ignition interlock harris county
Legislature passes tougher DUI laws, Doyle to sign measure
The legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday that would be driving the hardening state laws by making violations and fourth offenses more offenders to install ignition interlocks on their vehicles.
The measure would most significant changes in the state drunk driving laws since 2003, when the blood-alcohol limit for drivers fell from 0.10 to 0.08.
Under the threat that the federal government would cut highway money, the parliament that year reduced the blood-alcohol limit, but have lower penalties for offenders with levels between 0.08 and 0.099.
The bill adopted Wednesday would wipe that aspect of the law and make all first-time offenders with the same punishment.
The Senate has the measure 33-0 and the House 93-1, with Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) different. Governor Jim Doyle promised to sign the bill.
The new law would cost up to 82 million U.S. dollars per year - triple earlier estimates and much more than new rates are included in the bill would cover.
"It is a tough and clever new way of combating drunk driving in our state", said Rep. Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis), an author of the bill.
Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), another author, said the adoption of the bill just before Christmas and New Year was important.
"Our history in this state is filled with joyous occasion where someone's holidays and changed in tragedy caused by alcohol-related accidents, "said Sullivan." The timing is appropriate, I think, for us to get this done today. "
Lawmakers began pushing for change after the Journal Sentinel's "Wasted in Wisconsin series in 2008 and other media accounts that examined the Wisconsin drinking culture and examined's relatively lax drunk driving laws.
Schneider said he voted against the bill because previous limits to go back three decades have done little to driving under the influence against to go. The bill would worsen overcrowding in the prisons, he added.
"You might think that this will be some great thing, a beautiful number bill that drinking problem to solve, "said Schneider." This bill is not going to solve the problem. "
The legislation would:
• Requires all ignition locks for repeat drunk drivers and for the first time offenders with blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher. That is almost two times the legal limit. Ignition locks motorists can start their car until they blow into a tube to show that any alcohol in their systems.
• Create quarter-driving a criminal offense if it occurs within five years after a previous violation. Drunk driving is a crime to the fifth attack in Wisconsin.
• Make first offense a drunk driving offense a child younger than 16 in the vehicle. All other first-time violations would continue to traffic violations, rather than crimes. Wisconsin is the only represents the first treatment of crimes that way.
• Expansion to the rest of the Winnebago County a state program that gives judges the option of offering reduced jail time for offenders who complete drug or alcohol treatment. County boards should approve of the program - that is, lenders to reduce recidivism - For use in their area.
Starting point
"The important first step, but much more needs to be done," said Lisa Maroney, a spokeswoman Alcohol Risk Education for All-Wisconsin, a coalition of health, medical, law enforcement and insurance groups.
The group has called for legalization of sobriety checkpoints and making a first offense a crime instead of a traffic citation.
The bill adopted Wednesday would help put "an end to the 100 percent violent crime of drunk driving prevention, "said a statement by Frank Harris of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Both houses, controlled by Democrats, advanced much of the legislation in the autumn, but they do not work out minor differences on how stringent measures when they last met in November fund. Instead of waiting to pass a final package when they reconvene in regular session in January, they called in extraordinary session.
All offenders will be a criminal fee rise from $ 20 to $ 163. People have their license revoked for drunk driving will have to pay more for their licenses reinstated - $ 200 instead of $ 60.
Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) said offenders would be less able to afford the increased payment.
"Many of these will be paid for, and it's just sitting there, "he said.
The new fees will raise 12.2 million U.S. dollars per year, only a fraction of the cost of Bill's.
Legislators steered clear of raising the taxes on beer, wine or spirits. Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) - A long time supporter of raising the beer tax - said legislators "no backbone" to fully fund the bill have.
Earlier estimates said the measure was 15.1 million U.S. dollars to $ 27.9 million at cost years, but the morning before the vote, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau warned state lawmakers would cost 47.4 million U.S. dollars to 82 million U.S. dollars per year.
The new increased costs for incarceration in state prisons, probation and treatment. The costs do not include the cost of housing more inmates in prisons, those counties to pay property taxes.
A previous fiscal analysis of the Department of Corrections overestimated how much the increased use of ignition interlocks would relapse influence. The tax agency said the devices would reduce recidivism by 7%, not the 65% estimated by the corrections department.
Among those voting for the bill was Rep. Jeff Wood (I-Chippewa Falls), already twice convicted for drunken driving and faces three pending charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A meeting ethical Committee intends to expel him from the legislature.
Wood declined to comment but said in a statement he supported the bill because it expands treatment. He said he recently enrolled in a treatment program.
"It gave me half a chance of life of austerity," his statement said. "Unfortunately for most people, getting the treatment they need is out of reach due to financial constraints. I hope Wisconsin will continue to look at helping people treat the disease rather than addressing the criminal alone. "
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