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Better buckle up

July 2, 2009 By

If you fail to wear your seat belt, police can now pull you over in Wisconsin.

The state budget signed earlier this week includes a primary enforcement provision for seat belt violations. State Transportation Safety Director Major Dan Lonsdorf says law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin will be going after those who don't buckle up. He says all officers are being encouraged to pull over violators to at least educate them.

Violators of Wisconsin's seat belt laws will face a $10 fine.

The law allows officers to pull a car over if anyone in the vehicle is without a seat belt. Lonsdorf says it's fairly easy for police to spot, but officers have only been able to write tickets before now if they pull a driver over for another violation.

Lonsdorf says getting pulled over can also lead to officers finding other violations.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:01)

Filed Under: Budget, Transportation

More jobs leaving the state

July 2, 2009 By

Another business plans to close shop in Wisconsin.

"This is the worst part of the economic downturn that we've seen."

Governor Jim Doyle responds to news that Briggs & Stratton plans to close its facilities in Jefferson and Watertown, resulting in the permanent loss of 430 jobs.

"We often talk of unemployment in terms of a percentage and what's often forgotten is that percentages are real people, and they aren't people that did anything wrong – they didn't deal derivatives on Wall Street, they didn't manipulate financial markets, they didn't hyper inflate the real estate market, they just went to work every day."

The two plants in southeastern Wisconsin currently manufacture portable, home and standby generators and pressure washers. Much of that production will be consolidated into existing plants in Alabama and Georgia.

Doyle says the state is ready to help.

"To help people get over this really difficult time through extended benefits and then help them get the training they need to get jobs and get back into the workforce."

About 100 salaried workers will have the option to transfer to other Briggs' locations. The company closed a Simplicity lawn mower plant in Port Washington last fall.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:21 MP3)

Filed Under: Business

Clerks prepare for domestic partnerships

July 2, 2009 By

County clerks around Wisconsin are scrambling to comply with a provision under the state budget that recognizes same sex partnerships and affords some of the same protections as marriage.

Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says same-sex couples will be able to get a declaration of domestic partnership for the same cost as a marriage license. Unlike a marriage though, the partnership could be nullified through a certificate of termination for the same cost. She says forms and programming information are being developed by the state.

It all has to be in place by August 3rd, when the partnerships can start being licensed. Freiberg says the requirements will be the same as for a marriage license, such as providing a birth certificate and proof of residency.

Some of the benefits same-sex couples will be allowed through the registration include hospital visitation rights, end-of-life decision making, and family medical leave. State employees, along with U-W faculty and staff, will be also able to get group health and retirement benefits.

The Fond du Lac County Board, along with others across the state, will need to set the fee for domestic partnership declarations and termination certificates. The proposed fee is $90. 

AUDIO: FDL County Clerk Lisa Freiberg (MP3 :12)

Filed Under: Politics & Government
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