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WHO ARE INTOXICATED AND GET
BEHIND THE WHEEL.
TODAY HE SIGNED A LAW THAT
CREATES TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR
DRUNKEN DRIVERS.
NBC15'S LAUREN WINFREY TAKES A
LOOK AT THE NEW LEGISLATION AND
WHY SOME SAY IT'S A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT MORE NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
" ........."
ALCOHOL IMPARIED DRIVING IS THE
SINGLE GREATEST CAUSE OF FATAL
CAR CRASHES IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
"THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET WHEN
IT COMES
TO AN ISSUE LIKE IMPAIRED
DRIVING. IT REALLY REQUIRES A
COMBINATION OF HAVING
THE RIGHT LAWS ON THE BOOKS.
HAVING PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF
THOSE LAWS, AND HAVING A
STRONG EDUCATION PROGRAM."
EXPERTS SAY AN O-W-I IS A
SERIOUS OFFENSE BUTTHE LANGUAGE
OF OUR
LAWS DON'T OFTEN REFLECT THAT.
"OWI LAW IS JUST A QUAGMIRE. IF
IT'S A FIRST
OFFENSE IT COULD BE A FELONY. IF
IT HAS A MINOR IN THE CAR WITH
INJURIES. WE HAVE A
DIFFICULT TIME FIGURING OUT
WHICH OFFENSE IS IT."
ADVOCATES ARE CALLING ON STATE
LAW MAKERS TOUGHEN UP ON
O-W-IS AND REQUIRE IGNITION
INTERLOCKS FOR ALL CONVICTED
DRUNKEN DRIVERS.
"WE WOULD HAVE MUCH RATHER SEEN
THE
LEGISLATURE FIX THE LOOPHOLES IN
OUR STATE IGNITION INTERLOCK
PROGRAM BECAUSE
THAT'S A TOOL THAT HAS A PROVEN
RECORD OR REDUCING REPEAT
OFFENSES FOR DRUNK
DRIVING."
CURRENTLY, A FOURTH OFFENSE IS A
FELONY ONLY IF IT'S COMMITTED
WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF THE THIRD
O-W-I. THE NEW LAW ELIMINATES
THIS RULE.
"IT'S THE WRONG SOLUTION. WHEN
YOU
KEEP DOING SOMETHING THAT
DOESN'T WORK, DOING MORE OF IT
DOESN'T MAKE THINGS
BETTER."
CHARLES KENYON IS A DEFENSE
ATTORNEY. HE HANDLES A
NUMBER OF O-W-I CASES EACH YEAR.
"THIS IS NOT A MINOR THING, BUT
THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM IS NOT REALLY
WELL SUITED TO ADDRESS IT."
ACCORDING TO KENYON --TREATMENT
FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE
MIGHT JUST BE THE SOLUTION TO
DRUNK DRIVING THE GOVERNOR IS
LOOKING FOR.
REPORTING IN MADISON --
LAUREN WINFREY, NBC15 NEWS
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE ARE KILLED
EACH YEAR IN OUR STATE IN
CRASHES
WHERE ALCOHOL IS INVOLVED.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HOPES THIS
NEW LAW WILL PREVENT
DEATHS AND MAKE DRUNKEN DRIVERS
THINK TWICE BEFORE GETTING
BEHIND THE WHEEL.