State Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, answered questions on his bill from the House Crime committee at the Capitol this week. The bill includes tougher punishments for repeat offenders and mandates local law enforcement agencies report DWI offenses to a statewide tracking system.

DWI laws are already too tough, Fischer said.

"You can lose your job from having a beer an hour," he said, referring to DWI levels.

But others at the hearing said the bill doesn't go far enough. St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCullough, in testimony before the committee, said Missouri should become a "No Refusal" state, forcing people to consent to a Breathalyzer test.

"Once the guy says, 'I'm not gonna blow,' the officer says, 'Fine, we're gonna go to the hospital and we're gonna draw blood,'" McCullough said. "It negates the need for a search warrant, and it gives an incentive to (take the Breathalyzer test)."

Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart, and other Democrats said that would be invading the rights of the accused. McCullough estimated about 30 percent of people in St. Louis County refuse a Breathalyzer. In rural Maries County, "about 25 percent" of people refuse, Sheriff Chris Heitman said. And of Boone County's 351 DWI arrests, "a fair number" didn't consent, Maj. Tom Reddin said.

Back at Truman's Bar and Grill, Fischer didn't agree with the proposed mandate. "That's just what we need - more laws," he said.

The bill would also require municipalities, such as cities and counties, to report DWI arrests and convictions into a statewide tracking system. If local law enforcement officials don't report, they would face financial punishment.

"If (lawmakers) get one thing done, it should be that," McCullough said.

In mid-Missouri, Boone County already reports to the state's DWI tracking system. Maries County has just started implementing use of the system, Heitman said.

Not all lawmakers supported the punishments against municipalities. State Rep. Jemilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, said local governments are already short on cash and staff, and can't have more state money taken away.

The hearing lasted two hours this week, and opponents will have to wait until this Wednesday to testify.