Madison, Wis. — Today, Rep. Ryan Spaude (D-Ashwaubenon), alongside Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay), Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), and partners from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) introduced a new proposal to close loopholes in Wisconsin’s OWI laws. The proposal was unveiled at a press conference outside the assembly chambers.
As drafted, their legislation would expand the use of ignition interlock devices (IIDs), eliminate the possibility for a person to have two OWI 1st offenses on their driving record, and count underage violations of absolute sobriety in all 50 states as prior offenses.
Rep. Spaude released the following statement after the press conference:
“One of the greatest threats to public safety in our community is drunk driving. Drugged driving is a close second. As a former prosecutor in the Brown County District Attorney’s office, I handled many cases where individuals benefited from loopholes in our OWI laws. These loopholes allowed certain defendants to escape justice. They also delayed the timeline for professional intervention.
“Wisconsin can and should do better. By adopting the measures in this bill, we can provide earlier intervention and break up the vicious cycle of addiction. This in turn will lead to safer roads and help us safe lives.”
