Seven was an unlucky number in Oxford County last week – that’s how many alleged drunken drivers arrested, in a row, during the overnight hours of March 23-24.

The number is horrifying, especially considering these arrests came during an “average” night, not as the result of some special police action, like an OUI checkpoint. The scarier scenario, however, is imagining the number of allegedly impaired drivers that slipped by the officers who were making these arrests.

As lawmakers in Augusta debate strengthening OUI laws, events like these prove Maine cannot wait for government to act. Heaps of evidence, and statutes, against drunken driving already exist, and people are still caught – and killed – while driving under the influence.

Lawbooks only help by telling how to punish offenders. We, as individuals, have the responsibility to try and prevent this behavior from happening, and make astounding numbers like Oxford County’s the exception, not the rule.