Madison, WI – Representative Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) issued the following statement after Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bills 75, 78, and 77 into law. This public safety package addresses judicial transparency, stronger tools against reckless driving, and prohibiting devices used by organized crime.
Assembly Bill 75 requires the Department of Justice to collect data points on criminal cases, report a summary of them annually to the Legislature, and establish an interactive dashboard of the data for the public to access.
“Our justice system is not always easy to understand for the average Wisconsinite. The public has a right to understand how it operates in a clear and transparent way,” said Rep. Donovan. “This bill ensures the judiciary faces the same scrutiny as the legislative and executive branches, rebuilding trust through accessible data.”
Assembly Bill 78 enables municipalities to pass their own ordinance that allows for the towing of reckless vehicles for a first offense or if the driver is not the vehicle owner. Stolen vehicle owners would be exempt from the related cost of towing and storage to ensure they are not paying for the actions of a criminal.
“Recent reports have shown that the overwhelming majority of police pursuits are, in part, due to reckless driving, putting everyone’s lives at risk,” said Rep. Donovan. “This legislation answers the calls from local leaders to get dangerous drivers off the streets immediately.”
Assembly Bill 77 prohibits the sale, possession, purchase, installation, or use of registration plate concealment devices, known as “license plate flippers,” with penalties up to a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.
“These devices allow organized crime to evade law enforcement. Police can’t stop what they cannot identify,” said Rep. Donovan. “Banning these devices closes a dangerous loophole and gives officers the tools they need to identify and stop threats on our roads.”
