Drunk Driving DUI Law

Governor Doyle today signed into law tougher measures against drunk driving, including criminalizing first offense when a child is a passenger.

Doyle was flanked by mothers who had lost children to drunk drivers as he signed the legislation during a state capitol ceremony.

The law also makes fourth offense drunk driving a felony instead of a misdemeanor when it occurs within five years of a previous offense;   requires ignition interlock devices for the cars of first time offenders if their blood alcohol level is twice Wisconsin’s .08 legal limit;   and expands treatment options available to judges during the sentencing of offenders, patterned after a successful Winnebago County program.

Even Doyle conceded he would have liked to see tougher changes, such as creating a felony offense for third time offenders, but said  “it is a good bill and another major step forward to fight drunk driving.”

Judy Jenkins, whose daughter Jennifer Bukosky, granddaughter Courtney, and Jennifer’s unborn daughter Sophia were all killed by the intoxicated driving of Mark Benson in Waukesha County, said the law’s passage is gratifying, but criminalizing all first offenses is still needed.   Wisconsin is the only state which treats first offense operating while intoxicated like a traffic ticket.

Jodene Meinl, whose fourteen year old daughter Lacey was killed by a drunk driver in January in Winnebago County, said the new measures are a step forward.

“It does not take away my pain, but it is a help to deal with drunk driving.”

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