An innovative program in Polk County, Iowa refers persons arrested for DWI to an assessment center for evaluation. A 2-hour test indicates whether the person is an alcoholic or severe problem drinker. If a severe drinking problem is revealed, the person is referred to a therapy facility for a long-term program of rehabilitation. Deferred prosecution continues for 1 year. Reckless social drinkers, on the other hand, should be treated punitively, since their drinking and driving is apparently an act of volition. A 'per se' law for DWI also promises to be effective. Such a law provides that operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above a specified percentage in the blood (usually .10 percent) is an offense per se (in itself). Mandatory 2-day jail sentences could also help reduce the incidence of DWI, as has been indicated in some counties. Practices of deferred sentences, deferred prosecutions, and plea bargaining have had an adverse effect upon the incidence of DWI, since conviction carries few punitive consequences. Organizing the monitoring of court actions and publicizing excessively lenient sentencing for DWI can help remedy the situation. Other steps that may be taken include higher taxes on alcoholic beverages to help fund increased law enforcement efforts against DWI, the monitoring of bars, closing bars at an earlier hour, greater media attention to the problem, increased public education, and making the cost of advertising alcoholic beverages a nondeductible business expense. Also, a National Commission should be established to produce a master plan for coping with the problem and providing leadership and coordination for the task. Some examples of educational pamphlets are provided.