Spectator editorial: Momentum swing
Wisconsin Legislature right to explore increasing DUI penalties
Spectator Staff
Issue date: 10/27/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
Wisconsin is famous for many good things. Unfortunately it is also famous for some not-so-good things, like leading the nation in the percentage of people who admit to driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to an Oct. 21 Associated Press article however, momentum is building in the Wisconsin Legislature to increase penalties for drunken driving in the wake of two extensive newspaper series on problems associated with drinking in the state. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been meeting for months and are looking at a variety of proposals to change current law. This includes making a first offense DUI a criminal offense instead of a misdemeanor and requiring minimum jail time for all offenses.
Making a first offense criminal instead of a misdemeanor is the right measure for lawmakers to take in order to decrease the number of people who drink and drive in Wisconsin. With state records showing last year one-third of those convicted of drunken driving were repeat offenders, one of the most important steps needed to decrease the number of drunken drivers is stopping people from doing it the first time. Harsher penalties will caution and deter people from potentially doing it so there won't be a first offense.
Some feel the harsher penalties will cause a huge burden to be placed on the courts. Initially this would be an issue because people will not change overnight. However, down the line, the harsher penalties would have a trickle-down effect and force people to abide by the laws.
Heightened laws can only do so much, however. Wisconsin has a culture that teaches its population early on in their lives that drinking is socially acceptable, and along with this comes the idea that drinking and driving isn't that big of a deal. Better education on the topic at the high school and even college levels would be helpful in decreasing the number of drunken drivers. A new culture needs to begin in which drunken driving is deterred as much as drinking is encouraged.
According to an Oct. 21 Associated Press article however, momentum is building in the Wisconsin Legislature to increase penalties for drunken driving in the wake of two extensive newspaper series on problems associated with drinking in the state. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been meeting for months and are looking at a variety of proposals to change current law. This includes making a first offense DUI a criminal offense instead of a misdemeanor and requiring minimum jail time for all offenses.
Making a first offense criminal instead of a misdemeanor is the right measure for lawmakers to take in order to decrease the number of people who drink and drive in Wisconsin. With state records showing last year one-third of those convicted of drunken driving were repeat offenders, one of the most important steps needed to decrease the number of drunken drivers is stopping people from doing it the first time. Harsher penalties will caution and deter people from potentially doing it so there won't be a first offense.
Some feel the harsher penalties will cause a huge burden to be placed on the courts. Initially this would be an issue because people will not change overnight. However, down the line, the harsher penalties would have a trickle-down effect and force people to abide by the laws.
Heightened laws can only do so much, however. Wisconsin has a culture that teaches its population early on in their lives that drinking is socially acceptable, and along with this comes the idea that drinking and driving isn't that big of a deal. Better education on the topic at the high school and even college levels would be helpful in decreasing the number of drunken drivers. A new culture needs to begin in which drunken driving is deterred as much as drinking is encouraged.
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