Two proposals that would crack down on the state's current drug and alcohol penalty policy went before members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee Thursday.
Assembly Bill 838 and Assembly Bill 989 would eliminate voluntary intoxication as a criminal defense and increase penalties related to Ecstasy, respectively.
Tyler August, legislative aide for state Rep. Tom Lothian, R-Williams Bay, said Lothian authored AB 838 to increase personal accountability.
'If people are making the decision to go out and get intoxicated to the point where they commit crimes, they need to be held accountable for their actions,' August said.
August pointed out current law regarding involuntary intoxication would not be changed.
'This doesn't touch the involuntary portion ... if somebody drops something in somebody's drink,' he said.
State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he thought AB 838 was a responsible piece of legislation aimed at enhancing the criminal justice system.
'If you go and voluntarily get intoxicated, it's hard for me to see that should be a legitimate defense to a criminal act,' Risser said. 'I think the bill is going to go through the legislature with minimal, if any, opposition.'
Introduced by state Rep. Eugene Hahn, R-Cambria, AB 989 would bring the penalties associated with Ecstasy closer to penalties currently in place for LSD and PCP, according to a statement released Wednesday.
'The use of Ecstasy has serious effects on the minds and bodies of adolescents, but penalties for possession of marijuana are stronger than for this 'club' drug,' Hahn said in a statement. 'Given the extreme dangers of Ecstasy, it is important that we protect our children from the dangers of this drug.'
If passed, the maximum penalty for Ecstasy possession would include one-year jail time and $5,000 in fines, up from the current 30-day jail time and $500 fine.
However, Risser said he did not think increased jail time would do anything to help curb overall drug use and would end up costing the state more money.
'I don't think that long-term incarceration is any solution at all,' Risser said. 'When it comes to drugs, if we could set up a program of rehabilitation or education, we'd be much better off.'
