How did one driver rack up 25 drunk driving arrests?

Earlier this week, a judge in Virginia Beach, Va., ordered Tracy Michael Decker, 39, to serve seven years in prison and be barred from driving a vehicle for 20 years. His crime: Driving while intoxicated -- for at least the 25th time. Given that Decker already spent four years in prison, he's apparently averaging one DUI arrest for every year since he's had a driver's license. How is this possible?

Blame the patchwork of state laws that govern drivers' behavior. Getting information about arrests can be dicey; each state defines intoxicated driving slightly differently, and it can be easy for someone to stay ahead of overworked police forces by simply moving. In addition, there's a patchwork of rules about when drunk drivers must ride with breathalyzer systems that immobilize vehicles if the operator's under the influence; some states require it for anyone convicted of DUI, while others only use it for repeat offenders or drivers far above the legal alcohol limit.