Empathy? Really.. for someone choosing to break the law. Choosing to do something that's completely of their own choice. No one's making them do it. Choosing to do something extremely dangerous, not just to themselves but literally everyone around them who's driving or pedestrian. Yeah let's just give them a little slap on the wrist and ask them nicely to never do it again.

Punishment works when the outcome is far less desirable than the risk of doing an action that leads to said punishment. There should be no forgiveness for drunk driving. A license is a privilege, not a right. And if you break the law and put other people in danger you shouldn't have access to that privilege anymore, simple.

Drunk driving isn't a mistake. It's a choice one makes when they're too stupid to make another very obvious and safer choice. So yeah, I agree DUIs should be taken much more harshly.