Wisconsin Tougher Drunk Driving Laws Went Into Effect January 1

WISCONSIN -- Though it was signed in April, Wisconsin's new - and tougher - drunk driving law took effect on the first of the year. In April, Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law making the 4th drunk driving offense a felony regardless of when it was committed and increasing penalties for repeat drunk drivers.

Senate Bill 455, now Act 371, was authored by Senator Alberta Darling (R – River Hills) and Representative Jim Ott (R – Mequon).

“Penalties in Wisconsin for repeat drunk drivers are less severe than neighboring states,” added Governor Walker. “It is time to match the severity of our penalties to this crime, regardless of when it occurs.”

Here is a list of Wisconsin's drunk driving penalties before the law change, as listed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Despite the new penalties, Wisconsin is still the only U.S. state that does not treat OWI-1st as a criminal offense. In Wisconsin, it's a civil crime that results in a forfeiture.

More than 200 people are killed each year on Wisconsin’s roads and, prior to 1990’s, operating while intoxicated (OWI) convictions were based on the number of times the offender had been convicted in the five-year period preceding arrest.

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