Legislation gets tough on reckless driving
Bills: Raise fines, allow impounding of vehicles
The toll of reckless driving in Wisconsin was made clear Tuesday at a state Senate committee hearing on bills that would increase penalties and allow the impounding of vehicles in certain situations.
Abbie Strong said the October death of her husband, the Rev. Aaron Strong, in downtown Milwaukee has been devastating for her, their children and the members of the church where he served as pastor.
A reckless driver crashed into his vehicle after ignoring a red light about 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 near the Milwaukee County Courthouse. A 23-year-old man charged in his death had reached speeds of 74 mph, run multiple lights and drove on the wrong side of the road multiple times before the crash, according to the criminal complaint. He told police he was hurrying to get to jury duty for a domestic violence case.
Strong called the legislation under consideration by the committee “vitally important” and said the bill regarding the impounding of vehicles “takes the weapon out of the hands of these reckless drivers.”
What would the bills do?
One bill would raise fines and other penalties for reckless driving offenses.
It would also change the current law, which increases the penalty for a second reckless driving offense only if that offense happens within four years of the first offense. Instead, that fouryear time frame would be removed, allowing for the increased penalties to be imposed regardless of the length of time between the first and second offenses, according to an analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
The second bill would allow local governments to enact an ordinance permitting police to impound vehicles used in reckless driving when the person cited for reckless driving owns the vehicle and has not paid the fine for a prior reckless driving conviction.
What did legislators say?
Both bills have bipartisan support, said state Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, who served on the Milwaukee Common Council for 20 years and cosponsored the legislation.
The legislation “seeks to curb this rising issue by strengthening penalties and providing another tool for police to deter criminals from habitually reoffending,” he told the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Tuesday.
He and others noted that while Milwaukee makes headlines for its reckless driving deaths and crashes, the is
sue is also affecting communities statewide.
“This is a state bill because, you know, these violations don’t just obey municipal boundaries,” said state Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Town of Cedarburg, of the bill raising penalties.
State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said she was skeptical at first that increasing penalties would have an impact but then she noted that the minimum penalty for reckless driving is $25. The increased fines, she said, would remain in a range that is not overly punitive and would come at a time when other changes are being made, such as to road designs that deter reckless driving. She also noted, though, that access to driver’s education remains a significant problem.
State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, urged the bills’ passage “with full and complete understanding that increasing penalties and impounding vehicles alone will not stop all reckless driving. But it will increase the price of putting our communities in danger.”
While some legislators proposed changes to the bills, Donovan said he was hopeful that they would pass the state Legislature and be signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers as currently written. He said, though, that he would be open to taking up his colleagues’ suggestions in the future.
Where does the City of Milwaukee stand on these bills?
The city backs both pieces of legislation.
City lobbyist Katie Jaeger said the legislation is in line with the recommendations of Milwaukee’s City-County Carjacking and Reckless Driving Task Force report.
The legislation “would provide valuable tools for holding dangerous drivers accountable while increasing safety,” she said.
When will a vote take place?
The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the bills on March 22.
The Senate committee is expected to vote on the legislation Thursday.
What’s going on with the traffic camera legislation?
A bipartisan bill to let Milwaukee install automated speed cameras to spot reckless drivers is stalled.
There are no immediate plans for a hearing, according to the office of Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Chairman, state Sen. Van Wanggaard.
Wanggaard previously said he did not believe such a system would be effective and said the city instead needs to significantly increase its police force.