The Legislature has passed a bill that would toughen drunken driving laws. Both the state Senate and Assembly approved the measure Wednesday afternoon. Gov. Doyle says he'll sign it. WUWM's Ann-Elise Henzl reports.
The bill would create a three-pronged approach to reducing drunken driving.
First, it would increase penalties, by making the fourth offense a felony -- not the fifth, which is the case under current law.
The second prong is deterrence: requiring ignition interlock devices on the cars of all repeat offenders.
Finally, the bill offers treatment, giving offenders the choice of counseling, in exchange for reduced jail time.
Milwaukee Rep. Josh Zepnick said the multiple approaches are necessary to root out the threat of driving under the influence.
"This problem (is) an equal opportunity destroyer. It doesn't matter what your income, your race, your age, or where you live in the state of Wisconsin, you are at risk because of the mixture of drinking and driving at very, very dangerous levels," Zepnick says.
Zepnick spoke to his colleagues Wednesday, from experience. His sister was killed by an intoxicated driver.
It has been families and friends of victims who've demanded tougher laws, according to Rep. Terese Berceau. She says it's about time lawmakers listened.
"We haven't passed a perfect bill yet, as we always say, but part of it is talking about this enough so that we get to the point where people really get it, that it's not OK to get in car even one time and drive drunk," Berceau says.
The lone representative to vote against the plan was Marlin Schneider. He's been in the Assembly for decades, and says during that time, lawmakers have taken numerous steps to reduce drunken driving.
They've included raising the drinking age, to lowering the blood alcohol level that determines someone is too drunk to drive. Schneider says each step was hailed as the solution. But he says none has worked.
"Even if I'm the only one here, my vote on this bill is going to be no, because it's not going to make any difference at all," Schneider says.
Schneider did not offer his colleagues answers.
He wasn't the only lawmaker frustrated during Wednesday's debate in the Assembly.
Republican Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald said the Assembly should be dealing with more urgent matters than calling an extraordinary session on drunken driving.
"Go back to your district, ask them what the number one thing is on their mind, I guarantee it's going to be jobs and the economy, I guarantee it is," Fitzgerald says.
Fitzgerald says Republicans have authored bills that would make doing business in Wisconsin more favorable, and prevent businesses from moving. But he says the Democratic leadership hasn't been willing to put those measures on the front burner.
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