WI lawmakers finally toughen drunk driving laws

It is a small step, but a step in the right direction. After years of giving lip service to making our roads safer by cracking down on drunk drivers, the state of Wisconsin is finally taking action. Lawmakers in both the Assembly and Senate have approved legislation calling for the permanent revocation of those arrested for drunk driving four times or more. Those convicted of OWI for a fourth time would lose their licenses, and they would not be eligible for an occupational license that would allow them to drive to and from work. They would be eligible to apply for reinstatement if they maintain a clean record during that time. This is long overdue. There are too many drunks on our roads. We shouldn’t continue to give those people more opportunities to hurt themselves and others by continuing to drive legally. Our state lawmakers have until now largely refused to pass tougher drunk driving laws. Finally, they have done something. Yet, Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws remain the most lax in the nation, with a first offense drunk driving charge the equivalent of a traffic ticket. Let’s hope that in future legislative sessions our lawmakers continue to work to strengthen Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws and realize that even one offense is too many.