Attorney at Large
OWI Laws Should Crack Down on Dangerous Drivers
The state of Wisconsin is often considered one of the most lenient states when it comes to drinking and driving, but stricter policies are likely to make the roads safer.
It's no secret that Wisconsin has a strong drinking culture. That fact alone is not necessarily a terrible thing, but when drinking gets out of control or when drinking mixes with driving, the drinking culture becomes a serious problem — for example, when a local woman operating under the influence struck and injured a bicyclist. Given our drinking culture, how do we address alcohol on the roads? Our state and local drinking culture is undeniable. Although I have never been able to confirm the story, I heard an anecdote about a vehicle that pulled over on the side of the road somewhere near Beloit, because the driver was intoxicated. The vehicle then got struck by a second drunk driver. And, while the two drivers were discussing the …
In this Article:
Rik Kluessendorf
1:33 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I think that there is a definite need for reform when it comes to OWI law, no question. However, I am not certain that the other states provide a worthwhile model. Essentially, all states treat OWI in this manner (based upon Federal grants pulling the laws to a norm): Offense # 1 is a crime of x severity, Offense # 2 is a crime of slightly increased severity, Offense # 3 is a crime of increasing … more ›