Habitual drunk drivers who permanently lost their license could apply to get it back after ten years of a clean record under a bill passed by the Senate Wednesday.

The issue divided the Senate, as debate ran for several minutes before senators approved the legislation 25 to 20. It now goes back to the House.

The bill would allow the convicted habitual drunk drivers to apply to the Division of Motor Vehicles for their license if they have not violated any traffic laws or alcoholic beverage laws and have not committed any other criminal offense for ten years. 

Opponents questioned whether habitual drunk drivers could truly ever be free enough of alcohol to be trusted to drive. Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat and a lawyer, recalled representing a friend who would stop drinking after being charged with DWI and started again when he got his license back. 

"I knew business would be good within 90 days," said Rand, who opposed the bill.

Sen. Dan Blue, a Raleigh Democrat and lawyer, said the bill gave someone with a decade-long clean record "an opportunity to earn a living for himself and his family, to be productive."