(03/06/06) TRENTON ? New Jersey Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D-1st District) is working to close a major loophole in the drunk driving law named after his deceased son.

Albano says savvy lawyers are catching on to a big problem with Michael?s Law. The measure dictates drunk drivers must serve 180 days after their third offense. However, the law does not specify the offenders must serve their time without parole. Albano now says many drunk drivers are getting paroled after only serving half their sentences.

The assemblyman introduced an amendment to Michael?s Law Monday in the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. The committee also discussed another loophole in which older DWI offenses don?t get factored into sentencing. The committee passed both measures attempting to strengthen the law.