In 1999, Wisconsin finally made the fifth offense for driving while intoxicated a felony. Even with this stipulation, our state still had some of the most lax drinking laws in the country at the time. Even though the state Legislature recently tightened drunken driving laws, the latest legislation passed will do little to reduce Wisconsin's reputation as an overly alcohol-friendly state.
Last week, the state Senate passed a reform of the current drunken driving laws. This came after the Assembly's unanimous vote on a similar bill in September. The legislation would make the fourth drunken driving offense a felony if it occurs within five years of the previous conviction. Also, ignition interlocks would be mandatory for repeat offenders, as well as first-time offenders with blood-alcohol levels of 0.15 percent or higher. First-time offenders with a child passenger in the vehicle could also face tougher punishment: criminal misdemeanor charges and higher fines.
All of these new restrictions are part of the long-overdue remedy for Wisconsin's notorious drunken driving problem, but they still do not reach far enough to ensure driver safety or to strongly discourage drinking and driving. The last change is entirely insufficient if safety is a legitimate concern. No one who chooses to recklessly endanger a minor should be given a pass with just a misdemeanor.
In 2006, Wisconsin led all states with the highest percentage of alcohol-related fatalities among all driving casualties. According to state records in 2007, one out of three people with a drunken driving conviction was a repeat offender. This number indicates a failure of previous legislative efforts on the issue. Statistics like these are issues that the state should not tolerate, nor legislate insufficiently.
With the new four-offense limit, Wisconsin is finally making strides to bring its drunken driving legislation up to par with the rest of the nation. Over 26 states, including neighboring Minnesota, impose even stricter limitations. The new legislation also shows more concern for individuals. The interlock system would put a regular check on problematic drivers without adding more traffic stops. People who complete alcohol treatment could face less time in jail with judges' consent. These propositions need to be stronger, however, if the state Legislature is seriously concerned with the safety of Wisconsin's roads. The beer tax increase proposed this past summer, for example, does not tackle the alcohol consumption problem directly. In a state famous for its progressive, grassroots democracy and heavy drinking culture, a 2.4-cent tax hike per bottle has a minimal chance of making an impact. But still, drunken driving is a more serious issue than drinking itself.
Critics worry the bills would put a greater burden on Wisconsin's crowded correctional system. Once the legislation takes effect, the state could see a substantial increase in inmates. This is a legitimate concern, but there are solutions to such a problem. An electronic monitoring program has proven successful in Dane County, especially for nonviolent offenders. It could readily address the problem of additional inmates if expanded to the entire state.
Although the legislation is a step in the right direction, the bill is not comprehensive enough to put a significant damper on the number of drunken driving incidents in the sate. We sincerely hope that the state Legislature will take a stronger stance against drunken driving and that reform will not take as long as it has in the past.
