The diminished perception of intoxicated and impaired operators of motor vehicles presents a constant and intolerable threat to the lives and well-being of the citizens of the state. Efforts aimed at alleviating this threat have proven inadequate. The public interest in the cause of highway safety will be well served by the implementation of a permanent program of rehabilitation for those operators convicted of alcohol or drug-related traffic offenses and certain operators who have been adjudicated youthful offenders for alcohol or drug-related traffic offenses. The commissioner of motor vehicles should have the authority to offer to such operators an opportunity for rehabilitation, thereby reducing the threat aimed at themselves and the people of the state.