The arrest of Eric J. Mulneix, 46, of Chicora twice in one day on Saturday is further proof of why state lawmakers should rethink the drunken-driving penalties.

The current penalties obviously are not stiff enough, and hardly are the deterrent that they were meant to be.

It’s not that Mulneix was arrested twice in one day that is the issue — it’s the fact that Mulneix has logged three drunken-driving convictions — one each in 1994, 2003 and 2004 — and is awaiting trial on a DUI arrest July 3 in Middlesex Township — and still puts himself and others in danger by driving while intoxicated.

Mulneix’ second arrest on Saturday stemmed from a crash in which his car rear-ended a sport utility vehicle on New Castle Road at Alameda Park Road.

That was only several hours after he was released by the state police after an alleged similar violation.

Whatever is being done to discourage drunken driving in this state clearly is not working — not when people like Mulneix, who’ve already been arrested multiple times for driving while intoxicated, can continue to drive drunk.

For repeat offenders beginning with a third DUI conviction, there should be a policy of confiscation of the vehicle the drunken driver was operating — whether it was his own, a family member’s, a friend’s, a neighbor’s, or his company’s.

A no-nonsense policy like that would make anyone reluctant to loan their vehicle to someone with a drinking problem. It also could eventually provide a warranted financial hardship to the repeat drunken driver.

Meanwhile, the penalties of prison time, probation, restitution and community service must be beefed up to truly make drunken driving not worth the risk. And treatment must also be part of the solution.

Those signs stating “DUI — You Can’t Afford It” apparently aren’t as accurate as they should be, considering the attitude of people like Mulneix and others who have logged three, four, five, six or more DUI convictions and still are driving on the commonwealth’s roadways.

Too many of those multiple offenders are Butler County residents who deserved little mercy at sentencing time — but who nonetheless have been shown leniency by the courts.

Mulneix is a menace on the highways and doesn’t have the common sense and responsibility to sober up after being arrested, before getting behind the wheel again.

That he was placed in the Butler County Prison after his second arrest on only $1,000 bail — following his arraignment before District Judge Tim Shaffer — continued the pattern of leniency.

Having seen so many Butler Eagle reports dealing with multiple-DUI offenders over the years, it’s troubling that state lawmakers representing this county have demonstrated little or no initiative or clout in terms of pushing for — and bringing about — much tougher penalties for this troubling offense.

People of this county should ask them to explain why they apparently believe that current DUI penalties are tough enough.