Feb. 20, 2013 – State Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) and State Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) have renewed their push to pass tougher OWI laws in Wisconsin. Last week, Rep. Ott and Sen. Darling began circulating for co-sponsorship a package of legislative bills to crack down on new and repeat offenders.

The individual bills contain a number of law changes that the legislators say will align Wisconsin laws with other states. The main focus of the package includes a legislative proposal to change the third offense OWI from a criminal misdemeanor to a felony. Lawmakers have attempted to pass this legislative change for a number of years, only to see rising fiscal concerns, including increased prison costs, defeating the concept.

The OWI package would also include:

• Require all first time OWI offenders to make a personal appearance in court

• Create a mandatory minimum sentences ranging from six months to three years depending upon the severity of the injury caused 

• Create a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for a homicide while intoxicated

• Allows law enforcement to seize offender vehicles for three or more OWI offenses

Under the proposed legislation, a first time OWI offender would also be charged with a criminal offense if their blood alcohol level came in above 0.15.

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