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Everyone knows someone who
lost their life – or whose life was forever changed - because of a drunk
driving. Maybe it was a childhood friend, or a co-worker. Maybe it was your
neighbor or, worse yet, a spouse, parent or child.
Whenever we lose someone to drunk driving, it’s tragic - and all too
frequent. In 2009 alone, 238 people died and more than 4,000 were injured in
alcohol-related crashes on Wisconsin roadways.
You’d think this would be a wake-up call. And maybe it is, for some.
In my previous occupation as a police officer, I spent the majority of my
time as a third shift Patrol Officer, and made a fair number of OWI arrests.
I was constantly amazed at just how intoxicated some individuals could be
while they were behind the wheel. I remember one individual who actually
fell out of the vehicle as he stepped out to speak with me.
Clearly there was a need for some changes to Wisconsin’s OWI laws.
A package of reforms to Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws that was enacted this
past session took effect at the beginning of July.
These reforms - the most significant action taken to combat drunk driving in
our state since the 1980’s - focus both on tougher penalties and preventive
measures.
To crack down on drunk driving, a fourth operating while intoxicated (OWI)
offense is now a felony, if the driver has a previous drunk driving
conviction, suspension, or revocation within the past five years. We’ve also
criminalized a first offense OWI, if a child under the age of 16 is in the
car.
The reform package also expands the use of Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs),
high-tech
equipment that requires a driver to blow into a breathalyzer to operate a
vehicle. Under the law, IIDs are required for all repeat drunk drivers, as
well as first-time offenders caught with blood alcohol concentrations of
0.15 or higher.
And, because it’s critical we stop the cycle of repeat drunk driving and
address the root problem, the legislation increases access to successful
alcohol treatment programs for some offenders.
It’s an aggressive plan - which will be paid for by increased fees and
surcharges on convicted drunk drivers.
I’m hopeful that the tougher penalties and preventive measures we’ve
approved will make drivers think twice before they get behind the wheel. We
need drivers to think about the consequences - both in terms of punishment
and in terms of people.
I also recognize that we need to continue to look ahead to make improvements
in enforcement as well. One of the biggest problems we have in dealing with
OWI enforcement is the high volume of paperwork involved in every OWI
arrest. I would estimate that many officers spend 2-3 hours processing an
OWI, which removes them from their patrol duties. In the future we will work
hard to speed the process up to allow police officers to get back on the
road more quickly.
We need to continue to combine effective law enforcement as a deterrent as
well as to make sure that individuals with substance abuse problems receive
treatment in order to end the problems associated with operating while
intoxicated.
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